Khadira (Catechu)

Khadira खदिर

Acacia catechu · Fabaceae

Common: Catechu · Cutch · Black cutch

tree heartwood shita cultivated

Rasa-Panchaka — five-fold pharmacology

Rasa: kashaya · tikta— tastes at first contact
Guna: laghu · ruksha— qualities
Virya: shita— potency (cooling)
Vipaka: katu— post-digestive effect

The six classical tastes (Ṣaḍ-rasa)

Dosha effect

Vata

·neutral

Pitta

↓pacifies

Kapha

↓pacifies

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

Functions

anti-Kushtha supremeastringentanti-microbialanti-Vyanga (mild)

The premier anti-Kushtha herb in Charaka. Heartwood is decocted (Khadiradi Kashaya), powdered (Khadiradi Vati), or rendered as extract (Khadira Sara = catechu). High tannin + catechin content.

Used in 2 recipes

churna Classical Tooth Powder (Sushruta-Trijata)

Danta-mañjana Cūrṇa · दन्त-मञ्जन चूर्ण

teeth · gums

daily tooth care; fresh breath.

tridoshic

procedure Classical Tambula (Mouth freshener — areca-omitted)

Tāmbūla · ताम्बूल

mouth

fresh breath; post-meal digestion.

kapha