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Sahjna Ki सहजन की
Moringa oleifera
Also known as: Sahijan Ki Chhal, Sahjna Ki Chhal
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: Moringa oleifera
- Part used: Bark, Stem Bark
- Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata
- Typical dose: Bark powder 1–3 g per day; decoction 40–60 ml twice daily.
Sahjna Ki in other languages
Introduction
Sahjna Ki Chhal is the bark of the drumstick tree (Moringa oleifera), the fast-growing tree whose pods and leaves are eaten across India. The bark is the medicinal part specified here.
Ayurveda uses Shigru as a sharp Kapha-clearing drug: for swelling, worms, sluggish digestion and, applied externally, for local inflammation.
Classification
Family Moringaceae. Stem bark and root bark are officinal; leaf, pod and seed are food and medicine. Rasa: Katu, Tikta. Guna: Laghu, Ruksha, Tikshna. Virya: Ushna. Vipaka: Katu. Doshaghnata: pacifies Kapha and Vata.
Uses & benefits
Given in oedema and swelling, in worm infestation, and in poor appetite with abdominal heaviness. Applied externally as a paste to local swelling, boils and joint pain. In this catalogue the bark appears in Ekangveer Ras.
Shigru for swelling
A Shothahara drug used where swelling is cold and heavy, applied externally as a paste and taken internally in compounds.
Shigru for digestion and worms
Its sharp pungency kindles Agni and is used as a Krimighna drug in intestinal worm infestation.
Dosage — how much to take
Bark powder 1–3 g per day; decoction 40–60 ml twice daily. Leaf and pod as food without restriction.
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 Sahjna Ki?
The citations held for Sahjna Ki in this catalogue are: Bhavaprakasha Nighantu (Guduchyadi Varga — Shigru).
What does the Bhavaprakasha Nighantu record about Sahjna Ki?
Katu-tikta rasa, ushna virya; shothahara, krimighna and deepana. Reference: Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Guduchyadi Varga — Shigru.
What is Sahjna Ki traditionally used for in Ayurveda?
Given in oedema and swelling, in worm infestation, and in poor appetite with abdominal heaviness. Applied externally as a paste to local swelling, boils and joint pain. In this catalogue the bark appears in Ekangveer Ras.
What are the Ayurvedic properties of Sahjna Ki?
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 Sahjna Ki classified the way it is?
In dravya-guna a drug's dosha action follows from its taste, qualities, potency and post-digestive effect. Sahjna Ki carries Ushna (Hot) virya and Katu (Pungent) vipaka, which together give the recorded action: Balances Kapha & Vata.
Which part of Sahjna Ki is used medicinally?
The part used is Bark, Stem Bark.
How much Sahjna Ki is taken, and how?
Bark powder 1–3 g per day; decoction 40–60 ml twice daily. Leaf and pod as food without restriction. Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm it with a qualified Vaidya.
When should Sahjna Ki be avoided?
The leaf and pod are ordinary food and safe. The bark and root bark are a different matter — they contain alkaloids with a documented uterine-stimulant action and are contraindicated in pregnancy, where they have been associated with abortion. Do not use bark preparations if pregnant or trying to conceive. Root bark in quantity can be toxic.
Where does Sahjna Ki grow?
Cultivated and self-sown throughout India, one of the most widely grown small trees on the subcontinent.
Classical references
- Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Guduchyadi Varga — Shigru
Katu-tikta rasa, ushna virya; shothahara, krimighna and deepana. - Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India — Shigru
Moringa oleifera bark and root bark; identity and dose.
Safety & precautions
The leaf and pod are ordinary food and safe. The bark and root bark are a different matter — they contain alkaloids with a documented uterine-stimulant action and are contraindicated in pregnancy, where they have been associated with abortion. Do not use bark preparations if pregnant or trying to conceive. Root bark in quantity can be toxic.
Where it grows
Cultivated and self-sown throughout India, one of the most widely grown small trees on the subcontinent.
Frequently asked questions
If drumstick is a vegetable, why the warning?
Because the leaf and pod eaten as food are quite different from the bark and root bark used medicinally. The bark has a documented uterine-stimulant action and is contraindicated in pregnancy.
Which part is in these formulations?
The stem bark. The food parts are the leaf and pod.
