Lodhra (Symplocos Racemosa) - Properties, Benefits & Dosage
Description of Lodhra Plant
Lodhra is an evergreen medium size tree with height of 6-8.5m.
- Lodhra Leaves: 3 to 4 inches long, circular or oval shaped, leaf stalk is small and it is velvety to touch.
- Lodhra Flower: Flowering generally occurs in the month of November and continues till the month of February. Flowers are cream colored, small in size and are mostly found in clusters.
- Lodhra Fruit: Purple blackish in color and are about 1.5 inches long, leathery.
- Lodhra Seed: Its fruits contain about 1 to 3 seeds.
- Lodhra Bark: It is light brown in color
General Description
Lodhra basically means the one which helps in making the body firm.
This herb is even mentioned as divya aushadhi (Divine herb). Lodhra (Symplocos racemosa) is among the best Ayurveda herbs to alleviate all the health issues of females. It is recommended for gynecological problems especially in frequent abortions.
Lodhra Powder nourishes the skin and give benefits in acne, wrinkles and other health issues related with skin because of this it is an important ingredient of Ayurveda skin care packs. Lodhra also possesses anti-diabetic and liver protecting characteristics.
This herb is useful in pacifying Kapha - Pitta dosha and diseases arising from these.
Bark of Lodhra Tree has been traditionally used as a uterine tonic. Its great valuable use in maintaining optimum health in women has been found. Additionally, the tree and its formulations have been effective in controlling bleeding and digestive disorders.
Chemical composition
- Loturine - 0.25 %
- Colloturine - 0.02 %
- Loturidine - 0.06 % along with them it contains glycosides
Classification
- Kingdom - Plantae
- Division - Magnoliophyta
- Sub-division - Spermatophyta
- Class - Magnoliopsida
- Sub-class - Dilleniidae
- Order - Ebenales
- Family - Symplocaceae
- Genus - Symplocos
- Spices - Racemosa
Names of Lodhra
- Lodhra Hindi Bengali name - Lodhra, Lodha, Lodh
- Lodhra English Name - Symplocos tree or Lodh tree, Symplocos bark
- Lodhra Telugu Name - Lodhuga
- Lodhra Tamil Name - Belli lotai, Vellileti, Vellilathi, Vellilothram
- Lodhra Guajarati Name - Lodhara, Lodhar
- Lodhra Malayam Name - Pachotti
- Lodhra Kannada Name - Pachettu
- Lodhra Oriya Name - Lodho
- Lodhra Assamese Name - Mugam
- Lodhra Bengali Name - Lodha, Lodhra
- Lodhra Kannada Name - Lodhra
- Lodhra Marathi Name - Lodha, Lodhra
- Lodhra Punjabi Name - Lodhar
- Lodhra Urdu name - Lodh, lodhpattani
Habitat
It is usually found in north-east India, Assam and Pegu regions of India. The herb is also found in Nagpur, Manipur and Burma.
Ayurvedic Properties of Lodhra
| Hindi / Sanskrit | English | ||
| Rasa | Kashaya, Tikta | Taste | Astringent, Bitter |
| Guna | Laghu, Ruksha | Physical Property | Light, Dry |
| Virya | Sheeta | Potency | Cold |
| Vipaka | Katu | Metabolic Property (After Digestion) | Pungent |
Lodhra Effects on Doshas
It balances Pitta and Kapha doshas.
| Charak Samhita | Sushrut Samhita |
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Practical Uses of Lodhra (Symplocos racemosa)
According to Ayurvedic texts the main indication of Lodhra is to maintain the pitta (Agni) and the kapha (phlegm) in the body. Lodhra contains khashayras (Astringent) due to this formulations made from the bark are generally used to soothe the pitta and its ill effects in our body.
- Lodhra is especially used to improve the women's health.
- In diseases like Menorrhagia (excessive bleeding during menstrual cycle), it is highly effective as it relaxes the uterine tissues and acts on the relaxed mucus membranes.
- Lodhra has proved to be very useful in problem like leucorrhoea (white discharge).
- The herb is even prescribed to the women after their delivery.
- This herb helps in detoxification of body.
- Lodhra is indicated in eye disease, powder formation of its bark along with ghee is used in eyes.
- It helps in maintaining the shape of body.
- The herb is clearly referred in Ayurvedic texts that Lodhra helps in making the body attractive and skin glow.
- Lodhra is is Grahi (absorption enhancing), Sheeta (cooling) and Laghu (light) which itself is a unique combination that is very useful in reducing inflammation and heaviness in the body.
- The herb is used in epistaxis (Raktpitta) people who have high pitta generally experience nose bleeding and the Grahi (absorbing) quality of Lodhra helps in thickening of blood to stop hemorrhage (bleeding).
- Lodhra lepa (paste) form is used to treat the skin diseases like leprosy.
- Combination of sugar, ghee and a paste of Lodhra leaves are used to treat cough.
- Powdered formation of the bark of Lodhra is used to heal wounds. Lodhra actually lowers the PH of the body due to which inflammation process is slow which gradually leads to increased wound healing process.
Part Used
Bark of Lodhra tree has medicinal uses.
Dosage
- 3-6 gm powder
- 50-100 ml of decoction
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