HERBAL GARDEN

Vivek college of Ayurvedic Sciences & Hospital Bijnor UP

रुद्राक्ष

Classification

Synoyms

Rudraksha
Shivaphala
Rudragola
Haraksha
Bhutaveta

Habit

Large evergreen tree

Habitat

Found in the Himalayan region (Nepal, Uttarakhand), Assam, Bengal, and parts of South India, also cultivated in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia).

Morphology

  • Grows up to 50–60 feet in height.
  • Leaves are elliptic-lanceolate with finely serrated edges.
  • Flowers are small, white and fragrant.
  • Fruits are globose drupes, blue when ripe.
  • Seeds are hard, grooved, with varying mukhis (faces or lines) – sacred in Hindu traditions.

Chemical Composition

Alkaloids (Elaeocarpine, Rudrakine)
Flavonoids
Tannins
Carbohydrates
Fatty acids
Proteins
Minerals: Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium , Essential oils

Guna-Karma

Rasa- Kashaya,Tikta
Guna- Laghu, Ruksha
Virya- Shita
Vipaka- Katu
Karma- Hridaya, Manas shamak, Tranquilizer, Medhya, Grahaghna, Krimighna
Doshakarma- Kapha-Pittahara

Medicinal uses

Used in hypertension, anxiety and mental disorders.
Promotes concentration, calmness and spiritual focus.
Helpful in palpitations, epilepsy and insomnia.
Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects.
Used traditionally as a neuroprotective and adaptogenic agent.

Useful Part

Seed (bead), Leaf, Fruit

Doses

Powdered seed: 250–500 mg
Fruit decoction or extract: 10–20 ml

Important Formulation

Rudraksha Churna
Rudraksha Taila
Rudraksha Kwath

Shloka

रुद्राक्षं धारणं पुंसां पुण्यं आयुः विवर्धनम्।
पापं क्षयति तत्त्रैव सत्यमेतन्न संशयः॥
रुद्राक्षो लघुशीतोऽतिपिच्छिलः कटुकोष्णकः।
वातश्लेष्मापहः शोथकुष्ठारुचिनाशनः॥

Hindi Name​

रुद्राक्ष

English Name

Rudraksha Tree / Blue Marble Tree

Botanical Name

Elaeocarpus ganitrus Roxb. ex G.Don

Family

Elaeocarpaceae