Chitrak

Chitrak is an herbaceous plant with glabrous stem that are erect, climbing and have numerous stems. This plant grows up to height of 3-4 feet. Leaves are 4cm long, thick, fleshy, sessile, oval and lance-elliptic in shape with hairy margins. Base of the leaf is attenuate and apex is obtuse or acute in shape. Bisexual flowers of this plant are white colored, 10-25cm long and are arranged in terminal and axillary elongated spikes and this plant appears throughout year.

Stalked and sticky substance densely covers the calyx. Calyx is totally covered with granular hair and it is capable of killing and trapping insects by secreting sticky mucilage. Fruits have apex are small and have 5 furrows. Fruits contain single seed that is oblong about 5-6mm long and reddish brown to dark brown in color. Fresh straight and slightly branched roots are light yellow colored and dried roots are reddish brown with a pungent odor.

According to vagbhata there are three varieties of Chitraka

Shweta Chitraka
Peeta Chitraka
Asita Chitraka

Habitat

Plumbago is mainly native to old tropical regions of pacific and Hawaiian island. It is cultivated for medicinal and commercial purposes. Chitrak is densely distributed found in south India and Sri Lanka. In India it is also easily available in Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.

Classification

Kingdom
Plantae

Order
Caryophyllales

Family
Plumbaginaceae

Subfamily
Plumbaginoideae

Vernacular Names

Latin– Plumbago zeylanica
Hindi– Chitrak, Cheeta
English– Leadwort, Doctorbush
Bengali– Chita
Kannada– Chitramula, Vahni
Malayalam– Vellakeduveli
Oriya– Chitamula

Punjabi– Chitra
Telugu– Chitramulam
Marathi– Chitramul
Gujarati– Chitro
Tamil– Chittiri, Chittira
Arabian– Sheetaraj
Farsi– Sheetar

Ayurvedic properties

Hindi / Sanskrit		English
Rasa	Katu	Taste	Pungent
Guna	Laghu, Rookash, Tikshana	Physical Property	Light, Rough, Sharp
Virya	Ushna	Potency	Hot
Vipaka	Katu	Metabolic Property (After Digestion)	Pungent

Effects on Dosha

It balances vata and kapha dosha.

Charak Samhita

Sushrut Samhita

Vagbhata

Deepneya – Herb used to improve appetite and digestion.

Shool prashmana – Herb used to cure abdominal pain.

Arshoghna – Herb used to cure piles.

Lekhneeya – Herbs which have scraping power.

Amalkyadi, Pippladi, Mustadi, Varunadi, Aragvadhadi

Pippalyadi, Mustadi, Varunadi, Aragvadhadi

Practical uses from Plumbago Zeylanica

Root powder of plumbago is very effective for the sufferers of diarrhea and piles.
The main chemical compound plumbagin helps to boost up immunity.
This herb is used to expel out thick nasal mucus which is main cause of recurrent common cold and cough.
It is used to reduce inflammation and very effective in bronchitis and chronic sinusitis.
Root of plumbago is used to increase appetite and stimulate digestive system. It is used to stimulate digestive power and used as carminative.
Roots are also used to cure the spleen enlargement.
Leaves of this plant are capable for treating laryngitis and rheumatism.
External paste of this herb is used to reduce skin inflammation, filariasis and various other disorders associated with skin.
Paste of roots are applied externally on carbuncles, wounds and syphilitic ulcers.
Pure extract of this herb is used in lowering cholesterol level.
It is used to inhibit the growth of cancer causing cells of prostate.
Plumbago enhances liver power and it is also used as liver tonic.
This herb is anti-inflammatory in nature and used to reduce swelling.
It is also beneficial in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
According to Ayurveda Chitrak rejuvenates body and is used as rasayana.
It is used for pacification of vata and kapha dosha.