BOTANICAL NAME: Semicarpus anacardium
FAMILY: Anacardiaceae
CLASSICAL CLASSIFICATION:
Charaka: Deepaniya, Bhedaniya, Kushtaghna, Mutrasangrehniya.
Sushruta: Nyagrodhadi Gana, Mustadi Gana.
Bhavaprakash:Haritkyadi Varga.
ENGLISH NAME: Marking Nut
COMMON NAME: Bilva
Hindi– Bhilawa, belatak, bhela, bhilava
English– Marking nut, Ink nuts
Kannada– Aginimukhi, bhallataka,chera, gerkayi,kerubija.
Bengali– Bhallata
REFERENCE: BHAVAPRAKASH SAMHITA with link e Nighantu:
https://niimh.nic.in/ebooks/e-Nighantu/bhavaprakashanighantu/?mod=read
भल्लातक
भल्लातकं त्रिषु प्रोक्तमरुष्कोऽष्करोऽग्निकः |
तथैवाग्निमुखी भल्ली वीरवृक्षश्च शोफकृत् ||२००||
भल्लातकफलं पक्वं स्वादुपाकरसं लघु |
कषायं पाचनं स्निग्धं तीक्ष्णोष्णं छेदि भेदनम् ||२०१||
मेध्यं वह्निकरं हन्ति कफवातव्रणोदरम् |
कुष्ठार्शोग्रहणीगुल्मशोफानाहज्वरक्रिमीन् ||२०२||
तन्मज्जा मधुरो वृष्यो बृंहणो वातपित्तहा |
वृन्तमारुष्करं स्वादु पित्तघ्नं केश्यमग्निकृत् ||२०३||
भल्लातकः कषायोष्णः शुक्रलो मधुरो लघुः |
वातश्लेष्मोदरानाहकुष्ठार्शोग्रहणीगदान् |
हन्ति गुल्मज्वरश्वित्रवह्निमान्द्यकृमिव्रणान् ||२०४||
HABITAT: Punjab, Assam, Khasi Hills, Madhya Pradesh and Peninsular India.
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION: It is medium sizes tree reaching up to height of 12- 15 m. Bark is dark brown and leaves are simple 17.5-60 cm ×10 – 30 cm obovate and oblong. Flowers small dull and greenish yellow in terminal panicles. Drupes 2.5 cm long obliquely ovoid, shining, black when ripe situated on fleshly orange colour receptacle. The flashy carpel can be eaten when quite ripe. The pericarp abounds in black oily and highly vesicant juice which was used for making linen. Flowering around the year mainly in May and June. Fruit in November and Februrary
AYURVEDIC CHARACTERISTICS:
| RASA | GUNA | VEERYA | VIPAKA | PRABHAVA | DOSHGHNTA |
| Madhur, tikta, katu, Kashaya | Laghu,snigdh | Ushna | Madhur | Twakvikar | Kapha- vata har |
AYURVEDIC ENERGETICS:
| TASTE | PROPERTY | POTENCY | POST DIGESTIVE EFFECT | EFFECT ACTION | DOSHA ACTION |
| Sweet, bitter, Pungent, Astringent | Light, Unctuous | Hot | Sweet | Skin disorder | Kapha vata pacifying |
MAJOR CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: Nicotine acid, Riboflavin, thiamine and essential amino acids
THERAPEUTIC USES:
- Hairs: Bark is used for hairs.
- Skin disease: Milk medicated with bhallataka is used for skin diseases.
- Anti aging: 1/2- 1 gm given along with ghee.
INDICATIONS:
Bhedan purgative, medhya improve intelligence, vranahara wound healing, arshahara piles, gulma distension of abdomen, shopha inflammation, anaha bloating, jwara fever.
USEFUL PART: Phala
DOSAGE: Oil 10-20 drops, Confection 3-5 Kshirpak 10 – 30 ml
AYURVEDIC FORMULATION:
- Bhallataka parpti
- Bhallataka tail
- Bhallataka lavan