Kutaj
Kutaj
Kutaj is also known as Sakra and is used for therapeutic benefits. All parts of this plant (bark, leaves, seeds, flowers) are used.
Kutaj has most prominent benefit in managing diarrhea and dysentery due to its antimicrobial activity. It is also useful for managing bleeding piles due to its astringent property.
Ayurveda suggests taking Kutaj powder along with water after having light food to manage diarrhea and dysentery. Washing wounds with Kutaj water helps in faster wound healing due to its Ropan (healing) and Sita (cold) properties[1][3][4].
Kutaj has most prominent benefit in managing diarrhea and dysentery due to its antimicrobial activity. It is also useful for managing bleeding piles due to its astringent property.
Ayurveda suggests taking Kutaj powder along with water after having light food to manage diarrhea and dysentery. Washing wounds with Kutaj water helps in faster wound healing due to its Ropan (healing) and Sita (cold) properties[1][3][4].
What are the synonyms of Kutaj?
Wrightia antidysenterica, Dudhkuri, Kurchi, Ester tree, Conessi bark, Kuda, Kadachhal, Kudo, Kurchi, Kuraiya, Kodasige, Halagattigida, Halagatti Mara, Kogad, Kutakappala, Pandhra Kuda Kurei, Keruan, Kurasukk, Kura, Kudasapalai, Kodisapala, Palakodisa, Kurchi, Sakra
What is the source of Kutaj?
Plant Based
Benefits of Kutaj
1. Diarrhea
Diarrhea is known as Atisar in Ayurveda. It is due to improper food, impure water, toxins, mental stress and Agnimandya (weak digestive fire). All these factors are responsible for aggravating Vata. This aggravated Vata brings fluid in the intestine from various tissues from the body and mixes with the stool. This leads to loose, watery motions or diarrhea. Kutaj helps to control diarrhea by improving the digestive fire. This is due to its Deepan (appetizer) and Pachan (digestive) properties. It also makes the stool thick and controls water loss due to its Grahi (absorbent) and Kashaya (astringent) properties.
Tips:
a. Take 1/4-1/2 teaspoon Kutaj Powder.
b. Mix with water.
c. Have it after taking light food to control diarrhea.
2. Dysentery
Kutaj is useful in digestive disorders like dysentery. Dysentery is known as Pravahika in Ayurveda and is caused by vitiated Kapha and Vata doshas. In severe dysentery, inflammation of the intestine causes the appearance of mucus and blood in the stool. Taking Kutaj helps to control mucus by improving the digestive fire. This is because of its Deepan (appetizer) and Pachan (digestive) properties. It also controls blood by reducing the inflammation of the intestine due to its Sita (cold) and Kashaya (astringent) properties.
Tips:
a. Take 1/4-1/2 teaspoon Kutaj Powder.
b. Mix with water.
c. Have it after taking light food to control dysentery.
3. Bleeding piles
Piles are known as Arsh in Ayurveda which is caused by an unhealthy diet and a sedentary lifestyle. This leads to the impairment of all the three doshas, mainly Vata. An aggravated Vata causes a low digestive fire, leading to constipation. This causes swelling in the veins in the rectum area leading to piles mass. Sometimes bleeding can also occur in this condition. Kutaj helps to improve digestive fire because of its Deepan (appetizer) and Pachan (digestive) properties. It also controls bleeding due to its Kashaya (astringent) nature.
Tips:
a. Take 1/4-1/2 teaspoon Kutaj Powder.
b. Mix with water.
c. Have it after taking light food to manage bleeding piles.
Diarrhea is known as Atisar in Ayurveda. It is due to improper food, impure water, toxins, mental stress and Agnimandya (weak digestive fire). All these factors are responsible for aggravating Vata. This aggravated Vata brings fluid in the intestine from various tissues from the body and mixes with the stool. This leads to loose, watery motions or diarrhea. Kutaj helps to control diarrhea by improving the digestive fire. This is due to its Deepan (appetizer) and Pachan (digestive) properties. It also makes the stool thick and controls water loss due to its Grahi (absorbent) and Kashaya (astringent) properties.
Tips:
a. Take 1/4-1/2 teaspoon Kutaj Powder.
b. Mix with water.
c. Have it after taking light food to control diarrhea.
2. Dysentery
Kutaj is useful in digestive disorders like dysentery. Dysentery is known as Pravahika in Ayurveda and is caused by vitiated Kapha and Vata doshas. In severe dysentery, inflammation of the intestine causes the appearance of mucus and blood in the stool. Taking Kutaj helps to control mucus by improving the digestive fire. This is because of its Deepan (appetizer) and Pachan (digestive) properties. It also controls blood by reducing the inflammation of the intestine due to its Sita (cold) and Kashaya (astringent) properties.
Tips:
a. Take 1/4-1/2 teaspoon Kutaj Powder.
b. Mix with water.
c. Have it after taking light food to control dysentery.
3. Bleeding piles
Piles are known as Arsh in Ayurveda which is caused by an unhealthy diet and a sedentary lifestyle. This leads to the impairment of all the three doshas, mainly Vata. An aggravated Vata causes a low digestive fire, leading to constipation. This causes swelling in the veins in the rectum area leading to piles mass. Sometimes bleeding can also occur in this condition. Kutaj helps to improve digestive fire because of its Deepan (appetizer) and Pachan (digestive) properties. It also controls bleeding due to its Kashaya (astringent) nature.
Tips:
a. Take 1/4-1/2 teaspoon Kutaj Powder.
b. Mix with water.
c. Have it after taking light food to manage bleeding piles.
Precautions when using Kutaj
Breastfeeding
Ayurvedic View
Avoid Kutaj or use only under medical supervision during breastfeeding.
Pregnancy
Ayurvedic View
Avoid Kutaj or use only under medical supervision during pregnancy.
Recommended Dosage of Kutaj
- Kutaj Powder - ¼- ½ teaspoon twice a day.
- Kutaj Capsule - 1-2 capsules twice a day.
How to use Kutaj
1. Kutaj Powder
a. Take 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of Kutaj Powder.
b. Swallow it with water preferably after meals.
2. Kutaj Capsules
a. Take 1-2 capsules of Kutaj.
b. Swallow it with water, 1-2 times a day preferably after meals.
a. Take 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of Kutaj Powder.
b. Swallow it with water preferably after meals.
2. Kutaj Capsules
a. Take 1-2 capsules of Kutaj.
b. Swallow it with water, 1-2 times a day preferably after meals.
Benefits of Kutaj
FAQs about Kutaj benefits
1. Wound healing
Kutaj helps in quick healing of the wound, decreases swelling and brings back the normal texture of the skin. Boiled water of Kutaj helps in quick healing and reduces inflammation due to its Ropan (healing) and Sita (cold) properties.
Tips:
a. Take 1/4-1/2 teaspoon Kutaj powder.
b. Boil it in 2 cups of water till the volume reduces to 1/2 a cup.
c. Wash the affected area once or twice a day using this water for quick wound healing.
Kutaj helps in quick healing of the wound, decreases swelling and brings back the normal texture of the skin. Boiled water of Kutaj helps in quick healing and reduces inflammation due to its Ropan (healing) and Sita (cold) properties.
Tips:
a. Take 1/4-1/2 teaspoon Kutaj powder.
b. Boil it in 2 cups of water till the volume reduces to 1/2 a cup.
c. Wash the affected area once or twice a day using this water for quick wound healing.
Recommended Dosage of Kutaj
- Kutaj Powder - 1/4 -1/2 teaspoon or as per your requirement.
How to use Kutaj
1. Kutaj Powder
a. Take 1/4-1/2 teaspoon Kutaj powder.
b. Boil it in 2 cups of water till the volume reduces to 1/2 a cup.
c. Wash the affected area once or twice a day for quick wound healing.
a. Take 1/4-1/2 teaspoon Kutaj powder.
b. Boil it in 2 cups of water till the volume reduces to 1/2 a cup.
c. Wash the affected area once or twice a day for quick wound healing.
Frequently asked questions
Modern Science View
Kutaj powder is easily available in the market under various brand names. It can be easily bought either from online websites or from any ayurvedic medical store.
Modern Science View
Yes, Kokilaksha powder is available in the market under various brand names.
Ayurvedic View
Kutaj can be used for managing the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. This is because it helps to reduce Ama which is the prime cause of rheumatoid arthritis in Ayurveda.
Modern Science View
Yes, Kutaj can be used for diabetes due to its anti-diabetic property. It lowers the levels of fasting blood glucose and is thus useful in case of diabetes[2].
Ayurvedic View
Yes, Kutaj can be used in case of diabetes. Diabetes is a condition that occurs due to weak or poor digestion which may lead to the low internal strength of the body. Kutaj has Deepan (appetizer), Pachan (digestion) which helps improve digestion. Also, the Balya (strength provider) property reduces the symptoms associated with diabetes and provide sufficient strength and stamina to the body.
Modern Science View
Yes, Kutaj is useful for piles, especially bleeding piles, due to its astringent property. It heals bleeding piles by constricting the blood vessels in the anal or rectal area.
Tip:
1. Take ½ teaspoon of Kutaj powder.
2. Add half a cup of pomegranate juice to it.
3. Drink it 2-3 times a day to get relief from bleeding piles[5][6].
Tip:
1. Take ½ teaspoon of Kutaj powder.
2. Add half a cup of pomegranate juice to it.
3. Drink it 2-3 times a day to get relief from bleeding piles[5][6].
Ayurvedic View
Yes, Kutaj might be useful in managing piles which generally occurs due to an imbalanced Pitta dosha. Piles may lead to pain, irritation and sometimes bleeding. Kutaj’s Kashaya (astringent), Ropan (healing) and Sita (cold) properties provide a cooling effect to the affected area, help reduce the symptoms associated with bleeding piles, and prevent further occurrence of piles.
Tips
1. Take 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of Kutaj powder.
2. Mix it with water.
3. Have it after taking light food to manage bleeding piles.
Tips
1. Take 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of Kutaj powder.
2. Mix it with water.
3. Have it after taking light food to manage bleeding piles.
Modern Science View
Yes, Kutaj is helpful in diarrhoea and dysentery as it contains certain constituents (alkaloids) which have antibacterial activity. It prevents bacterial action on the intestinal wall and helps manage diarrhoea. It also fights against salmonella infection, which is the major cause of severe intestinal diseases such as amebic dysentery[3].
Ayurvedic View
Yes, Kutaj is helpful in the management of diarrhoea and dysentery which occur mainly due to weak or poor digestion. These are mainly characterized by an increase in the frequency of watery stool. Kutaj helps to manage this condition by improving the digestion with its Deepan (appetizer) and Pachan (digestion) properties. It also has Grahi property, due to which it prevents excessive loss of water from the body and manages the frequency of watery stools.
Tips
1. Take 1/4-1/2 teaspoon Kutaj powder.
2. Mix it with water.
3. Have it after taking light food to control diarrhea and dysentery.
Tips
1. Take 1/4-1/2 teaspoon Kutaj powder.
2. Mix it with water.
3. Have it after taking light food to control diarrhea and dysentery.
Modern Science View
Yes, Kutaj contains certain constituents which have faster wound healing property. Applying the paste of Kutaj leaves on the wound helps in the contraction and closure of the wound, thereby promoting early wound healing[4].
Ayurvedic View
Yes, Kutaj has Kashaya (astringent) and Ropan (healing) properties. These help in quick wound healing and may also provide you with healthy glowing skin.
Tips
1. Take 1/4-1/2 teaspoon Kutaj powder.
2. Boil it in 2 cups of water until the volume is reduced to 1/2 a cup.
3. Wash the affected area once or twice a day for quick wound healing.
Tips
1. Take 1/4-1/2 teaspoon Kutaj powder.
2. Boil it in 2 cups of water until the volume is reduced to 1/2 a cup.
3. Wash the affected area once or twice a day for quick wound healing.
Modern Science View
Yes, Kutaj is helpful in infections caused by bacteria as it has antibacterial property. It prevents the body from certain bacterial infection by inhibiting the growth of bacteria responsible for the infection[3].
Ayurvedic View
Yes, Kutaj might be helpful in lowering the risk of infections which might occur due to an imbalance of Pitta dosha. This imbalance may sometimes lead to burning or irritation of the skin. Kutaj helps to manage this condition due to its Pitta-balancing, Ropan (healing) and Sita (cold) properties. This helps in quick healing of the affected area by providing a cooling effect.
References
- Bhattacharyya N, Pujar NP, Chaturvedi A, et al.A clinico-analytical study on seed of Wrightia antidysenterica Linn. as a therapeutic emetic agent (Vamaka Yoga) in the management of psoriasis.Pharmacognosy Res.2016;8(1):S19–S25.
- Hegde K, Jaisal KK.Anti-diabetic Potential of Ethanolic Extract of Holarrhena antidysenterica Linn Leaves.IJPSR.2014;5(8).429-435.
- Srivastava N, Saxena V.Antibacterial Activity of Kutaj (Holarrhena antidysenterica Linn.) in childhood diarrhea: - In vitro study.The Pharma Innovation Journal 2015; 4(4): 97-99.
- Khayum KA, Praveena G, Arathi KN. Wound Healing Potential of a Herbal Gel Prepared From Leaf Extract of Holarrhena Antidysenterica Wall.J. Pharm. Sci. & Res.2016;8(5):294-298.
- Khalsa KPS, Tierra M.The Way of Ayurvedic Herbs: The Most Complete Guide to Natural Healing and Health with Traditional Ayurvedic Herbalism.Lotus Press.2008.
- Frawley D, Lad V.The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine.Motilal Banarsidass Publ.1994.
Disclaimer
The content is purely informative and educational in nature and should not be construed as medical advice. Please use the content only in consultation with an appropriate certified medical or healthcare professional.