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Harshingar हरसिंगार
Nyctanthes arbor-tristis
Part used: Seed
| 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: Nyctanthes arbor-tristis
- Part used: Seed
- Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata
- Typical dose: Leaf juice 10–20 ml twice daily; leaf decoction 40–80 ml; seed used externally as a paste.
Harshingar in other languages
Introduction
Harshingar (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis) is the night-flowering jasmine or coral jasmine, whose small white flowers with orange tubes open at dusk and carpet the ground by morning. The species name means 'sorrowful tree', for the same reason.
Ayurveda uses the leaf and seed as bitter drugs for fever — particularly intermittent fever — and for stubborn joint pain.
Classification
Family Oleaceae. Leaf and seed are officinal; the flower is used in some preparations. Rasa: Tikta, Kashaya. Guna: Laghu, Ruksha. Virya: Ushna. Vipaka: Katu. Doshaghnata: pacifies Kapha and Vata.
Uses & benefits
Given in intermittent and chronic fevers, in Amavata and sciatica where joint pain is obstinate, and in worm infestation. The seed is used externally in scalp complaints and dandruff. In this catalogue the seed appears in Nasht Pushpantak Ras.
Harshingar in obstinate fever
The leaf juice is a well-established household and classical remedy for recurring fevers, taken as a bitter decoction.
Harshingar for joint pain
Used in Amavata and sciatica, where its bitter warmth is directed at pain with stiffness rather than heat.
Dosage — how much to take
Leaf juice 10–20 ml twice daily; leaf decoction 40–80 ml; seed used externally as a paste.
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 Harshingar?
The citations held for Harshingar in this catalogue are: Bhavaprakasha Nighantu (Pushpa Varga — Parijata).
What does the Bhavaprakasha Nighantu record about Harshingar?
Tikta rasa, ushna virya; jwaraghna and used in vatarakta. Reference: Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Pushpa Varga — Parijata.
What is Harshingar traditionally used for in Ayurveda?
Given in intermittent and chronic fevers, in Amavata and sciatica where joint pain is obstinate, and in worm infestation. The seed is used externally in scalp complaints and dandruff. In this catalogue the seed appears in Nasht Pushpantak Ras.
What are the Ayurvedic properties of Harshingar?
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 Harshingar classified the way it is?
In dravya-guna a drug's dosha action follows from its taste, qualities, potency and post-digestive effect. Harshingar carries Ushna (Hot) virya and Katu (Pungent) vipaka, which together give the recorded action: Balances Kapha & Vata.
Which part of Harshingar is used medicinally?
The part used is Seed.
How much Harshingar is taken, and how?
Leaf juice 10–20 ml twice daily; leaf decoction 40–80 ml; seed used externally as a paste. Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm it with a qualified Vaidya.
When should Harshingar be avoided?
Well tolerated at classical doses. Bitter and drying; excess may aggravate Vata and cause nausea. Consult a physician in pregnancy. The bitterness is pronounced — it is usually taken with honey.
Where does Harshingar grow?
A small tree of the sub-Himalayan tract and central India, widely planted in gardens and temple grounds across the country.
Classical references
- Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Pushpa Varga — Parijata
Tikta rasa, ushna virya; jwaraghna and used in vatarakta. - Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India — Parijata
Leaf of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis; identity and dose.
Safety & precautions
Well tolerated at classical doses. Bitter and drying; excess may aggravate Vata and cause nausea. Consult a physician in pregnancy. The bitterness is pronounced — it is usually taken with honey.
Where it grows
A small tree of the sub-Himalayan tract and central India, widely planted in gardens and temple grounds across the country.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called the sorrowful tree?
The flowers open at night and fall at dawn, so the tree appears to shed them by morning. The botanical name arbor-tristis records that habit.
Is the leaf juice bitter?
Markedly so. It is usually taken with honey, which is the traditional way of making the dose manageable.
