Bhallathaka (Semecarpus amnacardium)

Bhallathaka (Semecarpus amnacardium)

Names:-        Latin             Semecarpus amnacardium

Tamil             Shengottai

Telugu           Nalla jeedi vittu

Canarese       Gerika beeja

Malayal          Cherkuru

Urdu              Bhilava

Bhallatakah Katutiktoshno

Madhurah Kriminaasavat

Gulmaarso grahanee Kushtam

Hanti vaata Kaphaaniavaan.

Dhanvanthari Nighantu.

Bhallataka is pungent and sweet and heating. It destroys Krimi, Kapha, and Vaata diseases. It is useful in the treatment of gulma, Asras (piles), grahanee (Dysentery) and Kushta.

Dose:- 1 to 4 seeds boiled with 8 oz. Of milk, strained and taken with a little ghee and sugar.

Or as a decoction with 8 times the quantity of water, reduced to 1/8 and the filtrate taken with milk after smearing the mouth and throat with ghee (Charaka) or as a Lehyam. 

Diet:- Rice with ghee and milk. Sugar may be used. Salt and tamarind are to be excluded.

Action:- Stimulant, carminative, antirheumatic, antisyphilitic, anodyne, anthelmintic, aphrodisiac and tonic.

Locally caustic and vesicant.

Uses:- Bhallathaka is one of the drugs, which in the hands of certain physicians produces extraordinarily beneficial results. The processes of treatment by the drug are heroic and the results are in some cases miraculous. Bhallathaka is one of Charaka’s most favourite Rasayanas (tonics). “Kaphajo na sa rogosthi, na vibandhosti kaschana, yam na bhallathakam hanyath, seeghra magnibalapradam” (Charaka).

Antidotes for poisoning by Bhallathaka:-

1.             Internally, swarasa or the juice of the bark of Butea frondosa (Palaasa)

2.             Swarasam of the roots of Duraalabaa

3.             Swarasam or decoction of Taanikaaya

4.             Swarasam of Chirrikoora with kalkanda

5.             Kalkanda and milk.