Machika – Tamarix gallica Benefits, Usage, Dose, Remedies

The herb Machika is explained in Ayurvedic text book Bhavaprakasha. Many herbs such as Tamarix gallica, Hibiscus cannabinus and Tamarix articulata are considered as this herb.

Uses, qualities

Medicinal Properties of Machika:
Rasa (Taste) – Amla (sour)
Vipaka – Kashaya (undergoes astringent taste after digestion)
Virya – Sheetha (cold)
Guna (qualitiy) – Laghu (light to digest)

Indications –
Pakva atisara (later stage of diarrhoea),
Raktapitta (bleeding disorders such as nasal bleeding, ulcerative colitis etc)
Kapha disorders
Kanta aamaya (diseases related to throat and voice)
Arsha – Haemorrhoids
Anorexia
Vrana shodana ropana – helps in wound healing

Part Used
Bark, flowers, seed oil, leaves

Indication, dose

Uses
It is frequently used as styptic in menorrhagea and bleeding disorders.
Its bark paste is applied over eczema.
Its bark powder is used as tooth powder.

Dosage
1 – 2 grams in divided dose per day along with water or honey.
Decoction or kashaya is administered in dose of 5 – 10 ml.

Vernacular names

Tamarix articulata
Hindi Name – lal jhav
Bengali Name – jhau
Panjabi Name – parvan, pharas, pharva
Unani Name – sumrat al asl

Morphology, chemistry, research

Morphology
It is a moderate sized tree, grows up to a height of 40 feet to 50 feet and girth of 5 to 6 feet. It has pink flowers.

Chemical composition
Polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, cyanidins (flavones, catechols), mucilage, sesquiterpenes, terpenoids and carbohydrates.

Research on Tamarix articulata:
Hypo-lipidemic effect – An experimental study conducted on diabetic rats with aqueous extract of T. articulata (5 mg/kg) on the plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) concentrations showed that the phenolic content was effective in lowering the lipid levels. (research)

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.

Tamarix gallica uses

Hindi Name – jhav, padvas
Tamil Name – Sirus vukku
Kannada Name – Mavuna
Sanskrit Name – Jhaavuka

Morphology
It is a small tree. Its flowers are small, pale pink in colour.

Habitat
Found in moist areas. In India it is mainly found in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

Chemical composition
Tannin (50%), tamarixin, troupin, 4-methylcoumarin and 3,3-di-O-methylellagic acid.

Uses
Its leaf paste is applied over the inflammatory swellings.
Drinking water from the vessel made from its wood relieves spleenomegaly.

Hibiscus cannabinus
Hindi Name – Patuva, Ambaari
Bengali – Mestapaat
Kannada – Ambaadi
Tamil – Phalunghu
English Name – Kenaf, Deccan hemp,

Morphology
Its a herb growing up to 1.5-3.5 m tall. Flowers are whitish yellow with dark purple color in the centre.

Chemical composition
An edible vegetable oil is procured from its seeds. It contains linoleic acid (Omega-6), oleic acid, Alpha-linolenic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid.

Uses
It is used mainly used to relieve high pitta conditions.
It acts as a laxative.
Its flower juice along with pepper and sugar candy is used in high pitta conditions.
Its seed oil is aphrodisiac.

Sanskrit verse, categorization

Classical categorisation
Bhavaprakasha – Harithkyadivarga
Kaiyadeva Nighantu – Aushadi varga
Dhanvantari Nighantu – Chandanadi varga
Shodala Nighantu – Chandanadi varga
Raja Nighantu – Shathavadi varga

Sanskrit synonyms
Machika, Prasthika, Ambashta
Ambaalika, Ambika, Mayuravidala
Keshi, Sahasra, Baalamulika
Bahumula, Suchimuk