Chakramarda is a medicinal plant well described in Ayurveda. Chakramarda Cassia tora is used in ring worm and other skin diseases. Charaka and Vagbhatta described it by the name of Prapunnada and Edagaja. It is Susruta who used the term Chakramarda for the first time.
- Botanical name of Chakramarda is Cassia tora.
- Family name of Chakramarda is Leguminaceae.
Vernacular Names of Chakramarda Cassia tora
Chakramarda Cassia tora is known by different names in different languages.
- Sanskrit – Chakramarda
- Hindi – Chakaund, chakwad, parwad
- English – Ring worm plant, The foetid cassia
- Tamil – Usitagarai
- Malayalam – Takara
- Telugu – Tagarisha-Chettu
- Kannada – Sojanku
- Bengali – Panevar
- Gujarati – Kuwadiyo
Systemic Classification
- Kingdom – Plantae
- Division – rosopsida
- Order – Fabales
- Family – Fabaceae, Leguminaceae
- Subfamily – Caesalpiniaceae
- Genus – Cassia
- Species – Tora
Classical Categorization
In Ayurvedic classics, plants have been categorized under Varga and Gana. Like wise Chakramarda Cassia tora comes under –
- Acc.to Charaka – Shakavarga
Ayurvedic Properties
In Ayurveda, properties of every plants / drug is described by Rasa, Guna, Veerya, Vipaka and doshaghnata. Ayurvedic properties of Chakramarda Cassia tora are as follows –
- Rasa – Katu
- Guna – Laghu, Ruksha
- Veerya – Ushna
- Vipaka – Katu
- Doshaghnata – Kapha Vata Shamaka
Patra (leaves) and Beeja (seeds) of Chakramarda are having some different properties –
- Rasa – Madhura
- Veerya – Sheeta
- Vipaka – Madhura
Karma (Therapeutic actions)
- Kushtaghna
- Kandughna
- Dadrughna
- Nadibalya
- Anulomana
- Krimighna
- Rechna
- Yakrit uttejana
- Hridya
- Rakta prasadana
- Vishaghna
- Ojo vardhaka
- Medohara
- Lekhana
- Jwaraghna
Therapeutic Uses
Chakramarda is used in skin diseases and Vata roga (musculo skeletal disorders). It may be used externally and internally.
- In vataroga – Chakramarda leaves are used as a vegetable in the dietary preparations.
- Sidhma (a type of leucoderma) – Chakramarda, Sarjarasa, Nimba, Sariva are mixed with kanjika and applied externally.
Indications
Chakramarda Cassia tora is indicated in following diseases –
Internal uses –
- Kushtha (chronic skin diseases), Kandu (itching), charmaroga (skin ailments), kasa (cough), shwasa (ashma and bronchitis), rakta vikara (blood impurities and related diseases), Hridroga (heart diseases), rakta shodhaka (blood purifier), arsha (piles), Kapha -Vata janya vikara, Vata nadi vikara (neurological problems), pakshaghata (paralysis), ardita (facial palsy), vibandha (constipation), krimi (worm infestation), gulma (cysts and tumors), and visha auposargika roga (poison cases).
External Uses –
- Twacha (skin problems), rakta-varna vikara (pigmentation), visha vikriti (poison case), arsha (piles), dadru (a type of skin disease), pama (a skin disease), kandu (itching), gandamala (tubercular cysts in neck), kushtha (chronic skin ailments), sidhma (a type of leucoderma), shiro roga (headache and other diseases related to head) and vrana (wound).
Useful Parts
Following parts of Chakramarda Cassia tora are used as medicine –
- Moola (Root)
- Beeja (Seed)
- Patra (Leaf)
Dosage
Chakramarda Cassia tora may be used in following dosage –
- Beeja Choorna (seed powder) – 1 to 3 gm
- Patra Swarasa (leaves juice) – 6 to12 gm
Formulations
There are many Ayurvedic Medicines in which Chakramarda Cassia tora is used as an ingredient.
- Cakramarda Tailam
- Edagajadi lepam
- Dadrughni vati
Photographs of Chakramarda Cassia tora
(Click on image to zoom)
image – agropedia.iitk.ac.in
image – Srikanth
image – Stephen
image – wikipedia
image – aliexpress.com
image – affiloverseas.com
image – arizone.in
