Dhataki

Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz – Ayurvedic Herb

 

 

Dhataki is mainly emphasized in the ancient ayurvedic texts as one of the most important Formentation products. Hence the names Madypujpa and Madakara.Caraka quoted it among the Fermenting egents (asava yoni). He also described Dhataki among the Purisasangrahaniya and Mutravirajaniya group of drugs.

Nighantu works highlighted its other properties like Garbhasthapaka (fertility agent), Atisara and pravahikakara (antidiarrheal), Visarpa (erycepales), Visa (poisoning) and pradara (menstrual disorders)

 

LITERARY REVIEW

• Charaka quoted it among the fermenting agents (Asava yoni).He aiso described Dhataki among the pureeshasangrahaniya and mutravirachaniya group of drugs.
• Susrutha charecterised it under Priyangvadi and Ambashtadi.
• Vagbahata charecterised it the same way as that of Susrutha.
• Nighantu works highlighted its other properties like garbhasthapaka(fertility),atisara and pravahikahara(antidiarrhoeal),visarpa(erysepales),visa(poisoning) andpradara(menstrual disorders).

 

SYNONYMNS

Dhataki-: The drug is useful in many diseases or the flowers are beautiful to look at.

Tamrapushpi-: Flowers are reddish brown or coppery coloured.

Vahnijwala-: During flowering season the flowers look like flame of fire.

Subhiksha-: There is no scarcity of drug or grows abundantly.

Madyavasini-: Flowers are used for fermentation of asava or arishta.

Bahupuspika-: Plenty of flowers on the plant.

Paarvatiya-: Prefers hilly region.

Madahetu-: causes fermentation.

Dhatupushpi-: Flowers are red in colour.

 

VERNACULAR NAMES

Hindi-: Dhaya

English-: Fire flame bush

Telugu-: Are puvvu

Tamil-: Dhatharijargi

Gujarathi-: Dhavadi

Bengali-: Dhai

Marathi-: Dhalas

 

USEFUL PART

Flower

Bark

Leaves

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENT

Flowers- Hecogenin, inositol, kaemperol-3-,glucoside, naringenin-7-7 glucoside, tannins (pyrogallol and hydrolysable types ),woodfordins A,B and C, lawsone, botulin etc

 

 

PROPERTIES

Rasa -: kashaya, katu

Guna -: laghu, ruksha

Virya -: Sita

Vipaka -: Katu

Dosaghnatha -: Kapha-Pitta shamaka

 

 

KARMA

Sandhaniya, mutravirachaniya (according to charaka)

Raktapittasamaka, atisara (according to Rajaballabhanighantu)

Kushtaghna (Cha:Chi:7/95)

Jwaraghna (Bhangasena)

Vranaropana (according to Cha:Chi:25/66-67)

Garbhajanana (according to Gadanigraha 6/5-9)

Krimighna (according to Bhavaprakashanighantu)

 

 

USES

According to Dhanwantharinighantu,

• Atisara
• Garbhasthapani
• Krmi
• Raktasrava
• Madakarana
• Vishanashini

 

According to Raja nighantu,

• Madakarana
• Vishanashini
• Visarpa
• Vrananashini

 

According to Bhavaprakaskha,

• Trishna
• Atisara
• Pittasra
• Visa
• Krmi
• Visarpa

 

According to Rajavahana,

• Raktapitta
• Atisara

 

According to madhavadravyagunanighantu

• Raktarshahsravanasini

 

According to Bangasena

• Jwara, atisara

 

THERAPEUTIC USAGE

• Svedapradara – Dhataki powder shall be given with honey.

 

• Prajasthapana- Nilotpala and dhataki are mixed and taken with honey in the morning during Rtukala (period of Ovulation).

 

• Pittabhishyanda- The powder or juice of dhataki and chandana are mixed with breast milk and applied as anjana.

 

RESEARCH AND STUDY

1) Oenothein B exhibiled remarkable host mediated antitumor activity; Woodfordin C also showed anti tumor activity.

(Chem.Pharm.Bull. 1990,38,1211).

2) Woodfordin C showed inhibitory activity towards DNA topoisomerase II .

(Chem.Pharm.Bull.1990,38,2687)

3) Woodfordin D and Ocnothein A exhibited significant host mediated anti tumor activity.

(Chem.Pharm.Bull.1991,39,1157).

4) Extract of flowers possessed significantabortifacient activity in mice.

(Ind.J.Med.Res,1975,63,378)

5) The antipyretic activity of flower is studied in albino rats.

(Alam.et al;1986).

6) Significant immune modulatory activity of W.Fruiticosa flowers is reported.

(Kores et al;1993).

 

MATHRA

Powder – 1-5 g

PushpaChurna – 3-6g

 

YOGAS

According to BhaishajyaRatnavali

• Kutajarishta – Rakthasthambana, Dipana, Grahani
• Pippaliyaasava – Grahani, Yakritbalya, Dipana, Pachana
• Kanakasava – Kasasvasahara, Shoolahara, Kaphasrava,

Peshisankojahara

• Abhayarishta – Dipana, Pachana
• Ashokarishta – Grahani, Dipana, Raktasthambhana,

Varnaprasadhana

• Paarthyadyarishta – Raktaprasadana, Balya, Medhohara

 

According to Astangahridaya

• Abhayarishta – Dipana, Pachana