Witnessed by: TCM · Ayurveda
Indian coral tree (Erythrina variegata), of the Fabaceae (Leguminosae) family. Quick-growing thorny deciduous tree with brilliant red flowers; native range: coasts and monsoon forests of India, South-East Asia and the Pacific. Globally recognized as hai tong pi (海桐皮) in Chinese, paribhadra / mandara in Sanskrit, pangara / dadap in Hindi, and tiger's claw, Indian coral tree in English. The part used is bark (stem and root bark); leaves in Ayurveda. Greyish corky prickly bark, bitter and slightly acrid; fresh leaves faintly bitter.
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 CORAL TREE
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Indian coral tree
- Scientific name
- Erythrina variegata L.
- Family
- Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
Form
- Part used
- bark (stem and root bark); leaves in Ayurveda
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- bitter · pungent
- Ayurveda
- bitter · pungent · astringent
Temperature
- TCM
- neutral
- Ayurveda
- heating
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Liver · Kidney
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- dispels wind-damp, unblocks the channels and collaterals, and relieves pain and itching
- Ayurveda
- krimighna (anthelmintic), shothahara (anti-inflammatory), vata-kaphahara, vedanasthapana (analgesic) and emmenagogue
Cautions
- Contraindications
- blood or yin deficiency without wind-damp; pregnancy, given its emmenagogue action
- Toxicity
- low at usual dose; the seed is not for internal use
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