Indian Bay Leaf / Malabar Leaf / Cinnamon Leaf

HERBAL GARDEN

Vivek college of Ayurvedic Sciences & Hospital Bijnor UP

तमालपत्र

Classification

Synoyms

Tamalpatra (Sanskrit)
Tejpat
Tamala
Indian Cassia
Tejpatra

Habit

Evergreen, medium-sized tree

Habitat

Native to India, Bhutan, and Nepal. Grows in hilly regions and sub-Himalayan tracts. Found in moist temperate forests, commonly cultivated in Northeast India and Uttarakhand.

Morphology

Tree grows up to 6–10 meters tall.
Leaves: Aromatic, lanceolate, 3-nerved, leathery.
Bark: Brownish and rough.
Flowers: Small, pale yellow, in terminal or axillary panicles.
Fruit: Small, oval drupe, turns black when ripe.

Chemical Composition

Essential oils (mainly cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, linalool)
Tannins
Flavonoids
Glycosides
Volatile oils (0.5–1.5%)

Guna-Karma

Rasa- Katu, Tikta
Guna- Laghu, Ruksha, Tikshna
Virya- Ushna
Vipaka- Katu
Karma- Deepana, Pachana, Vatanulomana, Krimighna, Kandughna, Hridaya, Vedanasthapana
Doshakarma- Kapha-Vatahara

Medicinal uses

Used in indigestion, flatulence and loss of appetite.
Effective in cold, cough and asthma due to expectorant properties.
Acts as cardiotonic and supports circulation.
Useful in skin diseases and itching.
Decoction used in fever, rheumatic pain and diabetes.
Stimulates metabolism and helps in weight management.

Useful Part

Leaf (Tejpatra), Bark

Doses

Powder (Churna): 1–3 g
Decoction (Kwath): 20–40 ml
Essential oil (external use): as directed

Important Formulation

Trikatu Churna
Sitopaladi Churna
Hingwashtak Churna
Tejpatra Kwatha

Shloka

तमालस्तिक्तको रूक्षः कटुकोष्णो लघु: स्मृतः।
दीपनः पाचनः काफ्यः ग्रहिणीगुल्मनाशनः॥ (भावप्रकाश निघण्टु – पत्रपुष्पादि वर्ग)

Hindi Name

तेजपत्ता / तेजपत्र

English Name