Photo: Pantegral / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Bargad बरगद
Ficus bengalensis
Also known as: Bargad Chhal, Barjata (Bargad)
Part used: Bark, Stem Bark
| Rasa (taste) | Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent) |
|---|---|
| Guna (qualities) | Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry) |
| Virya (potency) | Ushna (Hot) |
| Vipaka | Katu (Pungent) |
| Dosha | Balances Kapha & Vata |
| Prabhava | Classical systemic action |
Key takeaways
- Botanical name: Ficus bengalensis
- Part used: Bark, Stem Bark
- Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata
- Typical dose: Bark powder 3–6 g per day; decoction 50–100 ml twice daily; as a mouthwash or wound wash, the decoction used externally.
Bargad in other languages
Introduction
Bargad, classically Vata or Nyagrodha (Ficus bengalensis), is the banyan — the tree that drops aerial roots and spreads outward indefinitely. Its bark and the aerial roots are the drug.
Sushruta heads a whole group of astringent drugs with it, the Nyagrodhadi Gana. It is used wherever tissue needs to be tightened: in bleeding, in loose stool, in discharge and in wounds.
Classification
Family Moraceae. Stem bark, aerial roots and latex are officinal. Rasa: Kashaya. Guna: Guru, Ruksha. Virya: Sheeta. Vipaka: Katu. Doshaghnata: pacifies Kapha and Pitta.
Uses & benefits
Given in diarrhoea and dysentery, in Raktapitta and excessive menstrual bleeding, and in leucorrhoea, where its astringency checks discharge. The bark decoction is used as a mouthwash for spongy gums and as a wash for wounds and ulcers. The latex is applied to cracked heels and painful joints.
Vata bark for bleeding and discharge
The classical Stambhana indication. Its astringency is used in bleeding from any passage and in the chronic discharges of Kapha and Pitta origin.
Vata bark for wounds and gums
Used as a decoction to wash wounds and ulcers and as a gargle in spongy, bleeding gums — one of the classical Dantya applications.
Dosage — how much to take
Bark powder 3–6 g per day; decoction 50–100 ml twice daily; as a mouthwash or wound wash, the decoction used externally.
Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm with a qualified Vaidya.
Traditional uses — questions answered from the classical texts
Answers are drawn from the citations and properties recorded for this drug. No chapter-and-verse reference appears that the record does not carry.
Which classical texts describe Bargad?
The citations held for Bargad in this catalogue are: Sushruta Samhita (Sutrasthana 38 — Nyagrodhadi Gana); Bhavaprakasha Nighantu (Vatadi Varga — Vata).
What does the Sushruta Samhita record about Bargad?
Heads the group of astringent, wound-healing drugs. Reference: Sushruta Samhita — Sutrasthana 38 — Nyagrodhadi Gana.
What does the Bhavaprakasha Nighantu record about Bargad?
Kashaya rasa, sheeta virya; stambhana and vranaropana. Reference: Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Vatadi Varga — Vata.
What is Bargad traditionally used for in Ayurveda?
Given in diarrhoea and dysentery, in Raktapitta and excessive menstrual bleeding, and in leucorrhoea, where its astringency checks discharge. The bark decoction is used as a mouthwash for spongy gums and as a wash for wounds and ulcers. The latex is applied to cracked heels and painful joints.
What are the Ayurvedic properties of Bargad?
Rasa Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent), Guna Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry), Virya Ushna (Hot), Vipaka Katu (Pungent). Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata. Prabhava: Classical systemic action.
Why is Bargad classified the way it is?
In dravya-guna a drug's dosha action follows from its taste, qualities, potency and post-digestive effect. Bargad carries Ushna (Hot) virya and Katu (Pungent) vipaka, which together give the recorded action: Balances Kapha & Vata.
Which part of Bargad is used medicinally?
The part used is Bark, Stem Bark.
How much Bargad is taken, and how?
Bark powder 3–6 g per day; decoction 50–100 ml twice daily; as a mouthwash or wound wash, the decoction used externally. Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm it with a qualified Vaidya.
When should Bargad be avoided?
Well tolerated. Strongly astringent, so prolonged heavy use may cause constipation and aggravate Vata. Consult a physician in pregnancy.
Where does Bargad grow?
Planted and self-sown throughout India, from village groves to roadsides, and one of the most widely distributed trees on the subcontinent.
Classical references
- Sushruta Samhita — Sutrasthana 38 — Nyagrodhadi Gana
Heads the group of astringent, wound-healing drugs. - Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Vatadi Varga — Vata
Kashaya rasa, sheeta virya; stambhana and vranaropana.
Safety & precautions
Well tolerated. Strongly astringent, so prolonged heavy use may cause constipation and aggravate Vata. Consult a physician in pregnancy.
Where it grows
Planted and self-sown throughout India, from village groves to roadsides, and one of the most widely distributed trees on the subcontinent.
Frequently asked questions
Which part of the banyan is used?
Mainly the stem bark and the aerial roots. The latex is used externally for cracked skin and joint pain.
What is Nyagrodhadi Gana?
A group of astringent drugs named by Sushruta, headed by the banyan, used together for wounds, discharge and bleeding.
