Chebulic Myrobylan (Harad)
Also known as
Latin : Terminalia chebula
English : Chebulic myrobylan
Sanskrit : Haritaki, Pathya, Abhaya
Hindi : Harad
Marathi : Hirada
Tamil : Katukkay
Telugu : Karakkaya
Malayalam : Katukka
Kannada : Harra
How it looks�It is a moderate to large, deciduous tree with a rounded crown, spreading branches and yellowish white flowers. The shiny ovoid fruits are yellow to orange brown
in colour with hard, pale yellow seeds.
What we use�Mature and immature fruits.
What it does�It is astringent, thermogenic, anodyne, anti-inflammatory, stomachic, laxative, purgative, digestive, carminative, anthelmintic, aphrodisiac, diuretic and febrifuge.
How we use it�
In
piles�Taking a tsp of harad powder with jaggery before food is highly beneficial due to its astringent and laxative properties.
In
hiccough�Powder of harad with hot water in a dose of 5gm thrice a day relieves even long-standing hiccoughs.
In
vomiting�Licking the powder of harad with honey is a sure remedy for nausea and vomiting.
In
throat infections�1 tsp of honey should be mixed in a glass of decoction of harad and consumed, twice a day.
In
bleeding disorders & hyperacidity�Take equal quantities of harad powder and raisins, to your liking. Over a period of time you will find the bleeding corrected and hyperacidity
relieved.
In
arthritis�Mix a tsp of harad powder in castor oil and swallow. This relieves the pain and swelling and smoothens joint movements.
In
low appetite�Vi tsp each of sonth powder, jaggery, harad powder and sendha powder should be eaten daily before meals.
In
excessive perspiration�Rub a fine powder of harad all over body. Wait for a few minutes and rinse off with a bath.
In
whitlow�Harad powder should be ground in the juice of raw turmeric and applied on the affected finger nail.
In
dandruff�Powder the kernel of mango fruit, mix it with harad powder, paste them in milk and apply on scalp regularly to vanquish the most stubborn of dandruff.
In
abdominal pain�Pain in the abdomen may be due to gas distension or indigestion. Grind harad, nutmeg and sweet flag or bach to a paste and use a tsp of this twice a day.
In
mumps�Apply a thick paste of harad on the inflamed glands to reduce pain and swelling.
In
eye inflammation�Cool and filter a decoction of harad to wash the eye with. Being astringent and healing, it relieves the swelling and redness quickly.
In
toothache�Apply a fine powder of harad directly on the painful tooth for relief from the ache.
In
fungal infections and scabies�Apply a paste of harad and turmeric to the part twice a day until the skin turns completely normal.
In any
skin allergy�Wash the area with harad decoction and drink the same twice a day.
In
obesity�Use triphala powder - a combination of "harad, bahera and amla" (chebulic and belleric myrobylan and gooseberry) a tsp daily with honey on empty stomach and watch the
fat melt away after a couple of months.
Modern Study
Harad was an important ingredient of an ayurvedic tooth paste found effective against dental diseases.
