Woodfordia

Fire-Flame Bush
Dhataki, Dhaatri (Ayurveda)
Velakkai (Siddha)
Woodfordia fruticosa
The Botanical Register, Edward’s 1815

Woodfordia fruticosa flower
(Photo by Rohit Naniwadekar) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:

Woodfordia fruticosa, W. floribunda

Parts used:

Flowers

Temperature & Taste:

Slightly Cool, dry. Pungent, Sweet

Uses:

1. Clears Heat:
-Fever
-Diarrhea, Dysentery
-Erysipelas
-Cough (paste of the Flowers)
-also for Liver Heat

2. Strengthens the Heart, Moves the Blood:
-regarded as a Heart tonic in Unani

3. Clears Heat, Moves the Blood, Stops Bleeding:
-Bleeding associated with Heat
-Leukorrhea, Menorrhagia
-in formula for Uterine diseases, to promote Fertility

4. Benefits Kidneys:
-included in the group of conception-promoting herbs (Ayurveda, Sushruta)
-Infertility; Promotes Conception
-seminal weakness

5. Used in the Preparation of Medicinal Alcohols:
-flowers are traditionally added to preparations to be fermented into alcoholic medicines; the flowers contain yeast

6. Externally:
-in ointments for Small Pox
-topically to Herpes
-powder of the flowers is dusted over ulcers to eliminate pus and promote healthy granulation

Dose:

Powder: 2–6 grams;
Decoction 3–9 grams

Substitutes:

Woodfordia flower has been used as a substitute for Licorice; Licorice may therefore be used in its place

Main Combinations:

1. Woodfordia flower with Water Lily Flowers to promote conception in women
2. Uterine diseases, and to promote Fertility, Woodfordia flower with Mango kernel, Licorice, Cyperus rotundus, Sandalwood (Ayurveda)
3. Fever, Diarrhea, Woodfordia flower with Pomegranate seed and Ginger (Ayurveda)
4. Woodfordia flower with Paddy rice and sugar as a bolus for Diarrhea in children

Major Formulas:

Pushyanuga Churna (Ayurveda)

Cautions:

None noted

Main Preparations used: