Padmaka / Bird Cherry (Prunus Cerasoides)- Ayurvedic Properties, Effects On Doshas & Dosage

Description

Ayurveda is one of the most ancient holistic pathies which helps human beings to stay healthy and disease-free. It was developed more than three thousand years ago to promote good health and maintain a balance between the mind, soul, and spirit. There are three doshas or energies that control our body that are controlled by different body functions. The goal of Ayurvedic treatment is to balance all three of these doshas to detoxify the body and control very basic body functions. It offers a complete system to live a long healthy life, Food and herbs is the major source to gain longevity and balance of all the three doshas.

General Information

India is the largest producer of medicinal plants that are used to manage various conditions in an effective manner, Padmaka is one of the most incredible ayurvedic plants that is used from ancient times to gain various medicinal benefits. This plant belongs to the Rosaceae family and is compiled in various herbal formulations to show its properties. The holistic system of Ayurveda vouches this plant for managing several skin woes with its incredible therapeutic properties, which give the skin get brighter color and glow. It is a medium to tall plant that grows wildly in the Himalayas and is recognized by various names in different languages in English it is named Bird cherry, wild Himalayan cherry in Hindi, Padmaka, Padmak in Malayalam and Gujarati Padmkashtha. It is also a famous plant in the Rosaceae family because its fragrance is almost similar to the lotus. Its famous synonyms are suprabha which means it is very attractive in looks, Hemavarnaka or Peeta rakta which means these are reddish yellow or golden in colour.

Special Note About This Plant

This herb is very beneficial in the pacification of Kapha-pitta dosha.

• Acharya Charak has mentioned this herb in Vedana sthapana mahakashaya, Varnya mahakashaya and in Kashaya Skandh.
• Acharya Sushrut has been mentioned as this herb in Sarivadi Ganna and Chandanadi Ganna.
• Dhanwantri Nighantu, Bhavprakash nighantu, and Raj nighantu have also put their eye on this herb and mentioned its benefits and medicinal properties in their respective textbooks -
• Dhanwantri Nighantu and Raj nighantu - Chandanadi Varga also mentioned this herb for conception and to control Blood- related diseases.
• Kaiyyadeva Nighantu - Aushadhi varga
• Bhavprakash nighantu - described its properties like it is good in pacifying herpes, burns, and other various skin diseases plus helps in conception, aphrodisiac in nature and helpful in managing dehydration.

Systemic Classification

• Botanical Name - Prunus Cerasoides
• Family - Rosaceae
• Genus - Prunus
• Species - P. Cerasoides

Ancient Verses

Shloka - 1

पद्मकं शिशिरं स्निग्धं कषायं रक्तपित्तनुत ।
गर्भस्थैर्यकरम प्रोक्तं ज्वरछर्दिविषापहम।।
मोहदाहज्वरभान्तिकुष्ठविस्फोटशांतिकृत्।

Reference - Dhanwantri Nighantu / Chandanadi Varga

Interpretation of Shloka - This herb is consisting of cold, Kashaya (astringent), snigadh (moist), helps with bleeding disorders, fever, nausea vomiting, poisoning, helps in conception, apoplexy, burning sensations, vertigo, leprosy, and many other skin related diseases.

Shloka - 2

पद्मकं शीतलं तिक्तं रक्तपित्तविनाशनम।

Reference - Raj Nighantu / Chandanadi Varga

Interpretation of Shloka - Padmaka is cold in nature, tikta (bitter), and is helpful in various bleeding disorders.

Shloka - 3

पद्मकं तुवरं तिक्तं शीतलं वातलं लघु।
विसर्पदाहविस्फोटकुष्ठश्लेष्मास्रपित्तनुत।
गर्भस्थापनं रूच्यं वमिव्रणतृषाप्रणुत्।

Reference - Bhavprakash Nighantu / Karpuradi Varga

Interpretation of Shloka - This herb is Kashaya (astringent), tikta (bitter), is coolant and light so may elevate the vata dosha and we can use this herb in Herpes, burns, skin conditions, Kapha dosha, and bleeding disorders. It is helpful in conception, enhances appetite, reduces vomiting, and ulcers/ wounds, as well as relieves dehydration.

Habitat

• This is a medium to a tall growing tree successfully found in the Himalayas from Akka and Khasi Hills in Assam and Manipur or from Kashmir to Bhutan situated at an elevation of 8000 feet from the sea level. This grows in a temperate climate where shady and farming is done effectively.
• This can be of medium size or may have bigger trees, these are looking so radiant and charming when the flower blooms.
• Its stem or bark is round, looks the gleam of blood red colour and consists of nodular growths, this gives fragrance same as lotus. Its skin is moist brown in colour. Its bark sheds off gradually into small pieces.
• Its leaves are three to five inch long, consist of spikes, and are unctuous in nature.
• Its flowers are white or reddish in colour and these are bursting into clusters and its pedicles are half to one inch. Its fruits are circular or oval in shape, unctuous, and may grow up to 1.25 cm of red and yellow colour.
• Its pulp is less and the seeds are solid in nature, the pulp is yellow in colour, or blood red in colour with some sour taste.
• In January flowers bloom and in march fruits grow on the tree.

Ayurvedic Properties

• Rasa (Taste) - Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent)
• Guna (Quality) - Laghu (light), Snigadh (Moist)
• Veerya (Potency) - Sheeta (Cold)
• Vipaka (Post digestive effect) - Katu (Pungent)
• Karma (Action) - Balances the Kapha and Pitta dosha
• Projyang (Part used) - Seeds and bark are used

Effects On Doshas

It Balances the Kapha and Pitta dosha and is very helpful in Garbha Sthapana which is helpful in conception by managing the condition of the uterus.

Practical Uses

• This herb is Kapha- pitta dosha shamak so helps in pacifying those diseases that appear due to Kapha and pitta dosha.
• This herb can be used externally by making the paste of its bark or pulp and applied on the skin to improve the complexion, or it can also alleviate the burning sensation and any itching type of symptom.
• This herb helps to manage various kinds of skin diseases like visarp (herpes), and discoloration in the skin.
• This herb also helps on the channel systems like it is used to manage the pain.
• In the digestive system, its astringent rasa is used for stambhan that means which helps to control the flow and helps to control the nauseatic and vomiting feeling.
• So due to its astringent taste, it helps to control abdominal inflammation, vomiting, or dehydration-like diseases.
• In the circulatory system, this herb helps to manage various types of blood disorders like thinning of blood or clots in the blood, and hyperlipidemia.
• In Urinary tract disorders, this herb works like a diuretic, so used to expel out stones, or manages the hyper glycosuria state.
• Due to its coolant property and astringent taste this herb helps in conception and decreases the chances of having an abortion.
• This acts as an antidote for various poisonings.
• In over sweating and skin diseases, this herb is showing its wonderful results.
• This is also used in feverish symptoms.

Dosage

• Heartwood or bark powder - 1 to 3 grams.
• Decoction or fruit juice - 40 to 50 ml in divided doses.