Talk:Ashoka

Saraca indica Linn.

Ashoka

Section/Chapter	Herb database/Ashoka
Botanical name(s)	Saraca indica Linn.
Contributors	--
Year of publication	2023
Publisher	Charak Samhita Research, Training and Skill Development Centre
DOI	Awaited

English name

Asok Tree

Therapeutic Use

Swelling (Sotha), Burning sensation (Daha), Menorrhagia (Asrugdara), Apachi, Bleeding disorders (Raktadosha)

Other varities / Other botanical names

• Jonesia asoca Roxb.
• Jonesia confusa Hassk.
• Jonesia pinnata Willd.
• Saraca confusa (Hassk.) Backer
• Saraca indica sensu Bedd., non L.

Identification Characters

• Gandhapushpa –Flowers of Asoka are aromatic.
• Tamrapallava – Tender leaves are coppery red in colour.
• Pindapushpa – Infloroscence is globose.
• Madhupushpa – Plant flowers in Vasanta Ritu (Spring).
• Hemapushpa – Flowers are golden coloured.

Synonyms in Charak Samhita

Madhupushpa, Raktapallavaka, Hemapushpa, Pindipushpa, Nata, Pallavadru

Synonyms in Bhavaprakasha Nighantu

Ashoka(that which relieves shock or suffering), Hemapushpa(golden yellow flower), Vanjula, Tamrapallava(the tender leaves are coppery reddish in colour), Kankeli(the plant bears a pleasant look), Pindapushpa(flowers occur in clusters), Gandhapushpa(flowers have pleasant smell), Nata

Ayurvedic pharmacological properties

Properties

Sr.no.	Pharmacological criteria	Properties
1	Taste (rasa)	Bitter (tikta), Astringent (kashaya)
2	Potency (veerya)	Cold (sheeta)
3	Post digestion effect (vipaka)	Pungent (katu)
4	Qualities (guna)	Light (laghu), Rough (ruksha)
5	Actions (karma)	Pacify Kapha and Pitta

Reference in Charak Samhita and its actions

Herbs and their activities

Sr.no.	Reference in Charak Samhita	Activity
1	Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana. 4/9(47)	Vedanasthapana mahakashaya
2	Cha.Sa.Vimana Sthana. 8/144	Kashaya-skandha

Dose

20 – 30 gm of the drug decoction.

Important Formulations

• Ashokarishta
• Ashoka Ghrita

Current availability

Available In India – West Bengal, Assam, Odissa, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka,Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya, Maharashtra. Western ghats (both south and central), the Sahyadri region and throughout the Himalayas. Out of India – Eastern Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka

Current researches

 This article is under development ..

References

1. Shri Bhavamishra, Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Pushpa Varga, Verse no. 47, Edited by Padmashree Pro. Krushnachandra Chunekar, Reprint Edition, Chaukhambha Bharati Academy, 2015;
2. Anonymous. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, Part I. 1986; Volume I:9
3. Anonymous. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, Part I. 1986; Volume I:9
4. Anonymous. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, Part I. 1986; Volume I:9