Witnessed by: Ayurveda
Champak (Magnolia champaca), of the Magnoliaceae family. Tall evergreen tree with a straight bole, the leaves large and glossy; native range: the eastern Himalaya and the Western Ghats through Indochina and the Malay archipelago. Globally recognized as campaka · hemapushpa in Sanskrit, champa, swarna champa in Hindi, shenbagam in Tamil, and champak, golden champa, joy perfume tree in English. The part used is flower; bark; leaf; root. Narrow orange-gold petals of a heavy sweet perfume that deepens after dark; the bark bitter and astringent, the leaf 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.
CHAMPAK
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- champak
- Scientific name
- Magnolia champaca (L.) Baill. ex Pierre
- Family
- Magnoliaceae
Form
- Part used
- flower; bark; leaf; root
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Ayurveda
- bitter (tikta) · pungent (katu) · astringent (kashaya)
Temperature
- Ayurveda
- the record diverges — the nighantus read champaka sheeta (cooling), while other hands give it as ushna (heating)
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Ayurveda
- jwaraghna (antipyretic), kushthaghna (heals skin disease), vranaropana (heals wounds), chakshushya (good for the eyes), krimighna (antiparasitic), varnya (improves the complexion)
Cautions
- Contraindications
- caution in pregnancy; the heavy scent of the flower may bring on headache and nausea in the sensitive
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