Dhataki / Woodfordia fruticosa

Benefits of Dhataki (Woodfordia Fruticosa), Medicinal Uses, Dosage, and Side Effects

Dhataki (Woodfordia Fruticosa) is also known as fire flame Bush, Woodfordia, and Shinajitea. In Ayurveda, this herb has been used by our acharyas and mentioned in old Scriptures for treating various disorders. Its twigs and leaves produce a yellow dye which is used for printing and petals possess red-colored dye.

Its dried extract is extracted by various solvents like ether, water, methanol, chloroform, etc. The methanolic extract works as an antibacterial which works in both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Its flowers have analgesic properties and are astringents that are used to prepare various medicines in the Ayurveda system of medicine Like atisara, garbhasthapaka, visarpa, pradada, etc.

The bark of this plant has coolant properties and works as a uterine sedative. In Ayurveda, this herb is not only used to prepare asav and arishta But flowers are used for added taste and colors.

—-Shloka—-

This shloka means that synonyms of dhadke are dhataki, dhatupushpa, tamrapushpi, kanchura. Subhujsha, bahupushpi, and vahnijwala. This herb has a Pungent and astringent taste and possesses cool potency, Causes delirium and light, treats thirst, diarrhea, a blood disorder, poisoning, warm infestation, and herpes.

(Reference- Bhavaprakasha nighantu- Haritkyadi varga, page no. 105 and Shloka no. 186 and 187)

Botanical name- Woodfordia Fruticosa

Family- Lythraceae

Dhataki (Woodfordia Fruticosa) Names in different languages-

Hindi name- Dhai, Ban-mahendi, Dhati, Dhatri, Dhatki, Dhaura
Sanskrit name- Agnijwala
Malayalam name- Tatire, Tamarpushi, Tatiripushpi
Tamil name- Dhattari, Dhathari-jagri
Kannada name- Taamra pushpin, Bela, Daathakee kusumka
Telugu name- Dhaathaki, Dhaarhupushpika
Tibetan name- Me-togda tak ki, Dha-ta-ke,
Urdu name- Gul dhawa
Bengali name- Dhai, Dhai phul, Dawai
Marathi name- Dhayati, Dhalas, Dhadva
Jammu and Kashmir name – Thwai
Punjabi name- Dhavi
Farsi name- Dhaava
Oriya name- Jaliko, Harwari, and Dhobo
Gujarati name- Dhaavadi
Bihar name- Dawai, Dhai
Nepali name – Dhangera.

Synonyms in the Sanskrit language-

Dhatupushpi- It has blood-colored (red) flowers
Vahnijwala- Its flowers are red and resemble a flame
Tamrapushpi- It has coppery colored red flowers
Madyavasini- Useful in alcoholic preparations.

Other causes are Kunjara, Subhiksha, and Ratispruha

Morphological characteristics of Dhataki (Woodfordia Fruticosa)

Dhataki (Woodfordia Fruticosa) Is a deciduous plant that has numerous fluted branches and these branches grow up to the height of 5 to 12 mt. The branches are spreading and the stem is long and fluted. Its bark is reddish-brown with small fibrous strips, thin and smooth. The leaves of this plant are lanceolate and are 5 to 9 cm long. Flowers grow in groups along with branches and twigs. Each flower bears a slender tube and is born on a tiny stamp rid of a curved and greenish base. Its flowers are membranes one cm long that have brown-colored smooth seeds. From February to April, this plant is overloaded with bright red flowers and leaves shut off with new leaves appearing. Fruits appear from April to June.

Habitat of Dhataki (Woodfordia Fruticosa)

Dhataki (Woodfordia Fruticosa) Is found in Africa and Asia. In India, it is distributed all over north India to an altitude of 1500 mt. It is mainly found in open grasslands and wastelands but is also cultivated in gardens during the summers. It is available in other countries like Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Myanmar, and China but in India, it is found in West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, etc.

Categorization according to classical books

According to-

Acharya Charaka

Mutea viranjnneya- Herbs that help store the normal color of urine.

Pureesh sangreehniya- Herbs that improve the bulk of stool.

Sandhneeya- Herbs that help to heal bone fractures.

Acharya Sushruta

Ambhashtadi gana and Priyangvadi gana

Acharya Vagbhatta

Ambhashtadi gana and Priyangvadi gana

Chemical Constituents

The main chemical constituents present in this plant are Octacosanol, tannins, octacosanol, ellagic acid, pelargonidin- 3 and 5- diglycoside, polystachoside, woodfordins A, B, C, D, E and F, tetrameric hydrolysable tannins and hydrolysable tannins. Other chemical constituents are betulin, olealonic, urosolic acid, lupeol, betulinic acid, and sitosterol.

Ayurvedic Properties of Dhataki (Woodfordia Fruticosa)

Rasa (Taste)- Kashaya (Astringent)
Guna (Quality)- Rooksha (dry) and Laghu (light)
Veerya (Potency)- Sheeta (Cold)
Vipaka (Undergoes taste conversion after digestion)- Katu (Pungent)
Effect on tridosha– balances pitta and Kapha dosha
Prabhava (special action)- Madakari (delirium)

Medicinal uses as per Ayurveda

Madakrut- its higher dose can cause delirium.
Trishna- Works in excessive thirst (because of its coolant property)
Atisara- relieves diarrhea as well as dysentery (because of its astringent properties)
Visha- works in toxic conditions
Krimi- relieves worm infestation
Visarpa- treats herpes and works in skin disease

Therapeutic uses of Dhataki (Woodfordia Fruticosa)

Diarrhea

In Ayurveda, diarrhea is known as Atisara which may cause you to impure food and water, mental stress, and weak digestive fire. All these factors aggravate vata dosha in the body which brings the fluid in the intestine from various tissues and mixes it with the stool. This herb has astringent property that helps to thicken the loosen stool and control its frequency.

Menorrhagia

Menorrhagia is called raktpradara in Ayurveda which is caused due to the aggravation of pitta dosha in the body. Dhataki has the property to balance the aggravated Pitta dosha and controls heavy menstrual bleeding because of its astringent and coolant properties.

Asthma

Dhataki (Woodfordia Fruticosa) Helps to reduce the symptoms related to asthma that is aggravated due to vata and Kapha dosha. These two doshas obstruct the respiratory passage and result in breathing difficulty. Its powder helps to balance Kapha dosha and expels out the mucus from the lungs and gives relief from asthma symptoms.

Part used- Flower, Leaf, Fruit, Gum

Dosage- 3 to 6 gm (Powder)

Side effects- the excessive dose of this herb may cause delirium

Conclusion

From this article, it is concluded that Dhataki (Woodfordia Fruticosa) helps in treating diarrhea as well as dysentery due to astringent properties and also treats various bleeding disorders like nasal bleeding Kumar actor bleeding, menorrhagia, etc. It also shows good results in case of excessive thirst because of the cooling property and treats various skin disorders. But its excessive dose may cause delirium so before using this herb you should consult your doctor.

Some FAQs Related to Dhataki (Woodfordia Fruticosa)

Ques: How does Dhataki work in thirst?

Because of its cooling property, it helps to relieve thirst.

Ques: Is Dhataki treating diarrhea?

Yes, Dhataki (Woodfordia Fruticosa) Treats diarrhea because of its astringent property. It not only thickens the loosened stool but also controls its frequency.

Ques: What are the side effects of dhataki?

In overdose, Dhataki (Woodfordia Fruticosa) can cause delirium.

Note: Our purpose is to serve useful information related to Dhataki‘s benefits, dosage, and other properties. It is advised to the patients not to consume this on the basis of this information. Before taking it as a medicine, it is better to have an expert opinion because dosage and treatment vary from patient to patient depending on their symptoms and medical history.

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