![]() Different Names of Badhara It botanical name is "Gmelina Asiatica L". There are various other names by which it is called in India are "Nag-phul" in Hindi, "Cherkumizhi" and "Kumilamaram" in Malayalam, "Gombhari", "Nondano" and "Gopogomb-hari" in Oriya, "Biddari", "Kasmari", "Vikarini" and "Gopabhadra" in Sanskrit, "Adavigummadi", "Chirugummudu", "Challagumudu", "Gummadi", "Chirunelli" and "Shirigumudu" in Telugu, "Lahan-shivan" in Marathi, "Gulada Mara", "Kalshivani", "Kumatha" and "Guludu" in Kannada, "Badhara" in Punjabi, "Kumalai", "Kumil", "Kadambal", "Kumizhaniaram", "Nilakkumil" and "Nilakkimnizh" in Tamil and "Bhadra" or "Gamari" in Bengali. Badhara belongs to the "Verbenaceae" family. Characteristic Features of Badhara ![]() Medicinal Values of Badhara In Ayurveda, it has been observed that Badhara fruit is acrid, sour, bitter, sweet, cooling, diuretic tonic, aphrodisiac, alternative astringent to the bowels, promote growth of hairs, useful in ‘vata’, thirst, anaemia, leprosy, ulcers and vaginal discharge. The plant is recommended in combination with other drugs for the treatment of snakebite and scorpion sting. In snakebite a decoction of the root and bark is given internally. The root is aromatic, mucilaginous, alterative, demulcent and astringent. It is used chiefly as a demulcent to treat catarrh of the bladder, but also in treating gonorrhoea, rheumatism and also acts as a blood purifier. In Unani medicine in India, the root is regarded as aphrodisiac and expectorant and is also used to give relief from joint pains. Among the tribal inhabitants of southern Andhra Pradesh, a paste of the roots mixed with cloves is used to relieve toothache. The leaves and young shoots of this medicinal plant contain thick, viscid, mucilage that is used to treat cough and relieve painful urination. In Siddha, the roots and mucilaginous leaves are used to treat digestive disorders, diarrhoea, leucorrhoea, cystitis and oliguria. The fruit is applied to the forehead to relieve burning sensations in the eyes and to cool the body. Flowers are astringent; useful in leprosy and blood diseases. |