Witnessed by: TCM · Ayurveda · Western · Unani
Catechu (Senegalia catechu), of the Fabaceae family. Thorny deciduous tree with dark fissured bark; native range: dry forests of the Indian subcontinent and South-East Asia. Globally recognized as khadira in Sanskrit, khair in Hindi, er cha (兒茶) in Chinese, kath in Arabic, and cutch; black catechu in English. The part used is heartwood extract (catechu). Hard dark-brown brittle masses, intensely astringent and drying, 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.
CATECHU
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- catechu
- Scientific name
- Senegalia catechu (L.f.) P.J.H.Hurter & Mabb.
- Family
- Fabaceae
Form
- Part used
- heartwood extract (catechu)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- bitter · astringent
- Ayurveda
- astringent (kashaya) · bitter (tikta)
- Western
- astringent · bitter
- Unani
- astringent, bitter
Temperature
- TCM
- cool
- Ayurveda
- cooling
- Western
- cool
- Unani
- cold & dry
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Lung · Heart
- Western
- skin · mucous membranes · bowels
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- clears heat, resolves dampness, stops bleeding and generates flesh (topical)
- Ayurveda
- kushtaghna (skin-disease-destroying), krimighna, kaphahara, a blood purifier and dantya (dental)
- Western
- powerful astringent, styptic, antidiarrhoeal
- Unani
- qabid (astringent), habis-ud-dam (styptic), mujaffif (desiccant)
Cautions
Contraindications: constipation and dryness; deep-cold conditions
Toxicity: none notable in normal use
Interactions
- Western
- antidiabetic agents: tannins may add to glucose-lowering
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