Botanical Name

Tamarix gallica var. indica (Willd.) Ehrenb

Family

Tamaricaceae.

Synonyms

Tamarix indica Willd.

Regional Name

English: Tamarisk galls, Hindi : Badimayi, Jhao, Jhav, Sanskrit: Jhavu, Jhavuka, Macika, Shavaka, Urdu: Burg-o-bikh Jhao, Chobgaz, Kazmazi, Kazmazij, Mayeen kalan, Mayinklan, Malayalam: Jhavukam, Tamil: Atru-sha-vaku, Atru-shavakku-maram, Ciru cavukku, Kori, Telugu: Dzammi, Eri-saru-manu, Erracirusaru, Erraerusaru, Errashirisaru, Errayerusaru, Eru-saru, Erusaru,

Part Used

Whole Plant.

Description

Indian Tamarisk is a tall hairless shrub or small sized tree, 2-6 m tall with reddish-brown bark. Leaves are tiny, stalkless, ovate with triangular base, stem-clasping or eared, pointed, 1-2 mm long, without coherent margins. Flower recemes are 3-12 cm long, 3-4 mm broad. Rachis is minutely papillose or entirely hairless. Bract triangular, acuminate, somewhat irregularly toothed at the margin, sometimes slightly keeled, 1 mm long. Flower-stalk is shorter than bract, 0.5 mm long. Sepals are 5, fused at the base inner somewhat broader than the outer, outer more acute, ovate to somewhat circular, deeply toothed at the tip, margin somewhat membranous, 0.75-1 mm long, about 0.5 mm broad. Petals are 5, free, elliptic or elliptic-obovate, blunt, 1-2 mm long, 0.75-1 mm broad. Stamens are 5, filaments threadlike. Capsule is about 6 mm long, conical, triangular.

Phytoconstituents

It contains Tamarixin, Tamarixetin, Kaempferide, Quercetin, D-Maninol and Tannic acid.

Ayurvedic Properties

Guna : Laghu, Ruksha, Rasa : Tikta, Katu, Kashaya, Vipaka : Katu – Undergoes pungent taste conversion after digestion.

Ayurvedic Applications

Pachana, Depana, Jwara, Raktadosha, Sotha, Kasa, Antrasula, Arsha, Prameha.

Medicinal Uses

It is useful for treating diarrhea and dysentery, constipation, liver disorders (hepatitis), kidney disorders, useful for relief of the pain of rheumatism, treatment of gingivitis, Throat disorder, Weakness in dent and gums, hemorrhoids and intestinal parasites. It is also useful in Cough, fever, ulcer, anal fissure, Piles, Stomatitis, bleeding disorders like menorrhagia and rectal bleeding.