Varuna

Description

Varuna (Crataeva nurvala Roxb.) is distributed throughout India, particularly in the upper Gangetic plains, Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Gujarat, and the Konkan region, and is also cultivated in gardens for its ornamental value. It is a small tree with grey bark, a long taproot, and an erect, woody, branched stem marked with horizontal wrinkles. The leaves are compound, trifoliate, alternate, and deciduous, with petioles 4–7.5 cm long; the leaflets measure 5–15 × 4–6 cm, are cuneate or obovate, acute or acuminate, entire, glabrous on both surfaces, with lateral ones oblique at the base and petiolules 6–9 mm long. The inflorescence is a densely flowered terminal corymb; flowers are greenish-white with pedicels 2.5–4.5 cm long, four polysepalous sepals, four polypetalous petals, numerous stamens, and a bicarpellary syncarpous superior ovary. The fruit is a many-seeded berry, while the seeds are woody and non-endospermic. A common adulterant is the stem bark of Aegle marmelos. Genuine Varuna bark occurs in channelled, flat, or slightly curved pieces with a rough, scaly, greyish-black outer surface, bearing numerous lenticels, and a lemon-yellow, longitudinally striated inner surface. Transverse sections show a porous texture with dark yellow specks of vascular bundles; the bark breaks into short pieces, is odourless, and has a slightly bitter taste.

Useful Parts

Underground stem, bark

Benefits

Urinary System Diuretic → Promotes urine flow and supports kidney health. Anti-urolithic → Prevents and dissolves urinary stones by reducing crystallization and improving urinary parameters. Immune System Immunomodulatory → Enhances lymphocyte activity and regulates cytokine balance for better immune defense Musculoskeletal System Anti-arthritic → Reduces joint pain and swelling by modulating inflammatory pathways. Analgesic → Relieves pain through central and peripheral mechanisms. Hepatic System (Liver) Hepatoprotective → Protects the liver against toxins and enhances detoxification. General / Multi-systemic Anti-inflammatory → Reduces tissue inflammation by inhibiting inflammatory mediators. Antioxidant → Neutralizes free radicals and prevents oxidative damage. Prepare decoction of Varuna (Crataeva nurvala) root bark, then add the paste of Root bark. If it is taken it is efficacious in Ashmari (Urinary calculus). Gandamala (Goitre) In case of Gandamala (Goitre) decoction prepared from root bark of Varuna (Crataeva nurvala) is taken with honey.

Pharmacological Action

Lithotriptic, Spasmodic, Anti-inflammatory, Antipyretic, Antibacterial and Diuretic

Rasapancakam

Rasa: Kashaya, Tikta, Madhura

Guna: Laghu, Ruksha

Virya: Usna

Vipaka: Katu

Dosha Karma: Kaphavata shamaka