Witnessed by: Ayurveda · Unani
Toothbrush tree (Salvadora persica), of the Salvadoraceae family. Small evergreen tree or shrub of saline deserts; native range: the arid belt of Africa, Arabia and India, favouring saline ground. Globally recognized as pilu in Sanskrit, pilu, jhak in Hindi, arak (أراك), siwak in Arabic, and toothbrush tree, mustard tree, miswak in English. The part used is twig (root and stem), leaf, fruit and seed. Pungent, mustard-scented, soft fibrous twigs; small peppery leaves and tiny sweet berries.
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.
TOOTHBRUSH TREE
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Toothbrush tree
- Scientific name
- Salvadora persica L.
- Family
- Salvadoraceae
Form
- Part used
- twig (root and stem), leaf, fruit and seed
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Ayurveda
- pungent · bitter (katu, tikta)
- Unani
- pungent · bitter (acrid)
Temperature
Ayurveda: heating (ushna)
Unani: hot & dry (2nd degree)
convergence: both {witness_count} witnesses reckon it hot and dry
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Unani
- stomach
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Ayurveda
- dantadhavana (dental cleanser), deepana (digestive), krimighna and kaphahara; the twig to clean and firm the teeth and gums, and a carminative for weak digestion
- Unani
- jali (detergent), muqawwi-e-lissa (gum tonic), muharrik (stimulant) and kaasir-e-riyah (carminative); the siwak to cleanse the teeth, sweeten the breath and firm spongy gums
Cautions
- Contraindications
- vigorous over-brushing may abrade the gums
- Toxicity
- the seeds are purgative in quantity
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