Rakta Chandana is a tree reaching upto 15-30 feet height and possess yellow flowers. It is useful in conditions like burning sensation, hyper acidity, skin diseases, blood impurities and for beauty purposes. Rakta Chandana Pterocarpus santalinus grows mainly in the forest of Eastern ghats in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil nadu and Karnataka.
Synonyms
In Ayurveda, many synonyms of Rakta Chandana Pterocarpus santalinus has been described in Sanskrit. Few of them are listed below –
- Rakta sara – It’s heart wood is red in colour
- Hari chandana
- Ranjana
- Kuchandanam
Ayurvedic categorization
In Ayurvedic classics, plants have been categorized under Varga and Gana. Like wise Rakta Chandana Pterocarpus santalinus comes under –
- According to Sushruta – Patoladi Gana, Sarivadi Gana, Priyangvadi Gana.
- According to Vagbhatta – Patoladi Gana.
- According to Kaiyadeva Nighantu – Aushadi Varga
- According to Bhavaprakasha Nighantu – Karpuradi Varga
Vernacular Names
Rakta Chandana Pterocarpus santalinus is known by different names in different languages.
- English – Red sandal wood, Red Saunders
- Hindi – Lalchandan, Rakta Chandan, Rakta Chandan
- Gujarati – Ratanjali, Lal Chandan
- Kannada – Rakta Chandana, Honne
- Telugu – Erra chananam, Perra Chandanamu, Agaru gandhamu, Errachandanam, Raktachandanam, Rakta ghandham
- Malayalam – Tilapaparni, Patrangam
- Tamil – Shivappu, Atti, Chensandanam, Semmaram, Sivaffu Chandanam
- Bengali – Rakta Chandan
- Marathi – Tambada Chandan, Raktachandan
Systemic Clasification
- Kingdom – Plantae
- Division – Magnoliophyta
- Class – Magnoliopsida
- Order – Fabales
- Family – Fabaceae
- Subfamily – Faboideae
- Genus – Pterocarpus
- Species – Santalinus
Useful Parts
Following parts of Rakta Chandana Pterocarpus santalinus are used as medicine –
- Heart Wood
Ayurvedic Properties
In Ayurveda, properties of every plants / drug is described by Rasa, Guna, Veerya, Vipaka and doshaghnata. Ayurvedic properties of Rakta Chandana Pterocarpus santalinus are as follows –
- Rasa – Tikta, Madhura
- Guna – Guru, Ruksha
- Veerya – Sheeta
- Vipaka – Katu
- Doshakarma – Kapha Pitta shamaka
Karma (Pharmacological actions and indications)
- Daha prashamana (used in burning sensation of body, feet or palm)
- Javaraghna (antipyretic)
- Raktapitta (bleeding disorders)
- Kusthaghna (useful in skin diseases)
- Vishaghna (antidot)
- Chardi nigrahana (used in vomiting)
- Trisna nigrahana (used in excessive thirst)
- Atisara hara (anti dysentery)
- Shira shoola hara (used in headache and migraine)
- Charma roga hara (cures skin diseases)
- Chakshushya (good for eyes)
- Vrisya (aphrodisiac)
Indications
Rakta Chandana Pterocarpus santalinus is indicated in following diseases –
- Raktapitta
- Bhrama
- Jvara
- Daha
Dosage
Rakta Chandana Pterocarpus santalinus may be used in following dosage –
- Heart wood powder – 3 to 6 gm
Fomulations
There are many Ayurvedic Medicines in which Rakta Chandana Pterocarpus santalinus is used as an ingredient.
- Dashanga Lepa
- Parpatadi kwatha
- Amritashtaka kwatha
- Guduchyadi kwatha
- Shadanga paniya
- Chandanadi Lauh
- Guduchyadi Kashayam
- Asanadi Kashayam
Photographs of Rakta Chandana Pterocarpus santalinus
(Click on image to zoom)
image source – tradekey
image source – holteyplanes.com
image source – seeds Alibaba
image source – wikipedia
Image source – theferns.info
Image source – theferns.info
Image source – theferns.info
