Mallotus, Kampillaka

Kamala tree, Monkey Face Tree
Kampillaka, Kampilla, Rechan (Ayurveda)
Kamila (Unani)
Kamela (Siddha)

Mallotus philippiensis
Koehler’s Medizinal Pflanzen, 1887

Fruit of Mallotus philippensis
(Photo by Renjusplace) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:

Mallotus philippensis (syn. Croton philippensis, Rottlera tinctoria, Echinus philippinensis)

Parts used:

Glands; The red powder or Hair of the fruit

Temperature & Taste:

Warm, dry
“Hot and dry in the third degree” (Avicenna)

Uses:

1. Kills Worms:
-Tapeworm, Hookworm, Ascariasis, Taeniasis; other Worms (fruit hairs or seed oil)
-“It kills and expels the Worms including Tapeworms” (Avicenna)

2. Clears Stones:
-Polyuria
-Kidney and Bladder Stones

3. Relieves Obstruction:
-Swelling and Hardness of the Spleen

4. Externally:
-topically to Scabies, Ringworm
-applied topically to Wounds
-Malignant Ulcers
-applied to skin diseases including Weeping Eczema, Herpes, Small Pox, Leprosy
-oil is applied to Baldness

Dose:

500mg–2 grams (up to 3 or 5 grams for Worms)
3 grams with Treacle is taken for Worms

Correctives:

1. Tragacanth
2. Aniseed
3. Pistacia integerrima (Unani)

Substitutes:

1. Embelia ribes (for Worms)
2. Male Fern (for Worms) (Waring)

Main Combinations:

1. Worms:
i. Mallotus with Jaggery or Curds or Treacle
ii. Mallotus with Embelia ribes, Chebulic Myroabalan, Rock Salt (Ayurveda)

Cautions:

1. Violent purgative which irritates the Gastrointestinal tract and can cause Nausea