What is Chitrak? Know about its Various names and Benefits

2021-12-14 12:47:30

You must have heard about many types of herbs or medicines to date, you must have seen them and many have also been used. But today we are going to tell you about a herb, which you are hardly familiar with before. Its name is "Chitrak". This herb is named after the flamboyant animal 'Cheetah' because like the cheetah, the medicinal properties of this herb are also very strong. The chitrak looks like a bushy and very simple plant but actually, it is very useful. According to Ayurveda, Chitrak proves to be effective in the treatment of many diseases.

What is a Chitrak?

Chitrak is a simple plant that remains green for a long time. Its stem is short and many smooth branches have come out from its root. The leaves of this plant are green in colour and round in shape. These plant flowers between September and November are purple, red, blue and light white in colour. Depending on the colour of these flowers, there are three types of Chitraks - white Chitraks, red Chitraks and purple or blue Chitraks. Of these three Chitraks, the white Chitrak is considered to be the most useful.

Different names of Chitrak

Chitraka, Chitamula, Chitramulmu, Cheetah, Chituk, Chitaparu, Vahini, Kotubeli, Chitra, Chitalkadi, Kodiveli, Sitarak, Shitaraja, Plumbago Zeylanica etc.

Benefits of Chitrak

• Chitrak is used as an Ayurvedic medicine in combination with many other herbs. In this way, the various qualities of a Chitrak can be seen and understood as follows-
• Chitrak is a cough suppressant herb that helps to get out the phlegm accumulated in the body and eliminates fever.
• Taking the powder of Chitrak's bark with buttermilk provides relief in piles.
• Using the powder of the root of Blue Chitrak proves beneficial in headaches.
• Grinding red chitrak with milk and applying it reduces the problem of itching.
• Chitrak is a remedy for tridosha. It helps in pacifying Vata, Kapha and Pitta.
• Drinking a decoction of its root bark daily is beneficial in diabetes.
• Taking a decoction of the root of blue Chitrak is beneficial in a fever of Kala-azar.
• Cooking the bark of the root of Red Chitrak in oil, filtering and applying it is beneficial in paralysis and rheumatism.
• Consumption of Chitrak is beneficial in painful tuberculosis, bacterial, cough and lump diseases. Taking Chitrakadi Leh in the morning and evening as per the advice of Vaidya or doctor is also beneficial in suffocation, cough and heart disease.
• Make a powder by grinding the root and seed of blue Chitrak. Now use this powder to rub on the teeth. By doing this, there is a benefit in pyorrhea disease and tooth decay is cured.
• In the case of bleeding from the nose, taking the powder of white chitrak mixed with honey provides relief in nosebleeds. Making a paste of its powder and using it in arthritis is also good.
• Fever and cough are quickly cured by taking black pepper powder, pippali powder and dry ginger in the powder of the root of Chitrak.
• Using Chitrak proves beneficial in liver-related diseases. Chitrak helps in reducing the symptoms of jaundice by making liver cells healthy in diseases like jaundice.
• Blue chitrak has properties to increase hair and appetite and digest food. Apart from this, it also proves helpful in treating constipation, piles, leprosy and stomach worms.
• Make a powder by grinding an equal quantity of Amla, Chitrak, Turmeric, Ajmoda and Yavakshar. Now, licking this powder ends sore throat.
• Chitrak works to eliminate inflammation, worms, piles, cough, gas, hoarseness and leprosy.
• Mixing the powder of its root with vinegar and milk and applying it provides benefits for skin diseases.
• Regular consumption of Chitrak purifies the breasts and is a blood purifier.
• Grinding red chitrak and cedarwood with cow urine provides relief in filariasis i.e. elephantiasis.
• Make a powder of equal parts of Chitrak's root, Brahmi and Vacha and consume it twice or thrice a day, it is beneficial in hysteria.

Side effects of Chitrak

• Chitrak is hot in potency, therefore, it should always be consumed in limited quantity.
• Red Chitrak has the properties of aborting a child. Therefore, it should not be used by pregnant women.
• Consuming Chitrak in excess can cause paralysis and even death.
• When suffering from any disease, Chitrak should be consumed only as per the advice of the doctor.

Where is the Chitrak found?

Chitrak is more commonly seen in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim, Maharashtra, West Bengal, South India, Khasia Mountains and Sri Lanka.