Common name Indian berberry (E), Daruhaldi (H), Darvi (H) Sanskrit Daruharidra Latin Berberis aristata/chitria–Radix (Berberidaceae)
Daruharidra means ‘tree turmeric’ after its yellow-coloured roots and trunk visible after the bark is peeled from this thorny bush. It is a remarkable remedy for regulating the liver and clearing high pitta from the system.
ENERGETICS
- Rasa (taste) Bitter, astringent
- Virya (energy) Hot
- Vipaka(post-digestive effect) Pungent
- Guna(quality) Light, dry
- Doshaeffect KP-, V+ in excess
- Dhatu(tissue) Plasma, blood, fat
- Srotas (channel) Excretory, circulatory, digestive
CONSTITUENTS
Alkaloids Berberine, berbamine, jatrorrhizine
Flavonoids Quercetin, rutin
Phytosterols ß-sitosterol
(Williamson 2002)
AYURVEDIC ACTION
- Lekhaniya Scrapes accumulations
- Kandughna Alleviates itching
- Svedala Diaphoretic
- Ropana Wound healer
- Arsoghna Alleviates bleeding piles
BIOMEDICAL ACTION
Alterative, vermifuge, antiprotozoal, cholagogue
INDICATIONS
Liver As an effective cholagogue it helps to protect the liver from toxic damage. It can be used in liver diseases such as hepatitis, cirrhosis and also in ‘sluggish liver’, characterised by low appetite, anorexia and constipation. It effectively regulates ranjaka pitta and works directly on the rakta dhatu and blood. It is a specific herb for treating imbalanced rakta dhatu agni. Its effect on the liver also helps to treat aggravated alocaka pitta in the eyes in such conditions as styes and conjunctivitis (Gogte 2000).
Skin Used for all skin problems with inflammation, redness and bleeding; eczema, psoriasis, fungal infections with aggravated bhrajaka pitta. As an effective diaphoretic it helps to release aggravated kapha via the skin. It is used as part of the treatment in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) (Paranjpe 2001).
Piles It is a specific herb for kapha and pitta piles.
Diabetes It is used with turmeric as part of a formula for diabetes as berberine works directly on the pancreas. This combination is called haridra dvaya or ‘the two turmerics’ (Paranjpe 2001).
COMBINATION
* Turmeric, ajwain, kutki for liver conditions.
* Manjishtha neem, bakuchi, bhringaraja for skin conditions.
* Aloe vera, guduchi, neem, triphala for haemorrhoids.
* Karavella, gurmar, shilajit, black pepper for diabetes.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Pregnancy; disorders of vata and the nervous system.
SAFETY
No drug–herb interactions are known.
DOSAGE
1–6g per day or 3–9ml of a 1:3 @ 45% tincture. It is a strong remedy and can cause nausea or diarrhoea if used at too high a dose.
NOTES
It is a spiny shrub that grows up to 3m tall and thrives at 1000–3500m above sea level in the Himalayas and Nilgiris.
A preparation of equal parts daruharidra and boiled milk, known as rasanjana, is used as an external application for infections and is especially beneficial to the eyes.
Considered to have very similar properties to turmeric, they are often used together.
