Kutaja Arishtam

-by Sheela Rani Chunkath

Many of us who travel frequently and have to eat in strange restaurants and places often pick up stomach infections which result in dysentery and diarrhoea. Many of these infections are diagnosed as amoebiasis and course after course of antibiotics and Metronidazole (Flagyl) are prescribed often without much effect.

Kutaja arishtam made from Tellicherry bark, the scientific name being Holarrhena antidysenterica is a wonderfully effective drug for treating amoebiasis and dysentery especially when blood and mucus are present in the stools. Lohasavam (a kind of iron tonic) is also sometimes prescribed along with Kutaja arishtam. This helps to restore the iron depleted from the body due to blood loss.

Kutaja is called kudasappalai in Tamil. It is a small tree with light green leaves, beautiful small white flowers and long seeds. There are many specimens in the Adyar Theosophical Gardens, Chennai and can be seen as one drives into Besant Nagar from Adyar. The bark and seeds of this plant are astringent, antiperiodic and acts as a febrifuge. It contains the alkaloids conessine, conimine, conarrhimine, holarrhimine, kurchine and kurchicine. These are very effective in controlling diarrhoea and amoebic dysentery.

The other ingredients of Kutaja arishtam include raisins, madhuca (mahua) flowers and roots of the small Kashmir tree. The above ingredients are crushed and boiled in water, reduced to ¼ volume, cooled and filtered. Old cane jaggery and flowers of the fire flame tree are added to it and left to ferment for a month. The arishtam is then ready to use.

The small Kashmir tree is called Sirukumizham in Tamil, its scientific name being Gmelina asiatica. Its roots also form one of the ingredients of dasamoola arishtam. The fire flame flowers are called Kaattaathipoo in Tamil. The scientific name of the tree is Woodfordia fruiticosa . The tree really has beautiful red flowers and a large stand of trees in flower gives the impression of a forest on fire. A pretty tree with wonderful medicinal properties is indeed a great bonus. We should be popularising such trees so that our traditions truly come alive.

Kutaja arishtam is also useful in treating haemorrhoids and bleeding piles. Since the arishtam has antiperiodic properties, it is useful in the treatment of fevers associated with diarrhoea.

Kutaja arishtam used to be a household remedy for amoebic and other dysenteries till it was eclipsed by Western medicines which are unfortunately not as effective. This drug is one of the drugs that has been included in the drug kit of the Village Health Nurses of the Government of Tamilnadu. It is a safe drug and can be administered by paramedics after appropriate training. The preparation is a classical formulation mentioned in the Bhaishajya Ratnavali.

--- The writer was earlier Health Secretary, Govt. of Tamil Nadu and is currently CMD, TN Industrial Investment Corporation; Sheelarani.arogyamantra@gmail.com