Kutaja, Kurchi (Holarrhena antidysenterica)

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Kutaja, Kurchi (Holarrhena antidysenterica)

The glabrous Kutaja (Horrhena antidysenterica) tree or big shrub is found at low elevations in India's deciduous forests.


  • This plant has opposite, oval leaves that are 10 cm long and 4 to 10 cm wide. The leaves are oriented in reverse directions and have a membrane-like feel.
  • Flowers with five white petals can reach heights of two to three centimeters. It smells slightly of corymbose cymes.
  • This herb produces paired, cylindrical fruits with dehiscing follicles hanging off the stalk.
  • The tree's bark is coarse and has a light brownish or grayish hue.
  • The light brown seeds have tufts of silky hair and come in large numbers.
  • Its parts leak milk if they are damaged.

General Description

One well-known plant that controls pitta and kapha doshas elevation is kutaja. It's a fantastic herb that helps with irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, and other ailments. Fruits, seeds, bark, and flowers are all highly beneficial for medical purposes.


The medicinal herb Kutaj's bark has amoebicidal, diuretic, anthelmintic, and astringent properties. Among the important therapeutic herbs, kutaja has excellent properties for treating amoebic dysentery and other stomach problems.


Chemical Composition

  • In Bark - O-free alkaloids (conessine, conimine), conkurchine group alkaloids (including conessidine) and O-containing alkaloids (holafrine, holarrhetine, holarrhenine).
  • In leaves - Contains alkaloids (kurchiphylline and kurchiphyllamine).

Classification

Kingdom - Plantae

Order - Gentianales

Family - Apocynaceae

Genus - Wrightia

Species - W. antidysenterica


Habitat

Geographically, it grows throughout India and Asian countries up to an elevation of 1300 meters. It grows abundantly in open wastelands and deciduous forests in the sub-Himalayan region. It is widespread in the sub-Himalayan region and in tropical regions of India. grows in Travancore, Assam, and Uttar Pradesh, India, and is found at an elevation of 1,100 meters in the tropical Himalayas.

Names

Sanskrit Name - Indravriksha, Shakra, Vatsa,  Kutaja, Girimallikaa, Kaalinga, Kalingaka, Vatsaka,

English Name - Kurchi, conessi bark, Conessi tree

Hindi Name – Kuda, Kudaiya

Punjabi Name - Kenara

Common name - Country mallow, Heart-leaf

Telugu Name - Kodisepala, Kodaga

Tamil Name - Veppalai

Bengali Name - Karachi, Kurachi

Marathi Name - Kuda

Gujarati Name - Kudo

Kannada Name - Korachi

Malayalam Name - Kodagapala

Oriya Name - Kurei, Keruan

Urdu Name - Kherva


Ayurvedic Properties

Particular

Hindi / Sanskrit

English

Rasa (Taste)

Tikta, Kashaya

Bitter, Astringent

Guna (Physical Property)

Laghu, Rooksha

Light, Dryness

Virya (Potency)

Sheeta

Cold

Vipaka (Post-Digestive Taste)

Katu

Pungent

Effects on Doshas

It balances pitta and Kapha doshas.


Classical Categorization

Charak Samhita

Sushrut Samhita
  • Arshoghna - a group of herbs used to cure piles caused by Arsha.
  • Kandughna - a group of herbs used to soothe itchiness
  • Stanyasodhana - a group of herbs used to cleanse and purify breast milk.
  • Asthapanopaga - a group of herbs used in enema treatments, or Asthapana type of Basti.
  • Aragvadhadhi,
  • Pippalyadi,
  • Haridradim Lakshadi


Properties of Holarrhena antidysenterica

It is rich source of Antitubercular, Antigiardiastic, Antifungal, Antiamoeebiciadal, Antidiarrheal, Hypotensive, Antiprotozoal, Hypoglycaemic, Antispasmodic, Anticancer properties.


Practical Uses

It has the ability to be utilized both externally and internally. Below is a description of the plant's medicinal uses:


  • The herb kutaja is highly helpful in treating amoeba-induced dysentery.
  • It can be used to treat infections, ringworm, scabies, and other skin conditions.
  • This plant's seeds aid in conception. In addition, these help women tone their vaginal tissue after giving birth.
  • It is an excellent treatment for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
  • This herb strengthens the body's immunological system and is a fantastic rejuvenator.
  • By controlling the discharges of blood and mucus, kutaja is an effective treatment for bleeding piles.
  • An effective herbal treatment for colic.
  • It works well when applied to malabsorption as well.
  • extremely beneficial for treating urinary tract infections.
  • Appropriate and successful for digestive disorders that cause vomiting.
  • Since ancient times, youngsters have also utilized it to eradicate worms from their intestines.
  • An oral infection can be treated using an extract from the stem and bark, which also has favorable effects on mouth ulcers.

Part Used

Bark

Leaves

Seeds

Flowers


Dosage

Tincture: 2-4 ml

Powder: 2-4 g

Seed powder: 2-4 g

Decoction and infusion: 30-50 ml