Photo: unknown / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Sila Rasa शिला
Liquidambar orientalis
Part used: Resin
| 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: Liquidambar orientalis
- Part used: Resin
- Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata
- Typical dose: External use in oils, ointments and plasters.
Sila Rasa in other languages
Introduction
Sila Rasa is storax, the fragrant balsam that exudes from the wounded trunk of Liquidambar orientalis, the oriental sweetgum of Asia Minor. It is imported rather than Indian.
Ayurveda and Unani both use it as a warming, aromatic external drug for skin disease, pain and congestion, and it appears in classical plasters and pain oils.
Classification
Family Altingiaceae. The balsam exudate is officinal. Rasa: Katu, Tikta. Guna: Laghu, Snigdha, Tikshna. Virya: Ushna. Vipaka: Katu. Doshaghnata: pacifies Kapha and Vata.
Uses & benefits
Applied externally in scabies, ringworm and chronic skin disease, and in plasters and oils for joint pain and congestion. Its aroma also makes it a fixative in incense and perfumery. In this catalogue it appears in Panchagun Taila.
Storax for skin complaints
Its long-standing external use in scabies and stubborn skin disease rests on the same balsamic constituents that give it its scent.
Storax in pain preparations
Warming and penetrating, it is used in plasters and oils over painful joints and a congested chest.
Dosage — how much to take
External use in oils, ointments and plasters. Internal use is not given here.
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.
What is Sila Rasa traditionally used for in Ayurveda?
Applied externally in scabies, ringworm and chronic skin disease, and in plasters and oils for joint pain and congestion. Its aroma also makes it a fixative in incense and perfumery. In this catalogue it appears in Panchagun Taila.
What are the Ayurvedic properties of Sila Rasa?
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 Sila Rasa classified the way it is?
In dravya-guna a drug's dosha action follows from its taste, qualities, potency and post-digestive effect. Sila Rasa carries Ushna (Hot) virya and Katu (Pungent) vipaka, which together give the recorded action: Balances Kapha & Vata.
Which part of Sila Rasa is used medicinally?
The part used is Resin.
How much Sila Rasa is taken, and how?
External use in oils, ointments and plasters. Internal use is not given here. Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm it with a qualified Vaidya.
When should Sila Rasa be avoided?
For external use. Balsams are a common cause of contact allergy — storax and balsam of Peru are among the standard allergens in patch testing — so patch test before wide application and avoid if you react to fragrances. Do not apply to broken skin.
Where does Sila Rasa grow?
Native to south-western Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean. Not an Indian plant; all material is imported.
Classical references
- Unani and Ayurvedic materia medica — Silarasa / Storax
Imported balsam long used in both traditions for external application. - Ayurvedic Formulary of India — Silarasa in Panchagun Taila
Listed among the external ingredients of classical pain oils.
Safety & precautions
For external use. Balsams are a common cause of contact allergy — storax and balsam of Peru are among the standard allergens in patch testing — so patch test before wide application and avoid if you react to fragrances. Do not apply to broken skin.
Where it grows
Native to south-western Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean. Not an Indian plant; all material is imported.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sila Rasa an Indian drug?
No. It is an imported balsam from Liquidambar orientalis, a tree of Asia Minor, long traded into India and used in both Ayurvedic and Unani external preparations.
Can it cause a reaction?
Balsams are among the commonest contact allergens. Patch test first, particularly if you react to perfumes.
