Kadamb / Burflower-tree (Anthocephalus Indicus)- Ayurvedic Properties, Effects On Doshas & Dosage

Description

The ancient system of medicine, also called Ayurveda, is based on the ancient Vedas that is a totally natural and holistic approach to physical and mental health. Ayurved is one of the oldest systems that is used traditionally as a caring system and is very commonly used in our homes by our mothers or grandparents. Ayurvedic science is deeply rooted in India and its neighbouring countries, with the help of this medicine we can treat various ailments like diabetes, cardio-vascular diseases, liver diseases, and many more. In this article, we are going to discuss a very important medicinal plant that is characterised by the Rubiaceae family. Kadamb is one of the ornamental plants with religious significance and is one of the most frequently planted trees in the tropics. It is fragrant, sweet, and a little tangy in taste.

Kadamb, Burflower-tree, Anthocephalus Indicus

General Information

According to mythology our earth is made up of panchtatva (fire, earth, air, soil, and water) and is also found in humans, animals and plants. Anthocephalus Indicus belongs to the Rubiaceae family that is commonly named in Hindi as Kadamba. Kadamb is helpful in curing various health issues like diabetes mellitus, diarrhoea, inflammation, debility, etc. in Sanskrit this herb is called neep, priyak, or vrittpushp and halipriya and in Hindi, it is commonly known as kadam, and in Gujarati, it is named as Kadamba.

Special Note About This Plant

This herb’s bark is rich in cinchotannic acid and also consists of natural steroids that help in reducing glucose levels in the body.

Acharya Charak has mentioned this herb in Vedana sthapana mahakashaya, Shukra shodhan mahakashaya and Vamanopag mahakashaya.
Acharya Sushrut has been mentioned as this herb in Naygrodadhi Ganna, and Rodhradi Ganna.

Systemic Classification

Botanical Name – Anthocephalus Indicus
Family – Rubiaceae
Genus – Neolamarckia
Species – N. Cadamba

Ancient Verses

Shloka – 1

सुगन्धिपुष्पः स्वाद्वम्लपक्वसस्यो महोन्नतः।
मधुकपत्रसदृशपत्रो राजकदम्बकः।।

Reference – Shivdutta Nighantu

Interpretation of Shloka – Sugandhipushpa is sweet, and sour in taste when ripened and it has a resemblance with the leaves of madhuk and is also called rajkadambak.

Shloka – 2

कदम्बस्तिक्तक कटुकः कषायोः वातनाशनः।
शीतलः कफपित्तार्तिनाशनः शुक्रवर्द्धनः।
त्रिकदम्बा: कटुवर्ण्या विषशोफहरा हिमाः।
कषायास्तिक्तकपित्तघ्ना वीर्यवृद्धिकरा: परः।।

Reference – Raj Nighantu

Interpretation of Shloka – Kadamb is Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent), Katu (Pungent) and is said to be good for the pacification of vata dosha. Its cold potency is helpful in Kapha-pitta vinashana (pacification), best as a pain reliever, and in the enhancement of Shukr dhatu. All three varieties of Kadamb are Katu (Pungent) so enhance complexion, good for alleviation of poisons, inflammation, and are a coolant. Kashaya (Astringent) and Tikta (Bitter) rasa is helpful in pacifying the pitta dosha and are best for increasing the sperm count and strengthening of the body.

Shloka – 3

कदम्बस्तु कषायः स्यादुरसे शीतो गुणेऽपि च।
व्रणसंरोहणश्चापि कासदाहविषापह:।।

Reference – Dhanwantri Nighantu / Amradi Varga

Interpretation of Shloka – This herb is Kashaya (astringent), coolant, good in healing wounds, and helps in curing burning sensation, as well as poisoning.

Shloka – 4

तत्फलं मधुरं शीतं गुरु पित्तास्रवातजित्।

Reference – Kaiyyadev Nighantu

Interpretation of Shloka – The fruit of this herb is Madhur (Sweet), coolant, heavy, and is good for pitta along with Vata dosha and bleeding disorders.

Synonyms

Vrittpushpa (Circular shape flowers)
Halipriya (these are liked by farmers because its flowers blooms in rainy season)

Varieties

Dharakadamb – whose flowers bloom in the rainy season.
Dhulikadamb – its flowers bloom before the rainy season or in summer.
Bhumi kadamb – it has a small tree and small flowers.

Habitat

A fully matured tree that is quickly growing, with broadly spreaded branches that grows rapidly with six to eight years of age.
This tree is thirty feet tall and is having 5 to 7 feet in width, its stem is straight.
Its leaves are five to ten inches long, and are circular in shape, and resemble the eaves of the Mahua tree. Leaves are so soft and consist of various veins-like structures.
Its flowers are smaller in size and are red to orange in color with a sweet fragrance, and are of globular heads.
The fruit is small and grows in fleshy yellow-orange in color and consists of more than eight thousand seeds. And these are about two to two and a half inches in diameter.
It is found in Himalayan ghats and grows from Nepal to Burma and from South Mysore to western ghat. It is specifically found in Assam and Andaman island.

Classical Categorization

In Raj Nighantu, Kaiydev Nighantu, and Dhanwantri nighantu this herb has been described with its medicinal properties and its benefits.

Acharya Charak has mentioned this herb in:-

Vedana sthapana mahakashaya
Shukra shodhan mahakashaya
Vamanopag mahakashaya

Acharya Sushrut has mentioned this herb in:-

Naygrodadhi Ganna
Rodhradi Ganna

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 Vata, Pitta, and Kapha dosha
Projyang (Part used) – Fruits and their bark are used

Effects On Doshas

This herb is tridosha shamak in nature.

Practical Uses

It is used externally as pain alleviation and is also helpful as an anti-inflammatory, and is used to naturally heal the wounds and enhance their healing.
Its hot leaves are used to cover the healing ulcers, then it gives relief from pain and inflammation. In catarrh condition, its bark paste is applied all around the eyes.
With the decoction of leaves, we can wash our wounds as an antiseptic and is used as gandhush which means Oil pooling that is successfully used in mouth-related disorders.
In Diarrhoea and Irritable bowel syndrome, the decoction of its bark is used.
Its fruit is used to combat the Trishna rog effectively.
In bleeding diarrhoea, the bark of this herb is used in the form of decoction.
In the circulatory system, this is helpful in combating the raktaj and inflammatory disorder.
In respiratory system diseases, this herb is used to treat cough and other chronic diseases.
In the urinary system, the decoction of roots is used in kidney stones or even small pieces may be stuck into ureters and manage the retention of urine condition.
Its bark is used in Diabetic conditions, and leukorrhea, and its fruit also shows good results in maintaining the proper growth in the mammary glands.
This herb is helpful in managing various skin conditions like filariasis, psoriasis, etc.