Kshira-Vriksha (milk-yielding trees)

The four (sometimes five) fig-genus trees whose bark is decocted as a standard cosmetic Drava:

1. Nyagrodha = Ficus benghalensis (banyan)
2. Udumbara = Ficus racemosa (cluster fig / gular)
3. Ashvattha = Ficus religiosa (peepal / sacred fig)
4. Plaksha = Ficus lacor / F. virens (Java fig / pakar)
5. (Optional) Parisha = Thespesia populnea (Indian tulip)

The bark of all five — sometimes called collectively the Kshira-vriksha-tvak — is decocted in equal parts.

Cosmetic applications

• Mukha-prakshalana (face wash): Kshira-vriksha decoction + raw cow milk, splashed on the face. Sushruta Cikitsa 24.8: “this procedure destroys Nilika, dryness in the mouth, pustules or eruptions, Vyanga, and the diseases due to the concerted action of the Rakta and Pitta.”
• As Drava in anti-Vyanga lepas: pasted with the lepa herbs as the vehicle
• As Drava in cosmetic ghritas like the Vyanga-hara Ghrita

The Ficus barks are rich in tannins (astringent) and proanthocyanidins (antioxidant). The classical “milk” association is from the white latex these trees exude — not because they secrete milk literally.

Constituent ingredients (4)

Recipes built from this group (3)