Madhuca, Madhuka

Mahua tree, Butter tree
Madhuka (Ayurveda)
Mahua (Unani)
Kattuiluppu (Siddha)

Madhuca longifolia
W. Roxburgh, Plants of the coast of Coromandel, vol. 1 (1795)

Botanical name:

Madhuca longifolia (syn. M. indica, M. latifolia, Bassia latifolia)
M. butyracea (syn. Aisandra butyracea) is used synonymously in some parts of India.

Parts used:

Primarily Flower; also fruit, bark

Temperature & Taste:

Cool, sweet.

Uses:

1. Benefits Yin and Qi:

-restorative, promotes strength in weakness, debility, emaciation
-Sexual Debility (boiled in milk)
-Children’s diseases
-nutritious tonic

2. Clears Heat, Benefits Yin:

-Colds, Cough, Bronchitis, Dyspnoea, Phthisis
-Thirst, Burning syndrome (flower infusion)
-also for heat-type Bleeding
-Scrofula (fresh juice)
-Diarrhea, Dysentery

3. Clears Heat, Opens the Bowels:

-mild laxative in heat conditions
SEED OIL:
-applied to skin diseases
-rheumatic complaints
-applied to the head in headache

BARK:

-astringent
-Itch, ulcers, bleeding gums, sore throat (decoction topically)
-decoction of stem-bark is abortifacient
-Diabetes

Dose:

Flower: 10–20 grams (API)
Flower Juice: 10–20mls
Flower Infusion (1 in 20): 1–2 fluid ounces
Decoction of the Bark: 50–100mls

Comment:

Licorice is also sometimes called Madhuka in India.

Main Combinations:

Often combined with Woodfordia flower and Raisin

1. Restorative tonic:
i. the flowers are fried in Ghee, sugar is added and then lightly spiced with Cumin.
ii. Madhuca flowers with Woodfordia flower, Raisin, Licorice, Triphala
2. Heart or Lung disease, Loss of Strength, Madhuca flower, Arjuna, Woodfordia flower, Raisin
3. Diarrhea, Dysentery, Madhuca flower with Holarrhena, Gmelina bark, Raisin

Major Formulas:

Aravind¡sava
Abhayarista
Kutajarista
Eladya Modaka

Cautions:

None noted

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