Botanical Name : Barringtonia acutangula (Linn.) Gaertn.
Family : Lecythidaceae; Barringtoniaceae
Introduction :
Latin name: Barringtonia = after Hon. Dianes Barington F R. S.; acutangula = having acute pointed angles with sharp edges.
Names in different Indian languages :
English : Indian Oak.
Hindi : Samudraphal
Kannada : Holekavu
Malayalam : Nirpelu ,attupelu,Samudraphalm
Sanskrit : Hijjal
Tamil : Kadappai, Samudraphullarm
Telugu : Kanapa,kanigi
Unani : Samandarphal
Synonyms :
Nichula, Hijjala, Ijjala, Vidula, Ambuj.
Eugenia acutangula L
Varieties & adulterants – (CV – controversy, AD – adulterants) :
Argyreia nervosa – CV
Rhus parviflora Roxb –CV
B. racemosa (L.) Roxb – CV
Morphology :
The tree grows 10-15 mts. high. Trunk – outer surface is greyish, whereas the inner one is white in colour.
Leaves – 15 x 6 cm. oblong,
flowers – brownish, with 30 cm. long stalk.
Fruits 6 – 12 cm. x 3 – 5 cm, centrally thick.
Properties :
Guna: laghu.ruksha,tikshna;
Rasa tikta, katu, madhur;
Vipaka: katu:
Virya: ushna.
Prabhav: emetic;
Dosha: kaphapittashodhan, vatashaman
Karma :
Vachyam, krimighna,bitter, acrid, anthelmintic, expectorant, emetic , haemostatic
Srotogamitva :
Dosha: Kapha (shodhan), pitta (shodhan), vata (shaman).’
Dhatu: Rakta (cough, dyspnoea, enlargement of the spleen); rasa (dysmenorrloea).
Mala: Mutra (pyuria); purisha (anthelmintic).
Organ: Uterine contraction (obstructed labour and dysmenorrhoea).
Indication :
Krimi, daham, sirorujam
diarrhoea , blennorrhoea, gingivitis, fever, skin disease, cough, piles, leucorrhoea
Part used :
Whole plant
Dosage :
Leaf juice 10-15 ml
Powder 2-4 g
Decoction 50-100 ml
Uses :
Seeds are analgesic, lekhan and are especially-used for nasya. Paste prepared from the seeds is locally applied to relieve pain. In eye diseases and j it is used as an eye ointment. Hijjal is useful as an emetic in diseases caused by kapha a s a purgative in pitta diseases, It is therefore used in ascites. intestinal worms and diarrhoea. Since it is a blood purifier, it is used in blood disorders. Also useful in bronchitis and asthma. Mixture of hijjal powder + Vitex nigundo + sugar is useful in typhoid, splenic enlargement and chronic lever
Distribution & Habitat :
Himalayas, bank of the Yamuna, Ayodhya, Bengal, Central and Southern India and Burma. Water turns foamy due to’ its saponin content.
