Witnessed by: Ayurveda · Unani
Indian screw tree (Helicteres isora), of the Malvaceae (Sterculiaceae) family. Shrub or small tree with rough grey bark; native range: India and tropical Asia, in dry deciduous forest and scrub. Globally recognized as avartani / mrigashinga in Sanskrit, marorphali in Hindi, marorphali (Urdu) in Arabic, and East Indian screw tree, deepdori, twisted-pod in English. The part used is fruit (screw-shaped pod); also root and bark. Hard, brown, corkscrew-twisted pods, near tasteless at first then puckering and astringent on 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 SCREW TREE
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Indian screw tree
- Scientific name
- Helicteres isora L.
- Family
- Malvaceae (Sterculiaceae)
Form
- Part used
- fruit (screw-shaped pod); also root and bark
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Ayurveda
- astringent · bitter (kashaya, tikta)
- Unani
- astringent (qabiz)
Temperature
- Ayurveda
- heating (ushna)
- Unani
- hot & dry (2nd degree)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Unani
- intestines · stomach
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Ayurveda
- grahi (absorbent), stambhana (astringent-checking), krimighna (anthelmintic), deepana-pachana (kindles and digests)
- Unani
- qabiz (astringent), habis (styptic), for maghas (griping colic) and flux
Cautions
- Contraindications
- constipation and hard, dry stool
- Toxicity
- no significant toxicity at customary dose
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