Kutaja (Holarrhena antidysenterica)

Kutaja is very important Ayurvedic herbs. The skin of the bark of kutaj tree is effective remedy for piles, fistula, diarrhoea, parasitic infection etc. The seeds of kutaja are called as Indra’d seeds – Indrayava .Common name Kutaja (Hindi), Sanskrit Kutaja Latin name Holarrhena antidysenterica–Cortex, Semen (Apocynaceae family)

 ENERGETICS

• Rasa (taste) Astringent, pungent, bitter
• Vırya (energy) Cold
• Vipaka (post-digestive effect) Pungent
• Guna (quality) Light, dry
• Dosa effect KP−, V+
• Dhatu (tissue) Plasma, blood
• Srotas (channel) Digestive, lactation, excretory, reproductive

CONSTITUENTS

Alkaloids O-free alkaloids (conessine, conimine), conkurchine group alkaloids (including conessidine) and O-containing alkaloids (holarrhenine, holafrine, holarrhetine) present in bark whereas leaves contain O-containing alkaloids (kurchiphyllamine and kurchiphylline).

BIOMEDICAL ACTION

Astringent, carminative, amoebicidal, vulnerary, alterative, antibacterial, vermifuge

INDICATIONS

Digestion

Kutaja is the best cure of amoebic and bacillary dysentery. It is effective against all type of diarrhoea caused by Entamoeba histolytica, shigella spp. It is also useful for colitis or crohn’s disease.

Piles

Kutaja has good remedy for haemorrhoids with bleeding and protusion. The cause of piles low digestive fire, congested liver, congested vein are corrected by kutaja.

Skin

Kutaja is effective for balancing pitta and raktavaha disease. It is best for kapha pitta type of skin like itching, scaling, inflammations etc.

Bleeding

Kutaja is astringent in taste so it helps to stop bleeding either internal and external including digestive, urinary tract.

COMBINATIONS

* Pomegranate and bibhitaki for diarrhoea and dysentery.

* Fennel, cumin, hingu for bloating and flatulence.

* Ginger, pippali, kutki for piles.

* Sariva, bakuchi, punarnava and manjishtha for suppurating skin problems.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Kutaja is stronger remedy so it is recommended to  use for only a short period at a time, up to a month  maximum.

Contraindicated in aggravated vata or constipation.

DOSAGE

1–12 gm per day powder or 3–12 ml per day

Classical Ayurvedic Preparation

• Kutajarista
• Kutajavaleha
• Kutajaparpati
• Kutajastaka kvatha
• Kutajaghana vati etc.