Witnessed by: Ayurveda · Unani
Indian rosewood (Dalbergia sissoo), of the Fabaceae (Leguminosae) family. Large deciduous tree with a crooked bole and pinnate leaves; native range: Sub-Himalayan tracts and river valleys of the Indian subcontinent. Globally recognized as shimshapa in Sanskrit, sheesham in Hindi, sheesham in Arabic, and sissoo, shisham, North Indian rosewood in English. The part used is heartwood, bark and leaves. Hard, close-grained fragrant wood; the leaves and bark bitter and astringent to 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.
INDIAN ROSEWOOD
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Indian rosewood
- Scientific name
- Dalbergia sissoo DC.
- Family
- Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
Form
- Part used
- heartwood, bark and leaves
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Ayurveda
- bitter · astringent (tikta, kashaya)
- Unani
- bitter · astringent
Temperature
Ayurveda: heating (ushna)
Unani: hot (and dry, second degree)
convergence: both {witness_count} witnesses call it a warming, drying drug
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Unani
- skin · blood · uterus
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Ayurveda
- kushthaghna (heals skin disease), krimighna (anthelmintic), kapha-vata-hara, medohara (reduces fat), vranaropana (wound-healing)
- Unani
- musaffi-e-khoon (blood purifier), daf-e-deedan (anthelmintic), qabiz (astringent), mujaffif (drying for eruptions)
Cautions
- Contraindications
- very dry or vata-depleted states; caution in pregnancy, the leaves being emmenagogue
- Toxicity
- the fine wood-dust irritates the skin and airways; otherwise low toxicity
- Sourcing status
- cites-ii
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