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Kayphal कायफल
Myrica esculenta
Part used: 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: Myrica esculenta
- Part used: Bark
- Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata
- Typical dose: Bark powder 1–3 g per day; decoction 40–60 ml as a gargle or internally.
Kayphal in other languages
Introduction
Kayphal (Myrica esculenta) is the box myrtle or bayberry of the Himalaya, whose aromatic reddish bark is stripped and dried as a drug. The tree also bears an edible sour-sweet fruit.
Ayurveda uses the bark as a sharp Kapha-clearing drug for the head and chest — in colds, sinus congestion, cough and throat complaints — and as a Shiro-virechana agent in nasal therapy.
Classification
Family Myricaceae. Stem bark is officinal. Rasa: Katu, Tikta, Kashaya. Guna: Laghu, Ruksha, Tikshna. Virya: Ushna. Vipaka: Katu. Doshaghnata: pacifies Kapha and Vata.
Uses & benefits
Given in coryza, sinus congestion, cough, hoarseness and throat pain. Powdered and used as a snuff or in Nasya it is a Shiro-virechana drug, clearing the head. The bark decoction is used as a gargle. In this catalogue it appears in Irimedadi Taila.
Kayphal for the head and sinuses
Its sharp aromatic pungency is directed upward — the classical Shiro-virechana action used for a blocked head and heavy sinuses.
Kayphal for throat and cough
Used as a gargle and internally in hoarseness, sore throat and cough with thick congestion.
Dosage — how much to take
Bark powder 1–3 g per day; decoction 40–60 ml as a gargle or internally. As snuff, a pinch, under direction.
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 Kayphal?
The citations held for Kayphal in this catalogue are: Bhavaprakasha Nighantu (Haritakyadi Varga — Katphala).
What does the Bhavaprakasha Nighantu record about Kayphal?
Katu-tikta rasa, ushna virya; kaphahara and shiro-virechana. Reference: Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Haritakyadi Varga — Katphala.
What is Kayphal traditionally used for in Ayurveda?
Given in coryza, sinus congestion, cough, hoarseness and throat pain. Powdered and used as a snuff or in Nasya it is a Shiro-virechana drug, clearing the head. The bark decoction is used as a gargle. In this catalogue it appears in Irimedadi Taila.
What are the Ayurvedic properties of Kayphal?
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 Kayphal classified the way it is?
In dravya-guna a drug's dosha action follows from its taste, qualities, potency and post-digestive effect. Kayphal carries Ushna (Hot) virya and Katu (Pungent) vipaka, which together give the recorded action: Balances Kapha & Vata.
Which part of Kayphal is used medicinally?
The part used is Bark.
How much Kayphal is taken, and how?
Bark powder 1–3 g per day; decoction 40–60 ml as a gargle or internally. As snuff, a pinch, under direction. Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm it with a qualified Vaidya.
When should Kayphal be avoided?
Heating and drying; may aggravate Pitta and cause burning. Avoid in hyperacidity. Use as a snuff only under a physician's direction — it is a sharp irritant to the nasal mucosa. Not advised in pregnancy. Myrica esculenta is under collection pressure in the Himalaya; check sourcing.
Where does Kayphal grow?
Sub-tropical and temperate Himalaya from Kashmir to Assam between roughly 900 and 2,100 m, also in the Khasi hills.
Classical references
- Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Haritakyadi Varga — Katphala
Katu-tikta rasa, ushna virya; kaphahara and shiro-virechana. - Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India — Katphala
Stem bark of Myrica esculenta; identity and dose.
Safety & precautions
Heating and drying; may aggravate Pitta and cause burning. Avoid in hyperacidity. Use as a snuff only under a physician's direction — it is a sharp irritant to the nasal mucosa. Not advised in pregnancy. Myrica esculenta is under collection pressure in the Himalaya; check sourcing.
Where it grows
Sub-tropical and temperate Himalaya from Kashmir to Assam between roughly 900 and 2,100 m, also in the Khasi hills.
Frequently asked questions
Is the fruit medicinal?
The fruit is eaten and mildly astringent, but the drug is the bark.
Why is it used as a snuff?
Its sharp pungency clears the head — the classical Shiro-virechana action — but it is irritant and should only be used that way under direction.
