Haritaki (Sanskrit )-Terminalia chebula
Ayurveda medicinal plants > Haritaki (Sanskrit )-Terminalia Chebula
Haritaki (Sanskrit )-Terminalia chebula
Botanical Description of Terminalia chebula
BOTONICAL NAME : Terminalia
chebula , Terminalia reticulata
FAMILY: Combretaceae
STRUCTURE: Large tree, young
branchlets, leaf buds,
Leaves:- mostly subopposite,
distant, ovate, with long, soft, shining, rust coloured, or
silvery hairs. Wither in the cold season.
Flowers:- Dull white or yellowish,
with a strong offensive smell. Blossom in April to May.
Fruits:- Obovoid or ellipsoidal
from a broad base, glabrous. Formation in November to January.
HABITAT: Abundant in North India
and southwards to the Deccan tablelands at 1,000 to 3,000 ft.
PHARMACOLOGY:
Fruit contains a constituent which has a wide
antibacterial and antifungal spectrum.and also inhibits growth
of E.coli, the most common organism responsible for urinary
tract infection. The fruit pulp exhibits laxative properties.
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
Fruits:- Contain astringent
substances - tannic acid, Chebulinic acid, gallic acid etc.
Resin and a purgative principle of the nature of anthraquinone
and sennoside are also present.
Ayurvedic Description of 'Haritaki' (Terminalia chebula)
SANSKRIT NAME : Harithaki
LOCAL NAMES(in India) :Harithaki (Sanskrit and Bengali), Harad
(Hindi), Karkchettu (Telugu), Kadukkaya (Tamil), Harade (Marathi
and Gujarati).
HINDU MYTHOLOGY : Highly esteemed by the Hindus, and a
mythological origin has been assigned to it. It is said that
when Indra(king of dieties in hindu mythology) was drinking
nectar in heaven, a drop of the fluid fell on the earth and
produced Haritaki
PROPERTIES
(ayurvedic)
Guna :- Laghu, Ruksha
Rasa :- Madhura,katu,tiktha,kashaya,amla. only Lavana is absent.
Veerya :- Ushna
Vipaka :- Madhura
Prabhaava :- Tridoshahar
KARMA (Action) :
Mridu Virechaka (mild laxative),
Tridoshahara (cures all the three doshas),
Agnideepaka (enhances bioassimilation),
Medhakara (enhances
memory),
Rasayana (rejuvenating, prevents aging and disease),
Netra Hithakara (good for
eyes),
Laghu Paki (digests easily),
Ayurvardhaka (increases life span),
Brimhana (nourishes body tissues),
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Harithaki (Sanskrit and Bengali), Harad (Hindi), Karkchettu
(Telugu), Kadukkaya (Tamil), Harade (Marathi and Gujarati).
Also read Home remedies using Haritaki
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