BOTANICAL NAME: Strychnos potatorum Linn.
FAMILY: Loganiaceae
CLASSICAL CLASSIFICATION
Charaka- Vishaghana
Shushruta- Parushakadi gana
Bhavapraksha- Amradi phala varga
ENGLISH NAME: Clearing nut
COMMON NAME:
Hindi: Nirmali
Punjabi: Nirmali
Bengali: Kevu
Kannada: Chenglavaa-Koshtu, Changalvakosht
REFERENCE: BHAVAPRAKASH SAMHITA with link e Nighantu:
https://niimh.nic.in/ebooks/e-Nighantu/bhavaprakashanighantu/?mod=read
पयःप्रसादिः कतकः कतकं तत्फलं च तत् |
कतकस्य फलं नेत्र्यं जलनिर्मलताकरम् |
वातश्लेष्महरं शीतं मधुरं तुवरं गुरु ||९०||
HABITAT: A tall tree occurring plentifully in deciduous forests in most of the parts of the country upto 400 m.
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION:
Seed up to 8 mm dia., circular, bluntly lenticular, shiny with short, appressed
silky hairs; cream-white in color with a slightly prominent ridge round the border, no
bitterness.
AYURVEDIC CHARACTERSTICS:
| RASA | GUNA | VEERYA | VIPAKA | PRABHAVA | DOSHGHNTA |
| Madhura, Tikta,
Kasaya |
Laghu
Vishada |
Sheeta | Madhura | Chakshusya | Vaat shamak |
AYURVEDIC ENERGETICS:
| TASTE | PROPERTY | POTENCY | POST DIGESTIVE EFFECT | EFFECT ACTION | DOSHA ACTION |
| Sweet
Bitter Astringent |
Light | Cold | Sweet | Improve vision | Pecifying vata |
MAJOR CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: Glycoside, Alkaloids, Oleanolic acid and Novacine.
THERAPEUTIC USES:
- Eye diseases- The seeds of kataka are rubbed in a clean stone and the paste is applied as Anjana to treat various eye diseases.
- Wound healing- The powder of the seed is mixed with appropriate quantity of honey and applied over wound.
- Eczema- The paste of the root kataka is applied over the skin area affected with eczema.
- Diarrhea- The powder of kataka seeds is given in of 3-4 gm to treat indigestion and diarrhea.
INDICATIONS
Aruci Anorexia, Krimi Worm infestation, Prameha Diabetes, Mutrakrcchra Difficulty in micturition, Netraroga Eye disorders.
USEFUL PART: Seed
DOSAGE: 3-6gm
AYURVEDIC FORMULATION:
1. Dasmularisht
2. Niruryadi Gutiika