Bibhitaki (TerminaliaBellirica) - Properties, Benefits, Uses, Dosage

Bibhitaki is a large deciduous tree found throughout India reaches height up to 30 meters. Trunk of the tree is straight with brownish grey color. Leaves are long, alternate, oval and are clustered towards the end of branches. These are 7-14cm in breadth and 10-12cm in length. Simple and solitary flowers are white or yellow in color with offensive odor. Flowers appear in the month of May. Upper part of plant is male and lower part is female. Fruits are grey colored drupes, ovoid in shape. Sweet kernels inside the hard covering of fruit are sweet in taste. Its fruit resembles to haritaki fruit but without ridges.

General Description

Bibhitaki is also called baheda, herb which makes the fellow fearless and this herb is one of the ingredients among triphalai.eHaritaki, Bibhitaki and Amalaki. This herb is very effective in the nourishment of dhatus of body and in pacification of tridosha. Fruit pulp is very effective in eye nourishment, hair growth and preventing hoarseness of voice. It also has mild sedative action and is also used in insomnia. This herb works wonderfully on all seven dhatus and gives miraculous results. This plant contains various chemical compounds such as sitosterol, egalic acid, galic acid, galloyl glucose, chebugalic acid, protein, oxalic acid, tannins, galactose, glucose, mannitol, fructose, chebulasic acid and ramnose.

Special Note About This Herb

It helps to pacify all three dosha especially used for pacification of kaphadosha. Bibhitaki is very supportive for three essential tissues of body - rasa dhatu (plasma), mamsadhatu (muscle) and asthidhatu (bone).

FOLLOWING TERMS ARE USED FOR THIS HERB:-

• Rasayan - Rejuvenating in nature
• Chakshushya - Herb beneficial for eyes
• Keshya - Very beneficial for hair
• Kanthya - Very effective for throat

Habitat

Bibhitaki is large deciduous tree native to India and about 100 species are distributed throughout the world. It is found commonly in plains and lower hills of Southeast Asia. In India it is abundantly found in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Maharashtra.

Classification

• Kingdom - Plantae
• Order - Myrtales
• Family - Combretaceae

Names

• English name - Baheda
• Latin name - Terminaliabellerica
• Hindi name - Baheda
• Sanskrit name - Vibhitak, Akshay, Karshfala, Kalidrum
• Bengali name - Bayada
• Punjabi name - Baheda
• Telugu name - Vadikaya
• Dravidi name - Tanikooya
• Kannada name - Tarekapi
• Arabic name - Balelaj
• Persian name - Talelah
• Farsi name - Baleel

Ayurvedic Properties

Effects On Doshas

It balances Pitta and Kaphadoshas.

Ancient Verse About TerminaliaBellerica

Aksh, karshfala, kalidrum, bhootvaas and kaliyugalya are various synonyms of this herb. It has astringent taste and after digestion it is sweet in taste, pacifies kapha and pitta dosha and possesses cooling effects and hot potency. Bibhitaki is used in purgation therapy, cough, eye and hair problems, worm infestation and voice hoarseness. Seed kernel is astringent in taste, narcotic, easy to digest and used to cure thirst. It is also used to pacify kapha and vatadosha and to induce purgation therapy.

Practical Uses Of TerminaliaBellerica

• Terminaliabellerica is an herb of triphala. It is laxative in nature and used in the purgation therapy.
• Fruit is anti-bacterial in nature and used to fight against various infections.
• It is rejuvenating in nature and it is very beneficial for hair growth.
• Bibhitaki is useful in hoarseness of voice, asthma, cough and common cold. It relieves blocked phlegm and bleeding in sputum.
• Seed oil of paste of fruit is applied to swollen parts to get relief from inflammation. It is best used in rheumatism.
• Seed oil of this herb is also beneficial for skin disorders and premature graying of hair. It also boosts up hair growth and helps to impart black color to hair.
• Fruit paste is also applied on eyelids to cure conjunctivitisand it is also beneficial for various eye disorders such as myopia, corneal opacity, and cataract.
• It also helps to cure loss of appetite, thirst, bloating, flatulence, piles and various worm infestations. Decoction of seed kernels is used in vomiting and excessive thirst.
• Ripen fruit of this plant is astringent and is anti-diarrheal in action.
• It is aphrodisiac, prevents ageing and used to enhance immunity to fight against various diseases.
• This herb is also beneficial in blood pressureand helps in lowering cholesterol levels. Bark of this tree is used for chest pain and heart diseases.
• Bibhitaki used for mouthwash and gargles.
• It gives effective result in dysuria.
• The herb is beneficial for lungs and disorders associated with lungs
• It is used to pacify pitta and kaphadosha.

Dosage

Powder - 3-6gm

Parts Used

• Fruit rind
• Seeds
• Seed kernels