It is an important medicinal plant that is used in the treatment of
various ailments. The botanical name for kutaj is Holarrhena antidysenterica which
belongs to the Apocynaceae family. It is useful in the treatment of diarrhea
and irritable bowel syndrome
Sanskrit- kalinga, Sakra, Vatsaka
Assamese- Dudhkuri
Bengali- Kurchi
English- Ester tree, Conessi bark
Gujarati- Kuda, Kadachhal, Kudo
Hindi- Kuda, Kudaiya
Kannada- Korachi
Kashmiri- Kogad
Malayalam- Kodagapala
Marathi- Pandra Kuda
Oriya- Kurei, Keruan
Pumjabi- Kurasukk
Tamil- Kudasapalai, Veppalai
Telugu- Kodisapala, Palakodisa
Urdu- Kurchi
Kutaj is
widely distributed in Asian countries up to an altitude of 1300m and it is also
found in India at sub-Himalayan tract in wastelands and deciduous forests. It
is grown in the tropical Himalayas at an altitude of 1100 meters and it is also
found in Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Travancore.
The leaves
are 10 cm long and 4-10 cm broad oval which is arranged in a reverse direction
and the flower of the plant can grow up to 2-3cm high and have five petals in
white color and it produces mild fragrances. The fruits of this herb are
cylindrical and the bark is rough, pale brownish, or grayish. The seeds are
light brown.
Parts used: Bark, leaves, seeds, and flowers
Taste: Bitter, Astringent
Potency: Cold
On chemical compound analysis of the kutaj, it includes
Alkaloids,
flavonoids, triterpenoids, phenolic acid, tannin, resin, coumarins, saponins,
and ergosterol.
Pum kutaj
(Male variety)- Concessidine, connessimine, conkurchine, holadiene,
holarrhenine, holarrhimine, kurchine, holarrhine, kurchicine, holadysine,
holantosines A and B, kurchaline, kurchiphyllamine, and holacetine
Stri kutaj
(female variety)- Isoricinoleic acid, B-sitosterol, B-amyrin, lupeol, rutin,
cycloartenine, cycloeucalenol, wrightiadione.
ACTIONS:
The dose of the drug used
according to physicians
Powder:
3-6gm
Decoction:
50-100ml
Diarrhea:
According to Ayurveda, Diarrhea is called Atisar. Usually, diarrhea occurs due to mental stress, improper food, water, environmental toxins. Diarrhea occurs due to the imbalance of Vata. This brings the fluid into the intestines and mixes it with stool which leads to diarrhea. Kutaj control diarrhea by its Grahi (absorbent) and Kashaya (astringent) activity
Take the required amount of kutaj powder as per the dose and duration advised by the doctor and mix it with water and consume this drink to treat diarrhea
Dysentery:
According to Ayurveda, dysentery is called Pravahika, it occurs due to an imbalance of Vata and Kapha dosha which causes inflammation in the intestine and leads to mucus appearance and blood in the stool. The use of kutaj control the mucus by improving the digestive fire and it also helps to regulate the blood glucose level by reducing the intestine inflammation by its Sita (cold) and Kashaya (astringent) properties.
Take the required amount of kutaj powder as per the dose and duration advised by the doctor and mix it with water and consume this drink to treat dysentery
Bleeding piles:
According to Ayurveda, Piles is called Arsh usually occurs due to the imbalance of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha doshas this leads to constipation and cause edema in the rectal veins which leads to piles. The use of kutaj helps to control the bleeding by reducing the size of the pile mass by its Kashaya (astringent) and Sita (cold) properties.
Take the required amount of kutaj powder as per the dose and duration advised by the doctor and mix it with water and consume this drink to treat piles
Wound healing:
Due to its Ropan (healing) and Sita (cold) activity boiled water of kutaj helps to improve the normal texture of the skin by reducing inflammation
Take the required amount of kutaj powder as per the dose and duration advised by the doctor and boil it with 2 cups of water until it reduces into ½ cup and washes the affected area with this water to heal the wound quickly
Diabetes:
Traditional view: According to Ayurveda, diabetes is known as Madhumeha. It occurs due to the imbalance of Vata and Kapha dosh and impaired digestion. Impaired digestion leads to the accumulation of toxins in the pancreatic cells and affects insulin function. The use of Kutaj control diabetes by maintaining the function of insulin normally by balancing the Vata-Kapha by its Deepan (appetizer) and Pachan (digestive) properties.
Modern view: The use of kutaj helps to reduce the fasting blood glucose level by its anti-diabetic properties
Infections:
Traditional view: According to Ayurveda, infection occurs due to the imbalance of Pitta dosha which may lead to irritation of the skin. The use of kutaj balance the imbalance of Pitta and heal the wound quickly.
Modern view: Kutaj inhibit the growth of bacteria which is responsible for infection by its antibacterial property.
The
kutaj comes in various formulations includes
Internal use:
Kutaj powder:
Take the
required amount of kutaj powder as per the dose and duration advised by the
doctor and mix it with water and consume this drink after your meals
Kutaj capsule:
Take the
required amount of kutaj powder as per the dose and duration advised by the doctor
and take it with water after your meals\
External use:
Take the
required amount of kutaj powder as per the dose and duration advised by the
doctor and boil it with 2 cups of water until it reduces into ½ cup and washes
the affected area with this water to heal the wound quickly
Is Kutaj powder
available in the market?
Yes, it is available in
the market and it can be brought from online websites or ayurvedic medical
stores.
How to store Kutaj
powder?
It should be stored
in an airtight container and keep the medicines away from the heat and light
and Do
not keep the medicines reaching out to children
Is Kutaj good for rheumatoid arthritis?
Yes, helps to reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis by reducing
the ama
