Photo: Dinesh Valke from Thane, India / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Shakhotak शाखोटक
Streblus asper
Part used: 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: Streblus asper
- Part used: Stem Bark
- Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata
- Typical dose: Bark powder 3–6 g per day; decoction 40–80 ml twice daily, internally or as a gargle.
Shakhotak in other languages
Introduction
Shakhotak (Streblus asper) is the toothbrush tree or Sihora, a rough-leaved member of the fig family whose twigs have been used as chewing sticks across India for centuries.
Ayurveda uses the bark as a bitter, astringent drug for the mouth and teeth, for glandular swellings and in chronic skin disease, and it is a classical drug for lymphatic complaints.
Classification
Family Moraceae. Stem bark and root bark are officinal; twigs are used as chewing sticks. Rasa: Kashaya, Tikta. Guna: Laghu, Ruksha. Virya: Ushna. Vipaka: Katu. Doshaghnata: pacifies Kapha and Pitta.
Uses & benefits
Given in glandular and lymphatic swellings, in chronic skin disease and in filariasis, for which it has a long classical record. The twig is used as a datun for the teeth and gums, and the bark decoction as a gargle. In this catalogue it appears in Mahamanjishthadi Kwath.
Shakhotak for glands and lymph
The classical indication is Gandamala and lymphatic swelling, and it has a long-standing use in filarial disease.
Shakhotak for teeth and gums
Its twigs are a traditional chewing stick, and the bark decoction is used as a gargle for spongy gums.
Dosage — how much to take
Bark powder 3–6 g per day; decoction 40–80 ml twice daily, internally or as a gargle.
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 Shakhotak?
The citations held for Shakhotak in this catalogue are: Sushruta Samhita (Chikitsasthana — Shleepada); Bhavaprakasha Nighantu (Vatadi Varga — Shakhotaka).
What does the Sushruta Samhita record about Shakhotak?
Used in the classical management of filarial swelling. Reference: Sushruta Samhita — Chikitsasthana — Shleepada.
What does the Bhavaprakasha Nighantu record about Shakhotak?
Kashaya-tikta rasa, ushna virya; used in gandamala and shleepada. Reference: Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Vatadi Varga — Shakhotaka.
What is Shakhotak traditionally used for in Ayurveda?
Given in glandular and lymphatic swellings, in chronic skin disease and in filariasis, for which it has a long classical record. The twig is used as a datun for the teeth and gums, and the bark decoction as a gargle. In this catalogue it appears in Mahamanjishthadi Kwath.
What are the Ayurvedic properties of Shakhotak?
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 Shakhotak classified the way it is?
In dravya-guna a drug's dosha action follows from its taste, qualities, potency and post-digestive effect. Shakhotak carries Ushna (Hot) virya and Katu (Pungent) vipaka, which together give the recorded action: Balances Kapha & Vata.
Which part of Shakhotak is used medicinally?
The part used is Stem Bark.
How much Shakhotak is taken, and how?
Bark powder 3–6 g per day; decoction 40–80 ml twice daily, internally or as a gargle. Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm it with a qualified Vaidya.
When should Shakhotak be avoided?
Well tolerated at classical doses. The latex is irritant and is not the part used. Consult a physician in pregnancy. Filarial and glandular disease need proper diagnosis — this is a supportive classical drug, not a substitute for treatment.
Where does Shakhotak grow?
A small tree of dry deciduous forest and village margins throughout India, tolerant of poor soil.
Classical references
- Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Vatadi Varga — Shakhotaka
Kashaya-tikta rasa, ushna virya; used in gandamala and shleepada. - Sushruta Samhita — Chikitsasthana — Shleepada
Used in the classical management of filarial swelling.
Safety & precautions
Well tolerated at classical doses. The latex is irritant and is not the part used. Consult a physician in pregnancy. Filarial and glandular disease need proper diagnosis — this is a supportive classical drug, not a substitute for treatment.
Where it grows
A small tree of dry deciduous forest and village margins throughout India, tolerant of poor soil.
Frequently asked questions
Is it really used as a toothbrush?
Yes — the twigs are a traditional datun across India, chewed to a fibrous end and used to clean the teeth.
What is its main classical use?
Glandular and lymphatic swellings, including filarial disease, where it has a long textual record.
