Witnessed by: Ayurveda
Camel thorn (Alhagi pseudalhagi), of the Fabaceae family. Low spiny under-shrub, much branched, with small leaves and pink flowers; native range: arid plains and sandy waste of India, central Asia and the Middle East. Globally recognized as dhanvayasa · dhanvayasaka in Sanskrit, javasa in Hindi, and camel thorn in English. The part used is whole plant (panchanga). Bitter and slightly astringent.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
CAMEL THORN
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- camel thorn
- Scientific name
- Alhagi pseudalhagi (M.Bieb.) Desv.
- Family
- Fabaceae
Form
- Part used
- whole plant (panchanga)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Ayurveda
- bitter (tikta) · astringent (kashaya)
Temperature
- Ayurveda
- cooling (shita)
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Ayurveda
- pitta-shamaka (cooling), jvaraghna (antipyretic), raktapitta-hara (for heat-bleeding) and daha-prashamana (relieves burning)
Cautions
- Toxicity
- none of note in customary use
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