Pankaj Oudhia’s Notes on Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari [Kirtikar, Kanhoba Ranchoddas, and Baman Das Basu. "Indian Medicinal Plants." Indian Medicinal Plants. (1918)].
Pankaj Oudhia’s Notes on Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari [Kirtikar, Kanhoba Ranchoddas, and Baman Das Basu.
"Indian Medicinal Plants." Indian
Medicinal Plants. (1918)].
Pankaj Oudhia
Introduction
Based on Ethnobotanical
surveys since year 1990 in different parts of India Pankaj Oudhia has
documented vital information about Medicinal Plants mentioned in the famous
publication by Kirtikar and Basu (1918). Through this research document Pankaj
Oudhia has tried to present original document with additional notes. For
complete paper with pictures, Interactive Tables, Video and Audio clips please
visit pankajoudhia.com
For original publication by Kirtikar and Basu (1918) please visit https://archive.org/details/indianmedicinalp01kirt
254.-— Balsamodendron mukul, Hook. H. f. b. i.,
i. 529.
Sans. : — Konshikaha, guggulu.
Vern. : — Gugal, mukul, ranghan turb (B., H., Dec, Guz.) ;
Maishlkshi, gukkal, gukkulu (Tarn.) ; Mahi-saksh gugal (Teh)
J. Indraji :--Gugar, gugal. (Porebunder and Guj.) Mukul,
Gugal (Marathi) ; Gugal (Hindi).
Arab. : — Mokl-arzak, aflatan.
Pers. : — Boe-jahudan.
Habitat : — Sindh, Rajputana, Bednore, Khandeish, Berars,
Mysore, and Bellary.
A stunted shrub or dwarfed tree. " Bark greenish yellow,
peeling in long thin, shining paper-like scrolls. Wood soft,
white. Pores small. Medullary rays fine, short. The bark
yields a £um called Gugal " (Gamble).
Branches thick, spreading, branchlets often spinescent.
Trunk knotty. The outer bark coming off in rough flakes,
leaving exposed an inner layer which is bright, shining and
peels off, as noted above from Gamble's remarks, like thin
N. O. SIMARUBE^. 295
paper. Leaves generally approximate at the ends of thick
short arrested branchlets, obovate, almost sessile, the
tapering
base entire, the upper part toothed. On luxuriant shoots the
leaves are distant, trifoliate, the lateral leaflets small.
Flowers
unisexual, subsessile, 2 or 3 together. Petal 4-5,
strap-shaped.
Stamens 8-10, alternately longer. Drupe red, when ripe.
Part used : — The gum. [Pankaj Oudhia’s Comment: All
parts are used as medicine in Traditional Healing.]
Use : — " It is used in Native medicine as a demulcent,
aperi-
ent, carminative, and alterative ; especially useful in
nervous
diseases, scrofulous affections, urinary disorders and skin-
diseases, and is used in the preparation of an ointment for
bad
ulcers." (Watt.
" Applied as a hot paste to incipient abscesses, as an
absorb-
ent. Is used as an expectorant. Aphrodisiac according to
Sk. Boali-Saina. Applied locally as a paste in
haemorrhoids."
(Dr. Emerson.)
[Pankaj
Oudhia’s Comment: Although this species is known and used since generations
but still not much work has been done to document its medicinal uses. The research
on Commiphora is focused on gum ignoring the fact that all parts are useful as
medicine. Through Ethnobotanical surveys I have collected information about
over 350,000 Herbal Formulations in which Commiphora is added as important
ingredient. Most of these Formulations are not known to the modern researchers
but the Indian Traditional Healers have used and are using it in treatment for
different diseases. Although its gum is known for Aphrodisiac properties but in
Indian Traditional Healing there are hundreds of Formulations used to nullify
the harmful effects of gum specially when taken with other herbs for its
aphrodisiac properties. Please see Tables Commi-1 to Commi-300 for details.]
E-documents on Commiphora
" Held in highest repute in the treatment of rheumatism,
given internally and applied locally " (Surgn. Robb.) —
Watt,
i.
367.
[Pankaj
Oudhia’s Comment: The Indian Healers are experimenting with new herbs and
herbal formulations in order to make the Commiphora based Herbal Formulations
more effective specially the Formulations used in treatment of joint diseases.
I have documented these Formulations. Many research organisations have started
systematic clinical trials under my technical guidance.]
Citation
Oudhia, Pankaj (2013).
Pankaj Oudhia’s Notes on Commiphora
wightii (Arn.) Bhandari [Kirtikar,
Kanhoba Ranchoddas, and Baman Das Basu. "Indian Medicinal Plants." Indian Medicinal Plants. (1918)]. www.pankajoudhia.com
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