NAGAKESARA (Mesua ferrea Linn.) -A GIFT FOR GIT, SKIN & BLEEDING DISORDERS

Ayurveda is the science of life aimed at promotion of health, prevention of diseases as well as the eradication of the diseases. All these three mottos can be achieved mainly through a dravya or drug which includes both food and medicine. Among the vast varieties of Ayurvedic drugs, Nagakesara is a popular drug which is a tree of tropical Asia and belongs to the family Clusiaceae (syn. Guttiferae). This drug happens to be the most consumed drug by domestic industries in volumes (million tons) after Amalaki (16820 million tons) and Haritaki (8158 million tons). Various parts of the plants are used medicinally e.g., the flowers are said to be astringent, stomachic, expectorant and useful in bleeding piles, the flower buds are used in dysentery. The unripe fruits are aromatic and sudorific. The leaves and flowers are used in the treatment of snake-bite and scorpion-bite. The oil is used in soap-making and medicinally as an embrocating in rheumatism and in the treatment of itch. Overall it is used as deodorant, diaphoretic and stimulant. It is a brain tonic, appetizer, antiemetic, anthelminthic, aphrodisiac, diuretic and antidote. It is also found as an ingredient in many of the Ayurvedic formulation as in Vyaghriharitakiavaleha, Dashmularishta and many more.