Common Name:

Leadwort (English)

Sanskrit Name:

Chitraka:

Agni: As it is as sharp as the fire and also ignites the digestive fire in the stomach

Cheeta:

Lt. Name:

Plumbago zeylanica - Plumbaginaceae 

Bio energetics:

Rasa (Taste) – Katu (Pungent)

Guna (Characteristics) – Laghu (Light); Ruksha (Un- unctuous); Teekshna (Sharp acting)

Veerya (Potency) – Ushna (Hot)

Vipaka (Post digestion effect) – Katu (Pungent)

Chemical composition:

The chief component is plumbagin, together with 3-chloroplumbagin, 3,3' -biplumbagin, 3' ,6' -biplumbagin (chitranone), isozeylanicone, zeylanicone, elliptinone and droserone.

Lupeol and lupenyl acetate have been isolated from the root.

Aspartic acid, tryptophan, tyrosine, threonine, alanine, histidine, glycine, methionine and hydroxyproline were isolated from the aerial parts.

Effect on Tridosha (Three bio humors):

Chitrakmool pacifies Kapha and Vata so it can be used in diseases which originate from aggravation of Vata/ Kapha or Vata – Kapha.

Actions according to Ayurveda:

• Vahnikrut:Chitrakmoolignites the digestive fire
  
• Pachana: Chitrakmool ensures proper digestion and assimilation of food articles
  
• Grahi: As Chitrakmool strengthen the digestive system for proper digestion and assimilation of food stuffs; it is very useful in diarrhea and frequent passage of stool 
  
• Panduvinashanah: Chitrakmool is useful in management of anemia.
  

Medicinal value:

• The fresh juice (5-10 ml) of Chitrakmool is taken with cow’s urine (15-30 ml) twice a day for 2-3 weeks relieves internal piles. 
  
• External application of the paste of Chitrakmool to the filarial leg is useful.
• The paste made out of the root of Chitrakmool and stem barks of Erythroxylon monogymum Roxb. And Moringa oleifera Lam. in equal proportions ground with cow’s urine is useful as an external application to relieve edema of the legs.
  
•  External application of the paste made out of the root of Chitrakmool, Nerium oleander L.  and stem bark of Semicarpus anacardium L. f., Holoptelia integrifolia(Roxb.) Planch. and excretory matter of pigeon in equal proportions induces early maturation, rupture and healing of abscess.
  
• The root of Chitrakmool is to be pasted within a jar on to the inner walls and bottom of the jar.  Curd or butter milk prepared in that jar is taken in a dosage of 30-60 ml, twice a day for a period of 7-10 days relieve piles.
  
• External application of fine paste made out of fresh roots of Chitrak, soaked in cow’s urine for a period of 24 hours alleviates the signs and symptoms of scabies.  
  
• Local administration of fine root paste (3-5 g) of Chitraka into the vaginal track for a period of 3-5 days found to having abortifacient action. 
  
• The paste made out of the Chitrakmool (1-2 g) is taken with butter milk (30-60 ml), 2-3 times a day gives quick relief in diarrhea.
  
• The decoction prepared out of Chitrakmoolchurnam is taken orally (30-60 ml) twice in day for about 1-2 weeks gives relief from dysentery, abdominal disorders, peptic ulcers, piles and improves appetite.  In children the dosage should be limited to 5-10 ml in divided doses.
  
• The fine powder of the Chitrakmool is taken orally (2-5 g) with honey twice a day for a period of 3 months, it gradually reduces hypercholostremia. 
  
• The fine powders of Chitrakmool and Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet.  root in equal proportion is given in dosages of 1-3 g with milk ones in a day for 3 months gradually reduces the condition of anemia and improves blood formation.
  
• The fine powder of Chitrakmool (1 part), dry zinger, Piper longum L. and Pipernigrum L. (1 part each) are taken orally 2-3 g with ghee or honey, twice a day for period of 3 months gives results in leucoderma and psoriasis.
  
• The decoction of Chitrakmool in a dosage of 30-60 ml twice daily for a period of 2-3 weeks is useful in checking and preventing spermatorrhoea.
  
• Pharmaceutical Studies and Therapeutic Uses of Plumbago Zeylanica L. Roots (Chitraka,Chitrakmool) K. Madhava Chetty, K. Sivaji, G. Sudarsanam*, P. Hindu Sekar Department of Botany, SriVenkateswara University, Tirupati, A.P., India

Useful part:

Root Bark

Doses:

1-2 gm

Some combinations with Chitrakmool:

Chitrakadi Vati; Chitrak Haritaki; Chitrak Ghruta; Chitrakadi Churna

Some important notes about Chitrakmool:

• Chitrakmool is the best amongst the Ayurveda herbs which ignite digestive fire, ensure proper digestion and assimilation; edema in anal region and pain associated with hemorrhoids.
  

­Charaka Samhita

• If a person takes Chitrakmool powder with Ghruta/ Ghruta + Honey / milk/ water for at least one month. He will live a healthy life for hundred years.   
  

Astanga Hrudya

• To get rid of all the disease of Vata origin (disease related with the nervous system including all painful conditions) Chitrakmoolpowder should be taken with sesame oil at least for one month.
  

Astanga Hrudya

• Chitrakmool powder should be taken at least for one month with cow urine in leucoderma.
  

Astanga Hrudya

• Chitrakmool powder should be taken with Takra (Indian butter milk) to get rid of hemorrhoids and other disorders of anal region.
  

Astanga Hrudya

Side Effects: 

If the powder (churnam) is taken in excessive doses it produces severe irritation in the stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, painful micturition (burning urination) and abortion etc.  It also produces ulceration in the stomach.