Chukra Rumex vesicarius Uses, Medicines, Remedies, Research

Chukra- Rumex vesicarius is an Ayurvedic herb used for the treatment of constipation, diseases of the liver, scorpion bite, snake bite, piles and vomiting.

Latin name- Rumex vesicarius Linn.
Family- Polygonaceae

Vernacular names

Names in different languages:
English name – Bladder dock, Sorrel, Bubble dock, Rosy Dock,
Hindi  name  – Ambari, Chuka, Chukekasak
Kannada name- Chukka
Arabic name – Hamaz, Humarbostani, Humbijit
Assamese name – Sukhasag
Bengali name – Chak, Chuk, Chukapalang
Bombay         – Chuka
Burmese name – Kalakhenbour
Deccan name – Ambari, Chukka
Malayalam name – Chokkancheera
Persian name            – Tursak, Turshah, Turshunuk
Punjabi name – Kattamitha, Khatbiri, Saluni
Tamil  name  – Chukka
Telugu name   – Chukka kura

Sanskrit Synonyms

Amla, Amlabhedaka, Sinchamla, Shuktika, Sahasravedhi, Amlantaki, Rajamla, Rasamla, Vetamla, Viramla- All these names indicate the sour nature of the plant
Bhedana, Gulmaha, Beeta, Shukta, Chanda,

Morphology

Morphology of Rumex vesicarius:
Chukra is a plant growing to a height of 15-3 cm. It is found in most parts of India in a state of cultivation or as a garden escape. It occurs in western Punjab, salt range and Trans-Indus hills. It grows especially in hilly areas and Himalayan zone.

Properties, part used, dosage

Medicinal properties of Bladder dock:
Rasa (Taste) – Amla (Sour), Madhura (Sweet)
Guna (Qualities) – Laghu (Light for digestion)
Vipaka – Amla (Undergoes sour taste after digestion)
Veerya (Potency) – Ushna (Hot)
Karma (Actions) – Vata shamaka (reduces vata dosha), Kapha pitta vardaka (Increases kapha and pitta dosha)

Part used- Whole plant, Seed

Dosage-
Fresh juice- 10 to 20 ml
Powder- 2 to 3 g

Chemical composition

Fresh and green herb contains 92% water content dried plant contain either extract 4.62%, albuminoid 16.27%, carbohydrate 57.86%, woody part 10.50% and alkaline 10.75%. Root contains Rumicin and lapathin. It also contains an anthraquinone glucoside, aminoacids, vitamins, cystine, glutamic acid, histidine etc.

Uses

Uses of Chukra:

• The paste of the leaf of Rumex vesicarius is kept in the gums and tooth affected with dental caries to relive pain and inflammation.
• The paste of the leaf of Chukra is applied over the area affected with scorpion bite to relive pain and inflammation.
• The seeds of Rumex vesicarius is roasted and powdered and is taken internally to treat scorpion bite and diarrhea.
• The decoction of the plant is given in a dose of 30 ml with supernatant layer of curd and juice of pomegranate to treat diarrhea.
• The juice of the leaves of Chukra is slightly warmed and installed into the ears to treat earache.
• The decoction of the whole plant is given in a dose of 50 ml to treat hepatomegaly and piles.
• Fresh juice of the leaf of Chukra is given in a dose of 10 ml to treat vomiting.
• Rice gruel boiled with Chukra and nagakesara (Mesua ferrea) is given to treat bleeding piles and diarrhea associated with blood.

Sanskrit verse

Indications

Uses of Chukra as per Ayurveda:
Pittakrut – Increases Pitta Dosha
Rakrakrut – can increase bleading disorders
Vatashamana – Balances Vata Dosha
Bastishuddhikara – cleanses and detoxifies kidneys and bladder
Deepana – improves digestion strength
Pachana – Digestive, relieves Ama Dosha
Sara – induces mobility, causes diarrhea, purgation, relieves constipation

Indicated in –
Shoola – abdominal colic pain
Gulma – Tumors of the abdomen
Vibandha – constipation
Amavata – rheumatoid arthritis
Vami – vomiting
Trushna – excessive thirst
Asyavairasya – bad berath
Hrutpeeda – Cardiac pain
Vahnimandya – low digestion strength

Pharmacological action

Laxative, stomachic. It is useful in tumours, constipation, alcoholism, diseases of spleen, hiccough, flatulence, asthma, bronchitis, dyspepsia, vomiting & piles.

Adverse effects

There are no known adverse effects of the herb Chukra
It is best to avoid this in high Pitta disorders such as diseases associated with excess bleeding.
Because it acts as laxative, it is not suitable for people with diarrhea.

Interaction with medicines, supplements

Can this be used while taking Homeopathic medicine?
Yes. This product does not react with homeopathic medicine.

Can this medicine be continued while taking supplements like multivitamin tablets, Omega 3 fatty acids etc?
Yes. Generally, this product goes well with most of the dietary supplements. However, if you are taking more than one product per day, please consult your doctor for an opinion.

With western medicines
Seek your doctor’s advice if you are taking this product along with other western (allopathic / modern) medicines. Some Ayurvedic herbs can interact with modern medicine.
If both Ayurvedic and allopathic medicines are advised together, then it is best to take Allopathic medicine first, wait for 30 minutes and then take the Ayurvedic medicine.

Ayurvedic medicines

Ayurvedic medicines containing Chukra:
Marma gulika: Marma Gulika is a tablet, used in Ayurvedic treatment of diseases of Marma places – vital organs, means, diseases related to heart, brain, urinary system etc. It is also used to treat external injury to vital organs of the body.

Research

Research articles related to Rumex vesicarius:
Hepato protective action: To evaluate the hepatoprotective potential and in vitro cytotoxicity studies of whole plant methanol extract of Rumex vesicarius L. Methanol extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg bw and 200 mg/kg bw were assessed for its hepato- protective potential against CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity by monitoring activity levels of SGOT (Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase), SGPT (Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase), ALP (Alkaline phosphatase), TP (Total protein), TB (Total bilirubin) and SOD (Superoxide dismutase), CAT (Catalase), MDA (Malondialdehyde). Pretreatment of animals with whole plant methanol extracts of Rumex vesicarius L. significantly reduced the liver damage and the symptoms of liver injury by restoration of architecture of liver. The biochemical parameters in serum also improved in treated groups compared to the control and standard (silymarin) groups. Histo pathological investigation further corroborated these biochemical observations.

Anti- bacterial action: The main aim of this research work is to evaluate antibacterial and antioxidant activities of different plant parts of Rumex vesicarius L. The pattern of inhibition, activity index and proportion  index  showed  highly  significant  variations  according  to  variations  of  solvents  used  for  extraction. Ether  extract  of  roots  was  found  to  be  the  most  effective  against  Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus  and  Streptococcus pyogenes (inhibition zones=26.500, 22.000, 41.5000 and 21.500 mm respectively), methanol extract of roots was found to be the most  effective  against  Streptococcus pneumoniae  (inhibition zone  =18.000 mm) and ethanol extract  of  flowers was  found  to  be  most effective  one  against Escherichia coli (inhibition zone =15.875 mm).

The main objective of this work is to evaluate the in vivo anti diabetic activity of ethanolic extract of Rumex vesicarius in the streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Single intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg body weight) was used for induction of diabetes in albino rats. The statistical data indicated that the different dose of Rumex vesicarius significantly decreases the level of blood glucose in streptozotocin induced rats. This result indicated that Rumex vesicarius can protect pancreatic ?cells from streptozotocin induced damage which is confirmed by the results of histo pathological examination of pancreas.

Anti- cancer action: The goal of the current study was to explore the potent role of Rumex vesicarius extract against Hepato Cellular Carcinoma (HCC) induced in rats. The results of the current study showed that the treatment of the HCC group with R. vesicarius extract reversed the significant increase in liver enzymes activity, CEA, AFP, AFU, glypican 3, golgi 73 and VEGF levels in serum as compared to HCC-untreated counterparts. In addition, the favorable impact of R. vesicarius treatment was evidenced by the marked improvement in the histo pathological features of the liver of the treated group.

Classical categorization

Bhavaprakasha Nighantu – Shakha varga & Hareethakyadi varga
Priya Nighantu – Hareethakyadi varga
Nighantu Adarsha – Chukrikadi varga
Kaiyadeva Nighantu – Aushadha varga
Dhanvantari Nighantu – Amradi Varga

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Rumex L.

Textual reference

Susruta quoted chukra, but not cukrika and chukrika. In caraka samhita chikitsa 24/150 [ C.S.Ci 24/ 150] and A.H. Ci. 7/31 both cukrika and chukrika are mentioned together. They may be Rumex vesicarius linn and R.acetosella linn respectively.

Author: Dr.B.K.Prashanth M.D (Ayu), Ph.D
E mail: drprashanthbk@gmail.com
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