Devdaru / Deodar (Cedrus Deodara)- Ayurvedic Properties, Effects On Doshas & Dosage

Description

The human being is a major part of nature. Our body consists of three doshas – Vata, Pitta, and Kapha which are needed to stay in equilibrium. The cause of ailments is the imbalance in the Dosha equilibrium. Diet control and yoga are prescribed in order to get rid of excess doshas plus some herbal medicines are also helpful in regaining the equilibrium state. Ayurvedic management started centuries ago in the Indian subcontinent, this is the most natural method to treat various diseases along with also rejuvenating the body cells, and will give you a re-energized body-mind, as well as the soul. The Himalayas are considered the hub for herbal medicines, people come across the world and collect many useful herbs to prepare beneficial herbal medicines. Devdaru is one of the most effective herbs that are found in the Himalayas and are very effective in healing the body and various diseases efficiently.

General Information

Devdaru is an evergreen conifer tree that is inclined toward due to its sobbing propensity (nimbly hanging branches), this is highly found in the upper Himalayas they are usually used to line the streets or stand as a specimen tree in gardens or parks. This is a conifer consisting of needles 1 to 2 inches long and can be somewhat greyish-green or bluish-green contingent developed into whorls of 20 to 30 needles as well as shows up separately on lengthy shoots. This is commonly known as the Devdar in Hindi, Malayalam, and Gujarati. In Punjabi, this herb is said to be diyaar, and in English, this tree is named Deodar. This plant grows at the elevation of 3500 to 12,000 feet from sea level.

Special Note About This Plant

From the woods of Devdaru reddish brown colour of the oil is extracted that consists of Sesquiterpene chemical.
By Acharya Charak they have mentioned this herb in the collection of dashemanis like in stanya shodhan, anuvasnopag, katuskandh mahakashayas.
By Acharya Sushruta, this herb is mentioned in the main Vata pacifying herbs.
Bhavpraksh Nighantu and Dhanwantri nighantu have also mentioned this herb in their individual textbooks.

Ancient Verses

Shloka – 1

देवदारु रसे तिक्तम् स्निग्धोष्णं श्लेषामवातजित्।
आमदोषविबंधाध्मप्रमेहविनिवर्त्तकम्।।

Reference – Dhanwantri Nighantu / Guduchyadi Varga

Interpretation of Shloka – Deodara is Tikta (Bitter), moist, hot in potency, helps to pacify the Vata and Kapha dosha, and helps in curing indigestion, constipation, and urinary disorders.

Shloka – 2

देवदारु लघु स्निगधम् तिक्तोष्णं कटुपाकि च।
विबंधाध्मानशोथामतन्द्राहिक्काज्वरास्रजित्।।
प्रमेहपीनसश्लेष्मकासकण्डुसमीरनुत्।

Reference – Bhavprakash Nighantu / Karpuradi Varga

Interpretation of Shloka – This plant is light in weight, moist, bitter in taste, hot in potency, and of pungent taste, alleviates constipation, bloating, inflammation, toxins, laziness, fever, blood disorders, urinary conditions, rhinitis, cough, itching, and eliminates the Vata dosha.

Shloka – 3

देवदारुस्नेहास्तिक्तकटुकषाया दुष्टव्रणशोधना: कृमिकफकुष्ठानिलहराश्च।

Reference – Sushrut Samhita Sutra sthana / 45

Interpretation of Shloka – Devdaru plant is moist, is tikta (bitter), katu (pungent), kashaya (Astringent), helps in the non-healing ulcers, relieves helminthic infections, Kapha dosha, skin diseases and helpful in pacifying the vata dosha.

Shloka – 4

दशमूलस्य वा क्वाथमथवा देवदारुणः ।
तृषितो मदिरां वापि हिक्काश्वासी पिबेन्नरः।।

Reference – Charak Samhita Chikitsa sthana / 17

Interpretation of Shloka – The decoction of Dashmoola or the decoction of devdaru may reduce the hangover of alcohol, and eliminate the hiccups and cough diseases.

Systemic Classification

Botanical Name – Cedrus deodara
Family – Pinaceae
Genus – Cedrus
Species – C. deodara

Synonyms

Devdaru – Which is basically found in the Himalayas in the place of God.
Bhadradaru – This is Uttam in trees.
Surbhuruh – This tree is grown in the place of Gods

Habitat

It has a very tall tree height of 250 inches, a large coniferous evergreen tree.
It bears flowers, new leaves, and fruits throughout the year along with a sweet fragrance which means that it has a divine aura all around the tree. This herb is found in the Himalayas which is the place of gods and so it is said to be the Cedar of Gods.
Its height at the age of 20 grows up to 10 metres and when it gets fully mature it gets its height of 20 metres.
It has a monopodial growth in which it has a straight trunk and many multiple branches originate from the central trunk that is arcuate in shape, in the growth period, horizontal branches are initially pyramidal and later on, it becomes cylindrical to flattened shape.
Branches are thick and leaves are of needle shape, narrow and rigid as well as looking so amphistomatous (stomata are found on the two upper sides). Leaves are single along with a spiral arrangement. Their leaves are glaucous in colour and stay on the tree for 3 to 6 years and are usually shedding during the summer season.
This is a monoecious species of plant which has two types of cones that are male and female. Male cones are found in lower branchlets and female cones are found in above branchlets. Male cones are usually elongated and of an oval shape and the colour resembles purplish green to yellowish green after the pollen releasing time, this becomes yellow in colour. Female cones grow on the peripheries and are erect, ovoid, or ellipsoidal and are initially bluish-green in colour, and after ripening this becomes light purple to pale brown in colour.

Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa (Taste) – Tikta (Bitter)
Guna (Quality) – Snigadh (Moist), Laghu (light)
Veerya (Potency) – Ushna (Hot)
Vipaka (Post digestive effect) – (Katu (Pungent)
Karma (Action) – Balances the Vata and Kapha dosha
Projyang (Part used) – Oil and extract of the bark are used

Effects On Doshas

It balances Vata and Kapha dosha and is categorised under vedanasthapan mahakashaya.

Practical Uses

This herb is used in Kapha-Vata-related disorders like joints disorders which are consisting of inflammation and many different skin-related conditions can be managed by the paste of this plant or its oil can also be applied.
The oil of this plant is good for healing purposes and is acting as an anti-inflammatory in nature.
This can be used internally to pacify the vata rogas and works as vedana sthapana. Various diseases can be controlled by this herbal plant like old rheumatoid arthritis, cervical spondylosis, osteo-artheritis, and many more vata-related disorders.
In the digestive system, this is good for excreting out the ama (toxins). And also is very helpful in managing constipation, bloating, and many worm infestations disorders.
In the respiratory system, this is capable of managing the old cough, or cold, rhinitis, sinusitis, and chronic headaches and is also beneficial in expelling out the mucus and pacifying the Kapha dosha from the respiratory system.
In the circulatory system, this is helpful in combating the weakness of the heart muscles, this aids in the purification of blood and inflammation of various blood-related diseases.
In the urinary system, this works in the retention of urine with its diuretic properties, or diabetic condition.
In the reproductive systems, this is helpful in milk production after the delivery and is also useful in combating other female health-related diseases.
In obesity this works with its lekhan properties to control fat depositions.