Witnessed by: TCM · Ayurveda
Beautyberry (Callicarpa macrophylla), of the Lamiaceae (formerly Verbenaceae) family. Spreading shrub with large opposite leaves and dense cymes of small purple drupes; native range: the Himalaya and southern China; foothill scrub, ravines and forest margins. Globally recognized as priyangu in Sanskrit, daiya / priyangu in Hindi, zi zhu (紫珠) in Chinese, and large-leaf beautyberry in English. The part used is leaves and flowering tops; the fruit. Grey-downy leaves with a dry, faintly bitter astringency that puckers the tongue.
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.
BEAUTYBERRY
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Beautyberry
- Scientific name
- Callicarpa macrophylla Vahl
- Family
- Lamiaceae (formerly Verbenaceae)
Form
- Part used
- leaves and flowering tops; the fruit
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- bitter · astringent
- Ayurveda
- astringent · bitter · sweet (kashaya, tikta, madhura)
Temperature
TCM: cool
Ayurveda: cooling (sheeta)
convergence: both {witness_count} witnesses read it cool — a blood-settling, heat-clearing herb in each
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Liver · Lung · Stomach
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- stops bleeding, cools the blood, resolves toxicity and reduces swelling
- Ayurveda
- stambhana (astringent), raktapitta-shamaka (settles bleeding), varnya (improves complexion), dahaghna (relieves burning)
Cautions
- Contraindications
- cold-deficiency bleeding without heat; not for bleeding from frank cold patterns
- Toxicity
- well tolerated; large doses may cause mild gastric upset
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