Chitrak — Leadwort

Ayurvedic herb Chitrak (Plumbago zeylanica) — Leadwort. Pharmacological properties: Rasa Katu, Virya Ushna, Vipaka Katu. Balances Kapha, Vata.

Ayurvedic Herbs A–Z 1 min read

Ignites digestive fire, used in weight loss and ama digestion.

ⓘ Information

Property	Value	Description
Rasa	Katu	Katu (Pungent) — stimulates digestion, circulation, expectorant
Guna	Laghu, Tikshna	Laghu (Light) — easy to digest, promotes lightness; Tikshna (Sharp) — penetrating, stimulating
Virya	Ushna	Ushna (Hot) — heating, increases metabolism and Pitta
Vipaka	Katu	Katu (Pungent) — post-digestive pungent, lightening
Prabhava	Deepana, Pachana, Lekhana	Deepana — kindles digestive fire without digesting ama; Pachana — digests ama and toxins; Lekhana — scraping, reduces fat and Kapha

Sanskrit Synonyms

In the classical Ayurvedic texts, Chitrak is known by the following Sanskrit names:

Agni, Dahana, Vahni, Vyala

Parts Used

The medicinal parts of Chitrak are: moola twak.

Main Indications

Chitrak is indicated in Ayurveda for the following conditions:

Grahani, Arsha, Shotha, Udara, Kushta.

Dosha Effects

Chitrak pacifies Kapha, Vata.

It may aggravate Pitta when used in excess or in sensitive individuals.

Usage

Chitrak is used in classical Ayurvedic formulations. Consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner for appropriate dosage and preparation based on your constitution (Prakriti) and current imbalance (Vikriti).

Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API)

Source: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India — Government of India, Ministry of AYUSH

Rasa (Taste)Kauu

Guna (Quality)Laghu, Rūkṣa, Tikṣḍa

Virya (Potency)Uṣḍa

Vipaka (Post-digestive effect)Kauu

Karma (Action)Dipana, P¡cana, Gr¡hi, Kaphav¡tahara, Ar¿ohara, śūlahara, śothahara

Dose1-2 g of the drug in powder form; Note - ś°dhana of this drug is to be done before

Therapeutic Uses: Agnim¡ndya, Grahaḍiroga, Ar¿a, Udara¿ūla, Guda¿otha

Important Formulations: Citrak¡di Vaui, Citrakaharitaki, Citrak¡di Cūrḍa

Botanical Name: Plumbago zeylanica Linn. (Plumbaginaceae)

Part Used: Rt.

Therapeutic Uses (IMPPAT Database)

Source: Indian Medicinal Plants, Phytochemistry And Therapeutics (IMPPAT) v1.0 — CC BY 4.0

Part Used	Therapeutic Use	Identifiers	References
leaf	Abortifacient agents	MESH:D000019,UMLS:C0000782, ICD-11:JA00.1	Medicinal Plants Of Nagpur And Wardha Forest Divisions (Maharashtra)
leaf	Scabies	MESH:D012532,UMLS:C0036262, DOID:8295, ICD-11:1G04	ISBN:9788171360536
root	Abortifacient agents	MESH:D000019,UMLS:C0000782, ICD-11:JA00.1	ISBN:9788172361150
root	Abscess	MESH:D000038,UMLS:C0000833, SYMP:0000672, ICD-11:1B75.3	ISBN:9780387706375
root	Anti-bacterial agents	MESH:D000900,UMLS:C0279516, ICD-11:XM8XH0	Medicinal Plants Of Nagpur And Wardha Forest Divisions (Maharashtra)
root	Antifungal agents	MESH:D000935,UMLS:C0003308, ICD-11:XM83G4	ISBN:9788171360536
root	Anti-infective agents	MESH:D000890,UMLS:C0003204, ICD-11:XM4TV0	ISBN:9788172362461
root	Antirheumatic agents	MESH:D018501,UMLS:C0003191, ICD-11:XM95N2	Contribution To The Medico-Botany Of East Godavari And West Godavari Districts Of Andhra Pradesh, ISBN:9788171360536, Medicinal Plants Of Nagpur And Wardha Forest Divisions (Maharashtra)
root	Appetite stimulants	MESH:D019167,UMLS:C0376447	A Report On Medicinal Plants Of Kachchh (Gujarat), ISBN:9788172361266
root	Arthralgia	MESH:D018771,UMLS:C0003862, ICD-11:ME82	Glimpses Of Medico-Botany Of Bastar District (M.P.)
root	Back pain	MESH:D001416,UMLS:C0004604, ICD-11:ME84.2Z	Glimpses Of Medico-Botany Of Bastar District (M.P.)
root	Bronchitis	MESH:D001991,UMLS:C0006277, DOID:6132, ICD-11:CA20	ISBN:9788171360536
root	Diarrhea	MESH:D003967,UMLS:C0011991, DOID:13250, ICD-11:ME05.1	ISBN:9788172361266, Medicinal Plants Of Nagpur And Wardha Forest Divisions (Maharashtra)
root	Diuretics	MESH:D004232,UMLS:C0012798, ICD-11:XM4D06	Medicinal Plants Of Nagpur And Wardha Forest Divisions (Maharashtra)
root	Dysentery	MESH:D004403,UMLS:C0277526, DOID:12384, ICD-11:1A40.Z	ISBN:9788171360536
root	Dyspepsia	MESH:D004415,UMLS:C0013395, ICD-11:DD90.3	A Report On Medicinal Plants Of Kachchh (Gujarat), ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788172361266
root	Edema	MESH:D004487,UMLS:C0013604, ICD-11:MG29.1	ISBN:9788172361266
root	Hemorrhoids	MESH:D006484,UMLS:C0019112, DOID:9746, ICD-11:DB60.Z	A Report On Medicinal Plants Of Kachchh (Gujarat), Contribution To The Medico-Botany Of East Godavari And West Godavari Districts Of Andhra Pradesh, ISBN:9788172361266, Medicinal Plants Of Nagpur And Wardha Forest Divisions (Maharashtra)
root	Hypohidrosis	MESH:D007007,UMLS:C0020620, DOID:11155, ICD-11:EE01.Z	ISBN:9788172361150, ISBN:9788172361266
root	Insect repellents	MESH:D007302,UMLS:C0021572	ISBN:9788172362461
root	Insecticides	MESH:D007306,UMLS:C0021576, ICD-11:XM3K66	ISBN:9788172362461
root	Laryngitis	MESH:D007827,UMLS:C0023067, DOID:3437, ICD-11:CA05.0	ISBN:9788171360536
root	Leprosy	MESH:D007918,UMLS:C0023343, DOID:1024, ICD-11:1B20	ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788172361266
root	Skin diseases	MESH:D012871,UMLS:C0037274, DOID:37, ICD-11:EM0Z	A Report On Medicinal Plants Of Kachchh (Gujarat), ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788172362461, Medicinal Plants Of Nagpur And Wardha Forest Divisions (Maharashtra)
root	Urinary bladder calculi	MESH:D001744,UMLS:C0005683, ICD-11:GB71.0	ISBN:9788172361150
root	Antiperiodic		ISBN:9788172361150, ISBN:9788172361266
whole plant	Anti-inflammatory agents	MESH:D000893,UMLS:C0003209, ICD-11:XM7XD1	ISBN:9789327275590
whole plant	Colic	MESH:D003085,UMLS:C0232488, ICD-11:MD81.4	ISBN:9789327275590
whole plant	Digestive system diseases	MESH:D004066,UMLS:C0012242, ICD-11:DE2Z	ISBN:9789327275590
whole plant	Flatulence	MESH:D005414,UMLS:C0016204, ICD-11:ME08	ISBN:9789327275590
whole plant	Hemorrhoids	MESH:D006484,UMLS:C0019112, DOID:9746, ICD-11:DB60.Z	ISBN:9789327275590
whole plant	Vitiligo	MESH:D014820,UMLS:C0042900, DOID:12306, ICD-11:ED63.0	ISBN:9789327275590
	Abscess	MESH:D000038,UMLS:C0000833, SYMP:0000672, ICD-11:1B75.3	ISBN:9788172361150
	Anti-obesity agents	MESH:D019440,UMLS:C0376607, ICD-11:5B81	ISBN:9788172361150
	Antirheumatic agents	MESH:D018501,UMLS:C0003191, ICD-11:XM95N2	Contribution To The Medico-Botany Of East Godavari And West Godavari Districts Of Andhra Pradesh
	Appetite stimulants	MESH:D019167,UMLS:C0376447	ISBN:9788172361150
	Diarrhea	MESH:D003967,UMLS:C0011991, DOID:13250, ICD-11:ME05.1	ISBN:9788172361150
	Digestive system diseases	MESH:D004066,UMLS:C0012242, ICD-11:DE2Z	ISBN:9788172361150
	Dyspepsia	MESH:D004415,UMLS:C0013395, ICD-11:DD90.3	ISBN:9788172361150
	Edema	MESH:D004487,UMLS:C0013604, ICD-11:MG29.1	ISBN:9788172361150
	Epilepsy	MESH:D004827,UMLS:C0014544, DOID:1826, ICD-11:8A6Z	ISBN:9788172361150
	Fever	MESH:D005334,UMLS:C0015967, ICD-11:MG26	ISBN:9788172361150
	Hemorrhage	MESH:D006470,UMLS:C0019080, ICD-11:MG27	ISBN:9788172361150
	Hemorrhoids	MESH:D006484,UMLS:C0019112, DOID:9746, ICD-11:DB60.Z	Contribution To The Medico-Botany Of East Godavari And West Godavari Districts Of Andhra Pradesh, ISBN:9788172361150, ISBN:9788172362461
	Hypohidrosis	MESH:D007007,UMLS:C0020620, DOID:11155, ICD-11:EE01.Z	ISBN:9788172361150
	Hysteria	MESH:D007046,UMLS:C0020701	ISBN:9788172361150
	Influenza, human	MESH:D007251,UMLS:C0021400, DOID:8469, ICD-11:1E32	ISBN:9780387706375
	Neoplasms	MESH:D009369,UMLS:C0027651, DOID:162, ICD-11:2E2Z	ISBN:9788172362461
	Nervous system diseases	MESH:D009422,UMLS:C0027765, DOID:863, ICD-11:8E7Z	ISBN:9788172361150
	Prurigo	MESH:D011536,UMLS:C0033771, ICD-11:EC91	ISBN:9788172361150
	Rheumatic diseases	MESH:D012216,UMLS:C0035435, DOID:1575	ISBN:9788172361150
	Scabies	MESH:D012532,UMLS:C0036262, DOID:8295, ICD-11:1G04	ISBN:9788172361150, ISBN:9788172361266
	Skin diseases	MESH:D012871,UMLS:C0037274, DOID:37, ICD-11:EM0Z	ISBN:9788172361150
	Ulcer	MESH:D014456,UMLS:C0041582	ISBN:9788172361150, ISBN:9788172361266