Caesalpinia Bonducella

The common names of Caesalpinia Bonducella are fever nut, Bonduc nut. In Hindi it is known with the names Kankarej, Katikaranjana and the Sanskrit name is Kuberakshi.
Caesalpinia Bonducella is seen in hotter places in India, Sri Lanka and Burma. These trees grow on waste grounds and on coastal areas.

CHARACTERISTICS OF CAESALPINIA BONDUCELLA

It is an extensive climber which reaches a length of around 6 m with branches spread out and has straight and hooked prickles. Leaves are around 30-60 cm long and have short prickly petioles. Small yellow flowers are produced in supra and terminal axillary racemes on the top.

The pods are short stalked and are covered with prickles which have one or two seeds. The seeds are grey colored and have shining and smooth surface. The seeds look like eyeballs and hence the Sanskrit name Kuberakshi, which means eye of Kubera, the Lord of wealth.

PARTS OF THE PLANT USED AS MEDICINE

Roots, seeds, leaves and bark of the plant are used as medicine.

THERAPEUTIC POWERS OF CAESALPINIA BONDUCELLA

This herb has several therapeutic properties. Some of these are:

Bonduc has febrifuge, antiperiodic, anthelmintic and tonic properties. Pods are roasted and the powder is used as a substitute for quinine. The root bark has been used for relieving intestinal worms, fever, tumors, cough, amenorrhea, and to remove placenta after childbirth.
The leaves and the juice or paste is used for relieving smallpox, elephantiasis, liver diseases and for eliminating bad odour in perspiration. It is also used for reducing toothache.
The flower tastes bitter and induces warming effect on the body. It improves the balance of vata and kapha and the ash is useful in ascites.
The seeds have astringent properties and are being used to relieve inflammation, contagious diseases, skin diseases hydrocele, colic and leprosy.
The seed sprouts are useful in relieving tumors. The fruit of the plant produces heat in the body, shows astringent action on bowels and is known as an aphrodisiac.
The fruit is also used for eliminating piles, wounds, leucorrhoea and urinary disorders.
Boiled leaves can be used for gargling to relieve sore throat.
The leaves and seeds after roasting in castor oil can be applied to reduce piles, inflammatory swellings, orchitis and hydrocele.

NUTRIENT COMPOSITION

Its seeds contain stearic, palmitic, octadeca -4, octadeca-2, ligoceric, linolenic and oleic acids. They also contain bonducellin, arginine, citrulline and aspartic acid.

CARE FOR AILMENTS