Witnessed by: Ayurveda · Unani
Lodh tree (Symplocos racemosa), of the Symplocaceae family. Small evergreen tree with racemes of fragrant cream flowers; native range: moist deciduous forests of the eastern Himalaya, Assam and the plains of northern India. Globally recognized as lodhra · rodhra · tilaka in Sanskrit, lodh · lodhra in Hindi, lodh in Arabic, and lodh bark · symplocos bark in English. The part used is stem bark. Rough greyish bark, near scentless, dyeing the spittle and puckering the tongue with a dry, cooling astringency.
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.
LODH TREE
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Lodh tree
- Scientific name
- Symplocos racemosa Roxb.
- Family
- Symplocaceae
Form
- Part used
- stem bark
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Ayurveda
- astringent (kashaya) · bitter (tikta)
- Unani
- astringent
Temperature
Ayurveda: cooling (sheeta)
Unani: cold & dry (2nd degree)
convergence: both {witness_count} witnesses read it cold — a drying, styptic coolness
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Unani
- uterus · intestines · stomach
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Ayurveda
- grahi (astringent), stambhana (styptic), vranaropana (wound-healing), garbhasthapana; a chief drug for raktapradara and shvetapradara
- Unani
- qabiz (astringent), habis-ud-dam (styptic), mujaffif (desiccant); knits wounds and firms lax tissue
Cautions
- Contraindications
- constipation and hard, dry stool; conditions aggravated by strong drying astringents
- Toxicity
- no significant toxicity at customary doses; excess may bind the bowels
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