- Region
- Asia
- Origin
- Asia (India, Myanmar)
- Sanskrit
- Khadira
- Other names
- Khair
- Traditions
- Ayurveda, Chinese medical traditions, Unani medicine
Asia · Herb · № 396
Acacia catechu
Herb · Asia
Catechu
Acacia catechu
Traditionally attributed effects: strongly astringent; for chronic diarrhoea and dysentery, bleeding haemorrhoids, uterine bleeding, leucorrhoea; bleeding or inflamed gums, mouth ulcers, enlarged tonsils; bedsores; promotes milk flow.
Safety notes
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 (1)
- Chinese materia medica: Not with cold and dampness.
Preparation
Powder of bark/wood 1–2 g; decoction 28–56 ml; extract (katha) 0.5–1 g; as a lozenge, rinse or tincture.
Use in traditions
Described in the Ayurvedic materia medica. Sanskrit name: Khadira. Katha, the thickened extract of the heartwood, belongs in every paan and stains the mouth red. In Ayurveda (khadira) it is an astringent for sore throat, diarrhoea and skin diseases, and in Europe it was used as a tanning agent and dye (khaki).
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
Strongly astringent; for chronic diarrhoea and dysentery, bleeding haemorrhoids, uterine bleeding, leucorrhoea; bleeding or inflamed gums, mouth ulcers, enlarged tonsils; bedsores; promotes milk flow.
Preparation and amount
Powder of bark/wood 1–2 g; decoction 28–56 ml; extract (katha) 0.5–1 g; as a lozenge, rinse or tincture.
Chinese materia medica
- Nature and taste
- bitter, astringent, neutral
- Meridians
- lung, heart
Attributed effects
The concentrated paste (er cha, 'children's tea') was used for cough with hot phlegm and thirst, and externally to stop bleeding, for cold sores, eczema and bleeding haemorrhoids.
Preparation and amount
Traditional dosage: 0.5–2 g a day internally. Not to be confused with gou teng, which is sometimes also called gambir.
Combinations
- With honeysuckle, lian qiao and burdock seed for sore throat
Caution: Not with cold and dampness.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- DecoctionTincturePowder and kitchen
- Formulas
- Qi li sanXiang sheng po di wan