Botanical Name: Garcinia morella (Gaertn) Desv

Family: Guttiferae; Clusiaceae

 

 Introduction:

latin name: Garcinia = after the nam,e of Dr. Garda; morella = bitter kind of cherry. Indian gamboge(Vaidya Bapalal Vaidya).

 

Names in different Indian languages

 

English	Indian Gamboge
Hindi	Tamal
Kannada	Jirigehuli
Malayalam	Iravi
Sanskrit	Kankushtha
Tamil	Iravakhinni, makki
Telugu	Karukkampuli
Unani
Folk

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Kankushtha, Tamaal, Taapichha, Ushaare-revand

 Garcinia pictoria Roxb

Classification according to Charaka, Susrutha & Vagbhata

 

Charaka
Susrutha
Vagbhata

 

          
        

  

 

Varieties & adulterants – (CV – controversy, AD – adulterants) 

 

 

 

Morphology

Medium sized tree grows up to 5-8 m height

Leaves – simple, opposite, thick, elliptic-ovate

Flowers- unisexual

Fruit – berry

Distribution & Habitat

Throughout India

 

Chemical constituents:

 morellin, neomorellin, beta-guttiferin , alphaguttiferin

 

Properties:

RASA-kashaya, madhur

GUNA-guru

VIRYA-sheeta

VIPAKA- madhura

 

Karma –

Vrishya, sophaghna, balyam

hydragogue, cathartic, anthelmintic, emetic

Srotogamitva:

 Dosha: Kaphavataghna.

Dhatu: Rakta (useful in hypertension). rasa (amenorrhoea).

Mala: Purisha (strong purgative).

 

 

 Indication:

Vrana, visham, sopham

Haermorrhoids, tumour, wounds, pain, inflammation, flatulence and worms

Part used:

  Bark, leaf, fruit , resin

Dosage: 

Leaf juice 10-15 ml

Powder 2-4 g

Decoction 50-100 ml

 

 

uses:

 

 

It is a strong purgative and hence used in ascitis, worms, hypertension. Also useful in amenorrhea. It is a good complexion enhancer

Descriptions on  Ayurveda books / Nighandu: