Black catechu
Scientific name of Black catechu: Acacia catechu
Name of Black catechu in different languages:-
English: Cutch tree, Terra Japonica.
Sanscrit: Kuchandan
Hindi: khair
Malayalam: Karingali കരിങ്ങാലി, Gadhira ഖദിര
Plant description:
It is found allover India, including Western Ghats, it is a deciduous, medium armed tree, grows up to 15 m tall. Leaves are small, bi-pinnate compounds and arranged oppositely, dark green, spiny; heartwood is the useful part. The flowers are pale yellow in color, small and have cylindrical spikes. The fruits are oblong pods, flattened and glabrous. The wood sap is whitish yellow in color.
Leaf Arrangement
| Shape-Bipinnate | Margin-Entire | Venation-Pinnate |
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Medicinal uses:
Used in the treatments of Swelling in liver, Blood clotting, Gingivitis, Blood clotting, Enhancing digestion and curing skin disorders, sore throat and diarrhea.
Useful plant parts:
Heartwood, the bark, flowering tops, young shoots, fruits and resin
Chemical content:
Catechins, flavonols, tannins , catechols, and catecholamines.
Medicinal Properties:
Anti-inflammatory, anti-diuretic, anti-pruritic, anti-dyslipidemic, anthelminthic, Astringent, Bactericide, Refrigerant, Stimulant, Masticator and Expectorant
How to prepare medicines:
Liquid is good for people suffering from obesity
The extract is used relieving sore throat
The extract and milk is very useful in cough and bronchitis
The distilled water of the black cautch is used in the relieving of acute body pains.
Black catechu is the one of the ingredients in the Ayurveda medicines like:-
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