Chitrak is a perennial that thrives in the east and south of India and all over Sri Lanka. Chitrak means the ‘spotted one’. It is a highly beneficial herb for all diseases caused by low digestive fire.
Benefits of Chitrak: Colitis, indigestion, sprue, worms, skin diseases, piles, diarrhea, gas, arthritis, joint pain, ulcers, influenza, black-water fever.
Action: Stimulant, digestion, antiseptic, anti-parasitical.
Scientific name: Plumbago zeylanica.
Useful part: Root, root bark, seeds.
Dosage: 250 mg–3 g per day or 0.5–6 ml per day.
Energetics
Rasa (taste): Pungent, bitter
Vırya(energy): Very hot
Vipaka (post-digestive effect): Pungent
Guna (quality): Dry, light, penetrating
Dosa effect: VK−, P and agni+
Dhatu (tissue): Plasma, blood,bone, reproductive
Srotas (channel): Digestive, nerve, reproductive
Classical and common names
Ayurvedic: Chitraka, Agni, Vahni, Jvalanaakhya, Krshaanu, Hutaasha, Dahana, Sikhi.
English: Ceylon Leadwort, Leadwort.