Arka
- asthma |
- boils |
- cold |
- constipation |
- cough |
- earache |
- eczema |
- eye disorders |
- fever |
- gallstones |
- haemorrhoids |
- kidney stones |
- liver |
- skin disorders |
- spleen enlargement |
- worms. |
- Asclepiadaceae |
- Calotropis procera |
- Arka |
- Annavaha |
- Majjavaha |
- Pranavaha |
- Purishavaha |
- Raktavaha |
- Rasavaha
Calotropis procera (Asclepiadaceae)
Table of Contents
Sanskrit Names: Arka
English Name: Madar, Sodom's Apple
Hindu Name: Madara
Bengali: Aakanda
Tamali: Pellerukka
Botanical Name: Calotropis procera
Synonyms: Mudar Yercum Alarka, Bhanu, Bhaskara, ravi, Surya pushpaka, Kshiraparni, Mandara
Family: Asclepiadaceae
Description
Tall shrub up to 2-4 metres in height, yellow – white bark. Leaves: sessile, elliptic, oblong, thick, clothed beneath and above with cotton. Flowers: purplish, white, dilated at the base, pedicles longer than the flowers, covered with cotton wool, buds are ovoid. Roots: Curved, woody, light – greyish white yellow, covered with thick bark.
Varieties: Two types distinguished by the colour of the flower; Calotropis gigantea – Shveta Arka, white flowers. Calotropis procera – Rakta Arka, red flowers.
Principle Constituents
Classical Categories (Gana)
This herb belongs to the following classical groups:
Energetics
Chemical Constituents
A yellow bitter resin; a black acid resin; Madaralbum, a crystalline colourless substance; Madarfluavil, an amber coloured viscid substance; and caoutchouc, and a peculiar principle which gelatinizes on being heated, called Mudarine. Lewin found a neutral principle, Calatripin, a very active poison of the digitalis type. In India the Author's husband experimented with it for paper- making, the inner bark yielding a fibre stronger than Russian hemp. The acrid juice hardens into a substace like gutta-percha. It has long been used in India for abortive and suicidal purposes. Mudar root-bark is very largely used there as a treatment for elephantiasis and leprosy, and is effective in cases of chronic eczema.
Ayurveda Actions
Indications
Gall stones, kidney stones, constipation, liver and spleen enlargement, eczema, skin disorders, boils, asthma, cough, cold, fever, ear ache, haemorrhoids, eye disorders, parasitic conditions – worms.
External use
As it is analgesic, ant inflammatory, vranashodan, anti-dermatosis, anti microbial, it is used in elephantiasis and rheumatoid arthritis. Conditions in which there is inflammation and pain, leaves are heated and bound on the affected area, oil made up of the juice is also used for massage. Oil used in otalgia, deafness. Leaf powder helps wounds heal faster. Brush on teeth for toothache.
Internal use
Circulatory system: Root bark is a cardiac stimulant, purifies blood and is anti inflammatory. Flowers of red variety used in haemorrhagic disorders. Root bark used in cardiac debility, filaria, chancroid ulcers and many other blood diseases.
Digestive system: An emetic, increases appetite, digestive, cholagogue, purgative, anthelmintic. Causes irritation of stomach by stimulating vomiting centre in the brain and thus causes emesis. In anorexia, its latex is used.
Respiratory system: Expectorant and anti asthmatic. Therefore root bark and flowers are used in kaphavata kasa and asthma. Alkaline extract of flowers useful in many disorders.
Skin: As it is a diphoretic, antidermatosis, is therefore used in dermatitis. Very potent remedy for scabies.
Temperature: Febrifuge, also effective in typhoid.
Precautions
High toxic properties. Not wise to use for internal use and maybe not for external. It is a strong irritant to skin. Not available in NZ
Parts Used
Parts used: Root bark, latex, flowers
Dosage: Root bark churna 1-2 gm, Flowers 1-2 gm, Latex 1/8th – 1⁄4 gm, Leaves 2-4 gm
Important Combinations
Preparations: Arka Lavana, Arka Taila, Arka Kshara
Research
