Cassia fistula / Ehala / ඇහැල / Aragvadha/ Rajavruksha/ Sampaka/ Caturangula/ Araveta/ Krutamala/ Suvarnaka, Karnikara, Dīghaphala, Svarnanga,Svarnabhushana, Vyadhighata

Botanical name   :Cassia fistula

Family                 : Caesalpinioid

English name      : Drumstick or purging cassia

Sanskrit names   : Aragvadha, Rajavruksha, Sampaka, Caturangula, Araveta, Krutamala, Suvarnaka, Karnikara, Dīghaphala, Svarnanga,  Svarnabhushana, Vyadhighata,   

Singhalese name : Ehala ඇහැල

Parts used          : pulp, root bark, flowers & leaves

Properties:

            Rasa           Madhura, Tikta

            Guna          Guru, Snigdha

            Veerya       Sheeta

            Vipaka       Madhura

Attributes / Karma:

Alleviate Vata & Pitta. Purgative (sransana),

Cures : fever, cardiac diseases, bleeding disorders (raktapitta), disorders use to Vata, Flatulence (udavarta), pains (shula)

Fruits : alleviate Kapha & Pitta

             Purgative. Promote appetite. Cures skin diseases (kushta) & fever.

             Cleanse the GI track (koshta śuddhikara)                                       (B.P)

(Caturangulo mrudu virēcanan śreshta) – aragvadha is the best in mild purgatives.

                                                                                                                       (C / su / 25)           

Medicinal uses

External

·         Diseases of the oral cavity & throat – decoction is used for gargling,

·         Rheumatoid arthritis – pulp & leaf past is applied locally.

·         Skin diseases & itching - leaf past is applied locally.

Internal

·         As a laxative – pulp mixed with milk sugar & powdered cardamom.

Method of extracting pulp from fruits

o   Ripe pops should be kept in sand for 30 days.

o   Taken out & dried in sunlight.

o   After drying the pulp from the fruit should be taken out in a clean vessel.

o   Should not be boiled, as the properties are lost.

o   The older pods have to be heated a little & then broken the pulp can be extracted with spoon.

Formulations:

Aragvadharishta, Aragvadhadileha, Aragvadhadi taila.