Herb / Mineral of the Month

Nagkeshar

Botanical Name : Mesua ferrea
Family Name: Clusiaceae



Part Used: FLOWER, SEED

Origin of Herbs:  

It is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree up to 13 m tall, often buttressed at the base with a trunk up to 90 cm in diameter. It has simple, narrow, oblong, dark green leaves 7-15 cm long, with a whitish underside; the emerging young leaves are red to yellowish pink and drooping. The flowers are 4-7.5 cm diameter, with four white petals and a centre of numerous yellow stamens.

The flowers are acrid, anodyne, digestive, constipating, stomachic. It is used for railroad ties and structural timber. They are useful in conditions like asthma, leprosy, cough, fever, vomiting, impotency. The seed oil is considered to be very useful in conditions like Vata and skin diseases.

Healing power:

The leaves are applied to the head in the form of a poultice for severe colds. The seed oil is considered to be very useful in conditions like Vata and skin diseases. The root of this herb is often used as an antidote for snake poison. The dried flowers are used for bleeding hemorrhoids and dysentery with mucus. Fresh flowers are also prescribed for excessive thirst, excessive perspiration, cough and for indigestion.

Piles:

Powder of flower buds of Nagkesar in a dose of 3-6 gms, if taken with butter or sweet less curd , it immediately checks bleeding & pain .

Digestive Disorder:

Powder of Nagkesar If taken with water Sweetend with sugar relieves abdominal colic, aids digestion.

According to Ayurvedic principles Nagkesar augments digestive “fire” (Agni).

Other use:

In a study of, the plant to assess its putative sex-steroidal activity, no oestrogenic or progestational activity was found. Its use in menorrhagia may he due to its action on capillaries. Oil is used to treat skin diseases and its local application is also recommended in rheumatism.

Ayurvedic Supplements that contains Nagkesar :