Ketak / Scre pine / Pandanus odorotissimus - Classification, Ayurvedic Properties & Dosage

Description

Herbs can be used in an unlimited number of ways like can be used in dried or fresh form, these are also a very important component to protect our body from diseases, and gives many health benefits, by improving our immunity and mental health. Here, we are going to discuss a herb named ketak with its nutritional importance and health benefits. Ketak or ketaki is recognised by Pandanus odoratissimus and belongs to the family Pandanaceae. The tree of this herb is found in the temperate climate and grows fairly quickly, is a palm-like tree of a height of 3-4 metres. This is highly recognizable for its Kapha-pitta shamak properties.

Ketak Ayurvedic Properties, Benefits of Ketak, Botanical Name of Ketak, Classification, Effects On Doshas, Synonyms, Pandanus odorotissimus, Scre pine, Health, Dosage, Ayurvedic products

Special Note About This Plant

Ketak is a herb of the botanical name Pandanus odoratissimus and belongs to the family Pandanaceae.
Ketak herb is used for the management of Diabetes, recurrent threatened abortions, fever, joint pain, otalgia condition, and psychiatric conditions.
The principal constituent in ketaki is Pandanus, which consists of essential oils, terpene-4-ol, benzyl salicylate, and methyl ether of beta phenyl ethyl alcohol.
This herb is blooming in the rainy season, and its fruiting time is the summer season.

Systemic Classification

Botanical Name - andanus odoratissimus
Family - Pandanaceae
Genus - Pandanus
Species - P. odorifer

Synonyms

Ketak, Soochipushap - Sharp flowers resemble a needle.
Kakchchad - Its leaves are toothed, and are off having sharp ends.
Trinn shoonya

Other Vernacular Names

In Hindi - Kewda
In Gujarati - kewado
In Bengali - keya
In Tamil - Jawnaan, Chedi
In Telugu - Mogali chettu
In Farsi - kadi
In English - Screw Pine

Habitat

It is a small branched palm tree height of 10-12 feet, with a flexuous trunk that is heavily filled with small branches. This is supported by brace roots, it's looking like touching the ground due to its shoots being downwards towards the ground.
Leaves are grown in clusters that are 40-70 cm in length, sword-shaped, greenish blue in colour, and stiff. Its above part is stiffed, middle and end part is toothed.
Flowers are fragrant and have a sweet, perfumed odour that resembles the fragrance of a rose, but it's more fruity.
Its male flowers are used mostly, distilled, and stored in a watery distillate called kewra water.
Fruits are round, 4 to 10 inches long, and 4 to 8 inches in diameter, are of deep greenish colour, found in cluster form.
This plant commonly grows near seashores, ponds, and river banks. It propagates quickly with seeds or branch cutting.
In the rainy season, a flower blooms, and in the summer season fruits appear.

Classical Categorisation

Acharya Bhavprakash has mentioned this herb in Puspa Varga.
Kaiyyadev Nighantu has mentioned this herb in Vihara Varga.
In Raj Nighantu, this herb is mentioned in Karveeradi Varga.

Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa (Taste) - Tikta (Bitter), Madhur (Sweet), Katu (Pungent)
Guna (Quality) - Laghu (light), Snigadh (Moist)
Veerya (Potency) - Ushna (hot)
Vipaka (Post digestive effect) - Katu (Pungent)
Karma (Action) - Balances the Vata, Pitta, and Kapha dosha.
Projyang (Part used) - Flowers and their roots are used for medicinal purposes.

Effects on Doshas

Due to its snigadh and ushna gunna, this herb helps to pacify the Vata dosha.
Due to its tikta and Madhur rasa, this herb helps to pacify the Kapha and pitta dosha.
So in short we can say that this herb works on each dosha and helps to balance the body.
Specifically, according to all the properties, this herb strongly works on Kapha and pitta dosha.

Practical Uses

This herb helps to alleviate Kapha-pitta disease.
This herb is useful in enhancing the complexion, and also works on skin diseases like eczema, and pruritus.
Ketaki is beneficial as an analgesic, anti-epileptic, good for hair, helps to remove odour, and is good for healing wounds or ulcers.
This is good for soothing the mind and helps to nourish all the nerves.
Its oil is good for back pain, osteoarthritis, and headache.
Its flower juice is good for the apsmara condition.
Its oil is good for the false smell of hair or body.
This herb is good for heart diseases and acts as a heart tonic.
Roots are effective for relieving diabetes.
Leaves, flowers, and fruits are infused to relieve the pain of the joints.
Boosts oral health with its leaf's decoction and a pleasant aroma.
Stop bleeding gums due to their astringent properties.
It may also act as a mild laxative.

Dosage

The powder of this plant can be taken in a moderate amount of 3 to 5 grams.
It's cold infusion and distillate can be taken in 30 to 40 ml.

Ayurvedic Products

Nirgundyadi Tailam
Triphaladi Tailam
Maharajaprasarini Tailam
Neelikadi Tailam
Akik Pishti

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