Citraka (White-Flowered Leadwort)

Citraka चित्रक

Plumbago zeylanica · Plumbaginaceae

herb root ushna cultivated

Rasa-Panchaka — five-fold pharmacology

Rasa: katu— tastes at first contact
Guna: laghu · ruksha · tikshna— qualities
Virya: ushna— potency (heating)
Vipaka: katu— post-digestive effect

The six classical tastes (Ṣaḍ-rasa)

Dosha effect

Vata

↓pacifies

Pitta

↑aggravates

Kapha

↓pacifies

pacifies (↓) aggravates (↑) neutral (·)

Functions

digestive stimulantanti-Kushtha (cautious external)

White-flowered leadwort root. Plumbagin is the active — anti-microbial but a topical irritant. Cosmetic limit: ≤ 1 % in formula; never on broken skin.

Used in 3 recipes

taila Bhringaraja-Mahabhringa Taila (Anti-hair-fall master oil)

Mahābhṛṅgarāja Taila · महाभृङ्गराज तैल

scalp · hair

Khalitya (hair fall); Indra-lupta (alopecia).

vatapitta

ghrita Mahanila Ghrita (Deep anti-leucoderma ghee)

Mahānīla Ghṛta · महानील घृत

body

severe Kushtha — incurable form; Shvitra (leucoderma).

kaphapitta

taila Vajraka Taila (Anti-Kushtha medicated oil)

Vajraka Taila · वज्रक तैल

body

Kushtha; malignant ulcers.

kaphapitta excluded

Safety flags

Topical irritant — limit ≤ 1 %
Never on broken skin