Chakshushaya / Jasmeejaz (Cassia Absus)- Ayurvedic Properties, Effects On Doshas & Dosage

Description

Ayurveda is the study of holistic science on the board, which improvise our way of living, by improving the diet and our living standards that are positive or negative in many ways, that affect our way of living and prompt a blissful or miserable life. As per Ayurveda well-being is the equilibrium of three energies that is named as potential, kinetic, and thermal energies. Their irregularity is the reason for weakness and several health ailments. This equilibrium can be upset by sporadic lifestyle, physical and mental pressure due to many reasons, wrong food intake, that means eating contradictory food varieties, and many more. The Ayurvedic herbal medicines provide us cures for diseases that are firmly connected with nature and don’t show any type of side- effects. Ayurveda is basically fonded by herbs and medicinal plants that grow around us in wide quantities. In this Article writing, we are going to discuss the Chakshushya herb that is mentioned by nighantus as the best herb. Chakshushya is utilised in eye ailments as well as in various skin diseases. This herb has tikta rasa and supports diuretic, and soothing activities. Chakshushya additionally assists in maintaining the health of the liver and kidneys.

General Information

Chakshushya is famous as the Botanical name of Cassia absus and belongs to the family Caesalpiniaceae having a common name in English is Jasmeejaz or Chaksu seeds and in Hindi known as Chakur/Chimed and utilised in India. Chakshushya develops as a sticky plant in India especially in North-West India, at the foot of the Himalayas, Chakshushya signifies eyes that show the value of this herb only by its name. Its seeds and leaves are edible. Chakshushya assists in maintaining the health of the liver and kidneys. The plant has different properties so this is effectively used in the Indian System of Medicine. This herb is famous as the Chakanu in Hindi, in Telugu this is named Chanubala vittulu, in Tamil, it is Karum, In Unani its Chakshu.

Special Note About This Plant

This herb is categorised by Dhanvantari Nighantu under the group Chandanadi Varga.
By Raj Nighantu, this herb is characterised under the category of Parpatadi Varga.
Its leaves contain a chemical named Quercetin, Rutin and its root contains Chaksine or isochaksine.
Its seed consists of Beta-sitosterol, Apigenin, hydnocarpine, and many more.
Due to these chemical compositions, this herb is a self-proven good anti-inflammatory herb with anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties.

Ancient Verses

Shloka – 1

हिमा प्रोक्ता कषाया च विषं स्थावरजङ्गमम्।
निहन्ति योजिता सम्यङ् नेत्रस्रावाननेकशः।।
सा च विस्फोटकण्डुवर्तिव्रणदोषनिबर्हणी।

Reference – Dhanvantari Nighantu / Guduchyadi Varga

Interpretation of Shloka – This plant is cold in potency, kashaya (astringent), cures all the sthavar (animal) and plant (jangham) poisoning, discharge from the eyes, eruptions in the skin, pruritis, pain, and abscess can be relieved by this potential herb.

Shloka – 2

कुलत्थिका तू चक्षुष्या कषाय कटुका हिमा।
विषविस्फोटकण्डुतिव्रणदोषानिबर्हणी।।

Reference – Raj Nighantu

Interpretation of Shloka – Kulthika is another name for Chakshushaya, this is kashaya (astringent), eruptions in the skin, pruritus, abscess, and may pacify all the doshas.

Shloka – 3

कुलत्थिका कटुस्तिक्ता स्यादर्श:शूलनाशनी।
विबंधाध्मानशमनी चक्षुष्या व्रणरोपणी।।

Reference – Raj Nighantu

Interpretation of Shloka – Kulthika is katu (bitter), tikta (pungent), helpful in pain relieving, good in pacifying constipation, bloating, along with it is a good healer.

Systemic Classification

Botanical Name – Cassia absus
Family – Caesalpiniaceae
Genus – Cassia
Species – C. absus

Synonyms

This herb is famous with various names:-

Chakshushya (good for eyes).
Arnnyakulthika (resembles the plant of kulathi that lies in forests).

Habitat

This herb is an erect and short-lived perennial .1 to 1.2 cm high.
This is a short-lived plant unctuous herb generally having a life span of 1 year. Its leaves are togetherly grown, having long and curved sides from the above part. There is one groove in between two leaves, consisting of tikta and kashaya rasa that is bitter and astringent in taste.
Its flowers are long about 1-2 inches and are small, red in colour, and mixed with a yellowish tinge.
Its fruit is about 1 to 1 and a half inches long and flattened with a hairy surface and consists of seeds. Its colour is dark black in colour, the pulp is pale colored.
This herb is mainly found from the western sides of Himalaya pradesh to Sri-lanka.

Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa (Taste) – Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent)
Guna (Quality) – Ruksha (Dry)
Veerya (Potency) – Sheeta (Cold)
Vipaka (Post digestive effect) – Katu (Pungent)
Karma (Action) – Balances the Kapha and Pitta dosha
Projyang (Part used) – Seeds are used

Effects On Doshas

It balances the Kapha and Pitta dosha and so that helps to pacify the Kapha pitta-related disorders. The gunna that is responsible for this strategy is Tikta, Kashaya rasa.

Practical Uses

Its outer application will help in reducing inflammation and gives scrapping effects and is good for maintaining the health of the eyes.
This is a good absorbent, having good clotting power so can be given in bleeding disorders due to its kashaya rasa.
This works as a diuretic.
Chakshushya herb can be given for irritable bowel syndrome, bleeding stools, or diarrhoea and supports healthy bowel functions.
It also helps to promote healthy liver and kidney functions.
Its seeds help to relieve urinary obstruction and inflammation to promote the flow of urine.
In the respiratory system, due to its kapha hara guna this is used to cure many respiratory diseases like rhinitis, asthma, sinusitis, and COPD.
It can also help in managing the cases of poisoning caused by sthavar visha and jangama visha.
In hypertension, the seeds powder is used to maintain the levels.