Botanical Name

Quercus infectoria G.Olivier

Family

Fagaceae.

Synonyms

Quercus carpinea Kotschy ex A.DC., Quercus grosseserrata Kotschy ex Wenz., Quercus puberula O.Schwarz, Quercus thirkeana K.Koch.

Regional Name

English : Oak-Gall , Hindi : Maajoophal, Majuphal , Sanskrit : Mayaphala , Urdu : Mazu, Mazuphal , Punjabi : Maju , Assamese : Aphsa , Bengali : Majoophal, Majuphal , Gujrati : Muajoophal, Mayfal , Kannada : Machikaai, Mapalakam , Malayalam : Majakaanee, Mashikkay , Marathi : Maayaphal , Oriya : Mayakku , Tamil : Machakaai, Masikki, Mussikki , Telugu : Machikaaya.

Part Used

Galls.

Description

It is a small tree or shrub, 2 to 5 m high, native of Greece, Asia Minor, Syria and Iran. The galls are excrescences on the twigs, resulting from insect attack of the growing, rudimentary leaves; they are imported into India. Galls spherical or pear-shaped, hard and brittle 1.2 to 2.5 cm in diameter having a short basal stalk and numerous rounded projections on the upper part of the gall; they usually sink in water; surface, smooth, rather shining, bluish-green, olive green or white brown.

Phytoconstituents

Gallic Acid, Tannic Acid, Starch and Sugars.

Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa : Kasaya , Guna : Laghu, Ruksa , Virya : sita , Vipaka : Katu , Karma : Kaphahara, Pittahara, Dipani, Grahi.

Ayurvedic Applications

Arsa, Atisara, Grahani, Mukha Roga, Pravahika, Danta Roga, YoniKanda, Sveta Pradara.

Medicinal Uses

It is used in Diseases including dental problems, abdominal diseases, Chronic Diarrhoea with mucus, Dysentery, Bleeding piles, Rectal prolapse, Kidneys & Urinary Bladder problems, Frequent urination, Urinary incontinence, Urinary tract infections (pus in urine), Women Health, uterine disorders, Uterine prolapse, Leucorrhoea, Excessive uterine bleeding etc.