Paribhadra / Indian Coral Tree (Erythrina Variegata)- Ayurvedic Properties, Effects On Doshas & Dosage

Description

Ayurveda is a medicinal system that gives complete guidance to the patient according to the health of the system. The main goal of Ayurveda is to maintain a healthy life and promote longevity of life. This is the oldest and very effective method to rejuvenate the body said to ancient Rishis and munis. Ayurveda is given by Lord Dhanwantri, they help our sages to know about the Ayurveda and want to spread this elixir to everyone. This is used to rejuvenate the body and nourishes the whole body with its herbal constituents. This is a system that originated many years ago and is well known in the Vedas. Ayurveda believes in balancing the harmony between the human body-mind-soul with the help of natural herbs and various therapies that only contain herbal formulations. Everything that is grown by nature is useful for the living being. Every living being has the tendency to rejuvenate the body and enhance the healing capacity of the organs, as well as help to attain the highest self-realisation. Ayurveda says there are three doshas in our body that help to control the mental, physical and emotional aspects of the body. Ayurvedic herbs are always used in their productive form like in powder, tablets, syrups, etc. Ayurvedic medicines help us to attain a good lifestyle, as per the Prakriti of the person. In this article writing, we are going to discuss a very important herb named Paribhadra that is used in several conditions, especially originating from the Vata and Kapha dosha.

Paribhadra, Indian Coral Tree, Erythrina variegata

General Information

Paribhadra is an herb that is recognized by its common name Indian Coral tree in English and is botanically known by Erythrina Variegata. This is a very common herb used by Ayurvedic Acharyas in ancient times as well as in today’s practice. This herb has various different names according to the place – like in Sanskrit this herb is well known by the word paribhadra, kantaki palash, rakta pushpa. In Hindi it is known as Farhad, in Bengal Paltemadar, In Malayalam Pangara, in Gujarati Pararu, in Tamilnadu – kaliyaan. This herb is used for treating worm infestations, digestion-related disorders, liver metabolism, and imbalance in cholesterol levels. This plant is very common in India as it is widely found in all the states, its flowers are having various medicinal properties, and is known for their soothing properties. This plant blooms in the spring season and in the summer season fruits will grow.

Special Note About This Plant

The bark of this plant consists of raal, some essential oils, erisodin, erisonin, hypaphorine, aerisotrin. Its leaves consist of erisotrin, erisodin, and erithroline. Its seeds consist of essential oils 11 to 13 percent.
This herb is mentioned by Kaiyyadev Nighantu as in aushadhi varga, he also mentioned this herb is not to be prescribed in gum or teeth disorders and also inhibits its use as dant kashtha. The twig of this tree must be avoided to use as a toothbrush.
Bhavprakash Nighantu also put his eyes on this herb and mentioned it in Guduchyadi Varga.
In Raj Nighantu, this herb is described in the Shalmalyadi Varga where he shows its medicinal properties in various types of diseases.
This herb is an antidote to Kupilu visha.
In the Dravya gunna textbook which is written by Acharya Priyavrat Sharma, this herb is categorised under the medicines that are highly useful in ear disorders.

Ancient Verses

Shloka – 1

पारिभद्रोऽनिलश्लेष्मशोफमेद: कृमिप्रणत्।
तत्पत्रं पित्तरोगघ्नं कर्णव्याधिनाशनम्।।

Reference – Bhavprakash Nighantu / Guduchyadi Varga

Interpretation of Shloka – Paribhadra is used to pacify the vata and Kapha dosha, relieve inflammation, and helminthic infections are treated by this herb. Its leaves are helpful in Pitta roga and are used to improve ear ailments.

Shloka – 2

पारिभद्र कटुष्ण: स्यात् कफवातनिकृन्तनः।
अरोचकहर: पथ्यो दीपनश्चापि कीर्तितः।।

Reference – Raj Nighantu / Salmalyadi Varga

Interpretation of Shloka – Paribhadra is katu (pungent), hot in potency, and cures the Kapha and vata dosha condition. It removes anorexia, is used as a good diet, and helps to increase digestive fire.

Systemic Classification

Botanical Name – Erythrina Variegata.
Family – Fabaceae or Papilionaceae
Genus – Erythrina
Species – E. Variegata

Synonyms

Prabhadra, paribhadra – This herb is used on the auspicious places.
Nimbadruma, mandaraka, parijata, rakta pushpa, rakt kesar – these herbs have red flowers.
Bahupushpa – this tree has many flowers.
Kantaki palash, kantaki kimshuka – resembles a Palash tree but this plant has thorns.
Krumighana – useful in worm infestations

Habitat

The tree grows up to 60 ft in height oblong to the rounded crown and is dense in looks.
Inflorescence of many-flowered fascicles occurs in terminals and axillaries, its calyx is deeply split, 0.4-0.7 inches, with a 2 to 5 mm long pedicle. Flowers are short-clawed, red or orangish in colour, with white colour threads longitudinally, its wings are somehow green to pale red in appearance. Flowers bloom on this tree from July to November time period and it later appears in the northern hemisphere all about 6 months. There are two varieties of plants in the Erythrina species white colored flower-bearing trees have multiple health benefits whereas there is a variety of red-colored flowers that are found abundantly in the Indian area.
Leaves are trifoliate, and alternate, the rachis is mostly 10-20 cm long, and it is ovate and rhomboid in shape, deciduous in nature.
Its fruits are grown in the oblong pod and appear in March and April month. They grow and stay for a longer time period on the tree.
Seeds are of kidney shape and are found in 12 in number oval, unctuous red, and brown in colour.

Ayurvedic Properties

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

Effects On Doshas

It balances the Vata and Kapha dosha, due to its tikta and ushna gunna it will pacify the Kapha and Vata dosha.

Practical Uses

This herb is helpful in Kapha vata-related disorders.
When it is used externally as in the paste form then it will show its activities like anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, shows fast healing properties and acts on the ear especially.
Due to its vata-pacifying action, this will work like a pain reliever in the head, is anti-epileptic, and is helpful in inducing sleep.
In the digestive system, due to its tikta, ushna gunna it acts like an appetiser, a digestive fire enhancer, good for vata anulomana, and works against worm infestations.
This helps in increasing the secretion of the bile juice and some active compounds that directly initiate the digestion power.
This is good for blood coagulation, and a healthy circulatory system.
Due to its ushna gunna, it helps against the retention of urine.
This is also helpful in cutting down the excessive fat from the body.