It is an important medicinal plant that is used in the treatment of
various ailments. The botanical name for Nagkesar is Mesua ferrea which belongs
to the Caryophyllaceae family. It is a national tree of Sri Lanka. According to
Ayurveda, it is used to treat fever, vomiting, urinary tract disorders, and
migraines
English – Naghas
Kannada – Kanchana
Malayalam – Nagachempakam
Tamil – Irul, karunangu
Assam – Nabor
Bhar – Nagakeshur
Farsi – Naremushk
Bengali – Nagesar
Marathi – Nagachampa
Punjabi – Naga kesar
Telugu – Naga kesaralu
Oriya – Nageshvar
Nagkesar
is originated in Sri Lanka and is found in the eastern Himalayas, Bengal,
Assam, Eastern and Western ghats, Andaman islands of India.
It is an
evergreen tree that grows at the height of 13mm 90 cm in diameter. The leaves
are 3 to 5 inches long and it is simple, narrow and dark green and the new
leaves are red and it turns yellow. Flowers are 4 to 7.5cm in diameter with
four white petals. The fruits are oblong which is 2.5to5cm long and the seed is
1 to 4 numbers and it is brown.
Parts
used: Fruits, Seeds, and Flowers
Taste:
Astringent, Bitter
Potency:
Hot
On chemical compound analysis of the Nagkesar, it includes
Essential oil, fatty acids, and Oleo-resin, mesuol, mesuaxanthofle A
and B,
mammeisin, mamiflegin and mesuol, mesuaferrofle glycoside, cyclohexadiene,
mesuaferrol, sitosterol, octadecatriefloic, and hexadecanolic acids, mesuanic
acid, alpha, and beta amyrine, beta-sitosterol, lucoanthocyanidin, mesuone,
mammeigin, mesumeigin, mesuagin, mesuaxanthone Aand B, euxanthone and ferruol A
and B
ACTIONS:
Anti-poisonous
Antimicrobial
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-peptic
Antipyretic
Anthelmintic
Anti-asthmatic
Anti-allergic
Central nervous system depressant
Antispasmodic
Antineoplastic
Immunostimulant
The flower of this herb is used in the treatment of cough, piles, abnormal
bleeding from the womb.
The oil produced from the stamen of the flower has antifungal and
antibacterial properties
The flower buds are used to treat dysentery
In Bihar, it is used for cleaning the uterus after the delivery
Oil
produced from the seeds are used to treat rheumatism
The dose of the drug used
according to the physician
Power: 1-3g in divided
dose
Nagkesar helps to reduce
the blood sugar level, monitor the blood glucose level if you are taking any
other anti-diabetic drug along with Nagkesar
Nagkesar helps to reduce
the blood pressure, monitor the blood pressure if you are taking any other
antihypertensive drug along with Nagkesar
Due to its hot potency
dilute the nagkesar oil with coconut oil
Do not use this herb if
you are allergic to the constituents of the Nagkesar
Kindly avoid using this
herb during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Indigestion:
According to Ayurveda, Indigestion occurs due to the incompleted
digestion, and it occurs due to an imbalance of Kapha and weak digestive fire.
The use of Nutmeg helps to improve the digestive fire and easily digest the
food by its Deepan (appetizer) and Pachan (digestive) activity
Take the required amount of Nagkesar powder as per the dose and
duration advised by the doctor and consume it with honey or lukewarm water
after your meals to treat indigestion
Fever:
According to Ayurveda, fever occurs depending upon the dosha involved.
Usually, fever occurs due to the accumulation of toxins due to the weak
digestive fire. The use of Nagkesar boiled water helps to reduce the fever by
removing the excess toxin from the body and by its Deepan and Pachan effect.
Take the required amount of Nagkesar powder as per the dose and
duration advised by the doctor and consume it with honey or lukewarm water
after your meal
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 nagkesar helps to
control the bleeding by reducing the size of the pile mass by its Kashaya
(astringent)
Take the required amount of Nagkesar powder as per the dose and
duration advised by the doctor and consume it with honey or lukewarm water
after your meal
Asthma:
According to the Ayurveda, asthma occurs due to the imbalance of Vata
and Kapha doshas in the lungs which results in obstruction in the passages in
the respiratory. The use of nagkesar treats asthma by balancing the imbalance
of Vata and Kapha doshas this helps to reduce the blockage in the respiratory
passage by removing the excess mucus in the lungs.
Take the required amount of Nagkesar powder as per the dose and
duration advised by the doctor and consume it with honey or lukewarm water
after your meal
Heavy
bleeding:
According
to Ayurveda, heavy menstrual bleeding occurs due to the imbalance of Kapha
dosha. The use of nagkesar helps to treat leucorrhea by balancing the imbalance
of Kapha dosha by its Kashaya (astringent) property.
Take the
required amount of nagkesar powder as per the dose and duration prescribed by
the doctor and mix it with lukewarm water to reduce the symptoms of leucorrhea
and regulate heavy bleeding
Pain and inflammation:
Traditional
view: According to Ayurveda, pain, and inflammation occurs due to the imbalance
of Vata. The use of nagkesar reduces pain and inflammation by balancing the
Vata properties and hot potency.
Take the required amount of Nagkesar powder as per the dose and
duration advised by the doctor and mix it with lukewarm water make it as paste
and apply it to the affected area and wash it with tap water to get relief from
pain
Wound
healing:
Nagkesar helps to heal the wound quickly by decreasing the swelling
and bring the skin texture into normal. Due to its Ropan (healing) activity
Take the required amount of nagkesar oil as per the dose and duration
prescribed by the doctor and mix it with coconut oil. Apply this on the
affected area to heal the wounds.
The
Nagkesar comes in various formulations includes
Nagakesar powder:
Take the required amount of Nagkesar powder as per the dose and
duration advised by the doctor and consume it with honey or lukewarm water
after your meal
Take the required amount of Nagkesar powder as per the dose and
duration advised by the doctor and mix it with lukewarm water make it as paste
and apply it to the affected area and wash it with tap water to get relief from
pain
Nagakesar
oil:
Take the required amount of nagkesar oil as per the dose and duration
prescribed by the doctor and mix it with coconut oil. Apply this on the
affected area to heal the wounds
Is Nagkesar 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 Nagkesar
oil?
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
Can we use Nagakesar seed oil as fuel?
No, you should not use this as a substitute for gasoline and petroleum
Does Nagkesar powder cause
constipation?
No, the use of nagkesar helps to increase the digestive ire by its
Laghu property