Benefits of Muchkunda (Pterospermum suberifolium) Ayurvedic Herb

Introduction of Muchkunda (Pterospermum suberifolium)

Muchkunda, commonly called Kanak Champa, is an evergreen tree with an irregular crown with thick, steeply ascending branches. It can grow up to 30 meters tall. It is planted as a roadside tree or garden ornamental plant. It is famous due to its beautiful, fragrant blooms, large leaves, and the shade it provides. The herb is used for the treatment of headaches, ulcers, wounds, throat infection, bleeding disorders, cough, and cold inflammation, etc.

Botanical Name : Pterospermum acerifolium

Useful Parts for Muchkunda (Pterospermum suberifolium) :

Flower, bark

Names in different languages for Muchkunda (Pterospermum suberifolium) :

English: Maple-leaved Bayur tree, Dinner Plate Tree
Hindi: Kanak Champa, Muchkund
Malayalam: Cerukonna, malanjutali
Bengali: Muskanda
Kannada: Raajataru
Tamil: Vennangu
Telugu: matsakanda

Health benefits of Muchkunda (Pterospermum suberifolium)

The plant acts as an antioxidant, antiulcer, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, hypoglycaemic and anthelmintic. So, it is used in inflammation, abdominal pain, ascites, cures ulcers, leprosy, constipation, urinary discharges, and tumors. As per Ayurveda Kanak Champa’s flowers and leaves are used in treating headaches, ulcers, wounds, coughs, colds, bleeding disorders, such as nasal bleeding, heavy periods, etc. It is an effective remedy to get relief from a throat infection, toxic condition, and skin diseases. This herb is widely used for the treatment of diabetes.

The tree is also known as the ‘Dinner Plate Tree’ because of its big round leaves, which are woven into dinner plates in some parts of India. The flowers used to be insect repellent.

The leaves are rich in anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activity. The plant has antiulcer activity too. It is suitable to balance all three doshas, especially Kapha and pitta.

In Ayurveda, Muchkunda is used in treating headaches, ulcers, wounds, cough, cold, bleeding disorders, etc. The leaves are used as plates and bark is used as a remedy to treat wounds and itching. The flowers are believed to cure ulcers, tumors, leprosy, and diseases of the blood, and to be insect repellent.