Nagkeshar नागकेशर (Churna) - Mesua Ferrea L.

Nagkeshar नागकेशर (Churna) - Mesua Ferrea L. (Family - Guttiferae) - belongs to Guttiferae family and is mentioned in the Atharvaveda Parishishta and also in Brihat Trayi texts

Almost all Nighantu have described the properties and indications of nagakesara. It is commonly known by the name Iron-wood in English, nogkesar in Hindi has synonyms like ahi pushpa, ibha, naga renuka, rukmam, hema pusham, champeyam, etc. Ahi pushpa and Ahi kesara are the synonyms used by Acharya Sushruta and Vagbhata respectively. It is known as Naga Campa in some places. It’s a medium-sized to large glabrous, evergreen tree 18-30 m in height with reddish brown bark that peels off in thin flakes. Leaves simple, lanceolate, thick, opposite covered with waxy bloom underneath, red when young, acute or acuminate, flowers are fragrant, white, solitary or in pairs, fruits are ovoid with a conical point surrounded by enlarged sepals, seeds are 1-4, dark brown, angular and smooth. Nagakesara distribution is throughout India in evergreen forests up to 1500 m.

Nagpushpa (नागपुष्प), Chanpey (चाम्पेय), Nagchampa (नागचम्पा), Peelanagkeshar (पीलानागकेशर), Mesua,

Nagkesar, Cobras saffron, Nagkesara, Pila nagkesar, Kesara, Nagapuspa, Naga, Hema, Gajakesara, Narmushk, Nageswar, Negeshvar, Nahar, Nageshvara, Nagesar, Nagkesara, Sachun,

Nagkeshar Belong to Anjanadi Gana, Eladi Gana, Priyangvadi gana, Vachadi Gana and also in karpuradi Gana.

Rasa (Taste): Kashaya- Astringent (कषाय), Tikta-Bitter (तिक्त), Guna (Property): Laghu-light (लघु), Ruksha-dry (रूक्ष), Vipaka-Post Digestive Effect (कटु), Veerya-Potency (कोष्ण), Prabhava: Kaphahara (Pscifying Kapha and pitta Dosha). Part Used: पुंकेशर, Nagakesara (Mesua ferrea Linn).

Nagkeshar Flowers are acrid, sudorific, digestive, carminative, diuretic, anthelmintic, expectorant, aphrodisiac, hemostatic, cardiotonic useful in hiccough, asthma, cough, scabies, leprosy, ulcers, fever, burning sensation of the feet, hemoptysis, etc.

Seed oil is useful in vitiated conditions of vata and skin diseases.

It includes chemical constituents such as beta amyrin, beta sitosterol, cyclohaxodione, messuaferrone- A, messuaferrone- B, mesuol, flavonoids, etc.

Therapeutically, it is useful in raktarsha (bleeding piles), raktaatisara (diarrhea with blood), kushta (diseases of the skin), Jwara (fever), shiro roga (diseases of the head), kandu (itching), Trishna (thirst) in the dose of 1-3 g of powder. About its description and properties are also mentioned in Madanaadi Nighantu, Bhavapraksha, Dhanwantari Nighantu, Abhidhaanamanjari, Raja Nighantu, Nighanturatnakaram, Gadanigraham

It affects the Rakta Dhatu due to hemostatic and astringent properties, Nsgkeshar helps in healthy digestion and elimination, aiding in the balanced formation of malas (Excretory waste products).

Important products that contains nagkeshar: Nagkeshar Churna (नागकेशरचूर्ण), Pushyanuga Churna (पुष्यानुग चूर्ण), Shringarabhra Ras, Chyavanprasha, Amroid Tablet and ointment, Dadimashtaka Churnam, Kumari Asava, Etc.