- Region
- Asia
- Origin
- Asia (India, China)
- Sanskrit
- Vakuchi
- Traditions
- Ayurveda, Chinese medical traditions
Asia · Herb · № 542
Psoralea corylifolia
Herb · Asia
Babchi
Psoralea corylifolia
Traditionally attributed effects: laxative, expels worms, diuretic, induces sweating, antibacterial; for leprosy and leucoderma (vitiligo) internally and externally, bile complaints.
Safety notes
Can make the skin highly sensitive to sunlight and has been linked to liver damage. Poisonous or risky: only under expert supervision. No dosage is given here on purpose. Serious illnesses such as infections, cancer or hepatitis need a doctor: there is no evidence that this remedy cures them. Traditional use is no proof of effectiveness; if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Cautions by tradition (2)
- Ayurvedic materia medica: Poisonous or risky: only under expert supervision. No dosage is given here on purpose. Serious illnesses such as infections, cancer or hepatitis need a doctor: there is no evidence that this remedy cures them.
- Chinese materia medica: Not with yin deficiency with heat. Makes the skin strongly sensitive to light (psoralens); cases of liver damage have been reported.
Preparation
Poisonous or risky: only under expert supervision. No dosage is given here on purpose.
Use in traditions
Described in the Ayurvedic materia medica. Sanskrit name: Vakuchi. The seeds (bu gu zhi in Chinese medicine) contain psoralen, which makes the skin sensitive to sunlight. They were therefore used in India and China for vitiligo, with exposure to the sun; modern PUVA therapy developed from this.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Ayurvedic materia medica
Attributed effects
Laxative, expels worms, diuretic, induces sweating, antibacterial; for leprosy and leucoderma (vitiligo) internally and externally, bile complaints.
Preparation and amount
Traditionally used forms: powder, oil, ointment, paste (partly external).
Caution: Poisonous or risky: only under expert supervision. No dosage is given here on purpose. Serious illnesses such as infections, cancer or hepatitis need a doctor: there is no evidence that this remedy cures them.
Chinese materia medica
- Nature and taste
- pungent, bitter, very warm
- Meridians
- kidney, spleen
Attributed effects
Bu gu zhi strengthens the kidney yang in impotence and a cold, weak back, helps the kidneys hold the lung energy, warms the spleen in diarrhoea on waking and retains semen and urine in seminal emission and bedwetting. Externally for vitiligo and psoriasis.
Preparation and amount
Traditional dosage: 3–9 g a day, usually in a decoction.
Combinations
- With nutmeg, schisandra and wu zhu yu in si shen wan for diarrhoea on waking
- With walnut and cuscuta for impotence
Caution: Not with yin deficiency with heat. Makes the skin strongly sensitive to light (psoralens); cases of liver damage have been reported.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- DecoctionSalve and balmCompress, poultice and pastePowder and kitchen
- Formulas
- Qing e wan