I am Dr. Vikram Chauhan, MD – (Ayurveda) from India and practicing in Chandigarh from last 20 years. I strongly believe that nature has given us immense healing power. I am running my own Ayurveda healing center & website WWW.PLANETAYURVEDA.COM & WWW.ALWAYSAYURVEDA.COM The Clinic Location is - Plot No. 627, JLPL Indl. Area, Sec.82, Mohali - 160055, Punjab INDIA (Near Chandigarh). E-mail – support@planetayurveda.com or Call for appointments at +91-172-521-4040
Katuki - The most effective LIVER -REGENERATING HERB
An Ayurvedic herb for treatment of Liver failure and other liver ailments like fatty liver.
Katuki ( Picrorrhiza kurrao ) – The literal meaning of Katuki in
Sanskrit language is bitter. This is a small delicate herb which likes to grow
only in pristine environs of snow clad Himalayan mountains. There are traders,
manufacturers nowadays trying to grow it in lower Himalayas (with difficulty)
due to its growing demand and extensive therapeutic benefits.
Ancient references – The most comprehensive and authoritative text
on Ayurvedic medicine is Charak Samhita written more than 2500 years ago from
now.
The author Maharishi Charak has
put this bitter herb in the category of “Bhedniya mahakashaya” in 4th
Chapter of Sutrasthana i.e. category of purging, liver cleansing, colon
cleansing herbs. There are 9 more herbs in this category. These are Nishoth (
Turpeth- Operculina turpethemum), Ark (
Maddar – Calotropis procera), Erand ( Castor- Ricinus communis), Laangli (
Gloriosa superba), Chitra (
Danti-Baliospermum montanum), Chitrak (
Plumbago zeylanica ), Shankhini, Chirbilv ( Haloptela integrifolia),
Swarnkshiri ( Argemone Mexicana), Katuki ( Picrorrhiza kurrao)
Properties of Katuki and Mechanism of
action according to Ayurveda – Picrorrhiza kurrao is cooling and removal of
excessive fire energy from the body. In Ayurveda it is mentioned as “katuki
pitta virechana sarvshreshtha” i.e. Kutki is best of removal of excessive Pitta
from the body via colon. It removes toxins from the colon and is cooling in
nature.
Its bitter in
taste i.e. made from Air + Ether elements ( Vayu and Aakash). These are
opposite properties of Fire element (Pitta –Heat) and Earth + Water elements ( Kapha )
Diseases caused
by Pitta and Kapha respond quickly to use of Katuki. These are all the diseases
which makes your fatty and acidic. So
Katuki is anti acidit and anti fat and cooling in nature. Anti acid means it
creates alkaline media in the blood. So it’s good for Acne, Pimples,
complicated skin disorders, URIC ACID, urea, creatinine etc. It’s beneficial in liver and kidney failure,
Diabetes, Cancers of liver, Skin and Psoriasis.
Practical uses of Katuki
There is not a
single preparation in Ayurvedic medicines for liver problems which do not
contain Katuki. This is nature’s best cholagogue i.e. helps to increase
contractions of gall bladder and take out the secretions. This helps in
improved digestion, regulation of fat, Proteins and carbohydrate metabolism.
Since liver is the seat of all metabolism, the action leads to correction of so
many disorders
Hypothyroidism,
Diabetes, Uric acid, Obesity, High urea and Creatinine, Psoriasis, Sluggish
metabolism, too much heat and aggression, Negative thoughts in mind like
Aggression, Anger, Jealousy, hatred as Katuki is cooling in nature.
1.HORMONAL IMBALANCES - Many hormonal imbalances are corrected, because liver is
processing the hormones. Correction of liver function leads to correction of
many underlying disorders caused by hormonal imbalances. For example –
Hypothyroidism, Diabetes, Female hormonal imbalance, Male hormonal imbalance
(Aggression,
Loose temperament, heat in the body, uric acid, urea, creatinine, itching in
the body are all benefited by use of Katuki )
2.LOSS OF BELLY FAT – Since Katuki helps to remove fats from liver, slowly the belly
fat is also removed by liver by regular use of Katuki.
3.FATTY LIVER - Fatty liver leads to so many health problems. It can also lead to
diabetes because sluggish fat metabolism leads to accumulation of fats around
cells, leading to the insulin resistance.
4.OBESITY -
Proper metabolism of fats and their digestion – obesity is corrected by use of
Katuki and products containing Katuki as their major ingredient.
5.COLON
CLEANSING / CONSTIPATION – Constipation is corrected immediately by use of
Katuki. This herb is non-habit forming and much better than Senna and other laxative
which are habit forming. Katuki can be mixed with Triphala powder ( Vara Churna
) for making it a laxative than a purgative. Or Yakrit Plihantak churna can be
consumed as 1 teaspoonful twice daily, with warm water after meals, as a better
laxative than plain katuki.
6.PSORIASIS
- According to Ayurveda, this complicated disorder can be cured using herbs
which are blood cleansers, colon cleansers and are having good cleansing action
on liver. Too much fire element imbalance is the root cause of skin disorders (
as per Ayurveda). Katuki is world’s best “pitta virechna” herb. i.e. it clears
the excessive pitta from the body i.e. removes excessive heat from the body. It
helps in controlling the itching, reduces the burning sensation in the skin,
clears the plaque / scales and helps to maintain a healthy skin in psoriasis
patients.
7. Hepatitis & LIVER FAILURE - Katuki
works best for liver cirrhosis, elevated liver enzymes, Liver failure, Fatty
liver and other diseases mentioned above.
Technical Pharmacological properties of
Picrorrhiza kurrao- Anti-tumor,
Anti-oxidant, Immuno-modulator, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-spasmodic, Adaptogenic,
Anti-hepatotoxic, Choleretic, Hypoglycemic, Neuritogenic, hepato-regenerative
properties ( this is great ! ),
Purgative, Anti-viral
Message to People - Katuki Is now endangered species of plants.
It is our duty to spread the message to farmers of higher Himalayan region to
cultivate this rare herb organically as this will not help them economically
but also help many chronic patients of liver ailments. We are using this herb in our formulations. The results are great.
The message to liver patients – Don’t
loose hope. Katuki is there to help you to fight your liver problem. Other than
Katuki, there are many more beautiful, effective herbs for liver ailments on this
earth. You just need the right one and right combination.
The message to Doctors – It will be
good if you look at Katuki and other ayurvedic herbs as God’s creation for a
reason. Do more research on it before saying – No, this won’t work and there is
no hope.
Chinese – Hu Huang Lian meaning Barbarian yellow Link
Assamese - Katki, Kutki
English – Hellebore ( Although there are many more plants named Hellebore in English) So it’s better to look for Picrrhoza kurrao, Picrrohiza scrophularia.
All other Indian languages – Mostly call it Katuki and Rohini
