BOTANICAL NAME: Betula utilis
FAMILY: Betulaceae
CLASSICAL CLASSIFICATION:
Charaka Samhita –Shodhanadi gana
Shushrutha smahita –Salasaradi gana
Bhavaprakasha nighantu– Vatadi varga
ENGLISH NAME: Himalayan Silver birch.
COMMON NAME:
Hindi: Bhojpatra
Punjabi: Bhurj
Kannad: Bhurja Mara
REFERENCE: BHAVAPRAKASH SAMHITA with link e Nighantu:
https://niimh.nic.in/ebooks/e-Nighantu/bhavaprakashanighantu/?mod=read
भूर्जपत्रः स्मृतो भूर्जश्चर्म्मी बहुलवल्कलः |
भूर्जो भूतग्रहश्लेष्मकर्णरुक्पित्तरक्तजित् |
कषायो राक्षसघ्नश्च मेदोविषहरः परः ||३९||
Habitat: Bhojpatra is found in the Himalayan range at an altitude of 2700-4200 m in Sikkim and 2100 to 3600m in Kashmir.
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION: Bhurjapatra is a medium-sized deciduous tree that grows up to the height of 12 to 15 m. The stem of this plant is white while the end skin is pink and is still like paper that gets easily separated from the stem. Leaves of this plant are 5 to 8 cm long, fine-pointed, and are hairy when young. Its female flowers arise in solitary spikes while the male flowers are born in catkins which are in bundles at the end of their branches or may be found with young leaves. These flowers bloom in April and May.
AYURVEDIC CHARACTERISTICS:
| RASA | GUNA | VEERYA | VIPAKA | PRABHAVA | DOSHGHNTA |
| Kaşaya | Laghu, | Usna | Katu | – | Tridoshaśāmaka. |
AYURVEDIC ENERGETICS:
| TASTE | PROPERTY | POTENCY | POST DIGESTIVE EFFECT | EFFECT ACTION | DOSHA ACTION |
| Astringent | Light | Hot | Pungent | – | Pacifying all the three doshas |
MAJOR CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: Botulinum, Lupeol, Oleanic acid
THERAPEUTIC USES:
- Wond healing-The decoction of the bark used for pouring over fresh wounds.
- Discharge from ears- Sesame oil processed with bark of the tree is used as ear drops.
- Psychiatric diseases- The powder of the bark is applied over scalp region.
INDICATIONS:
Visha Toxic conditions, Raktapitta Bleeding disorders, Medohara Reduces fat
USEFUL PART: Bark
DOSAGE:
Bark powder: 1-3 gms
Decoction 5-10ml
AYURVEDIC FORMULATION:
- Aanadi Kashaya
- Ayaskriti