Herb × Condition

Acacia for Ulcers

Sanskrit: शातला | Acacia concinna DC.

How Acacia helps with Ulcers according to Ayurveda. Classical references, dosage, preparation methods, and what modern research says.

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Overview

Acacia is one of the herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda for ulcers. Shatala (Acacia concinna) is mentioned in the text as Shikakai, widely used for hair care. The pods contain natural saponins that serve as a gentle hair cleanser. It is also used as a mild purgative and blood purifier. The pod decoction is used for skin diseases.

How Acacia Helps with Ulcers

According to Ayurvedic pharmacology, Acacia has specific properties that make it valuable for addressing ulcers:

  • Potency (Virya): Sheeta (cold)
  • Post-digestive (Vipaka): Katu (pungent)
  • Taste (Rasa): Kashaya (astringent), Tikta (bitter)
  • Qualities (Guna): Laghu (light), Ruksha (dry)

Ayurvedic Properties

Taste (Rasa)
Astringent (Kashaya), Bitter (Tikta)
Quality (Guna)
Light (Laghu), Dry (Ruksha)
Potency (Virya)
Cold (Sheeta)
Post-digestive (Vipaka)
Pungent (Katu)
Key Constituents
Saponins, Tannins, Lupeol
Also Known As
English: Shikakai, Acacia
Sanskrit: शातला, सप्तला
Hindi: शिकाकाई, रीठा
Classical Text References (4 sources)

2-3 – DANTADHAVANA / CLEANING OF TEETH शर र च तां नव य कृतशौच व ध ततः अक य ोधख दरकर जककुभा दजम ् ातभु वा च म ृ व ं कषायकटु त तकम ् भ ये तपवनं द तमांसा यबाधयन ् कनी य सम थौ यं गुणं वादशा गुलम ् Keeping in view, the condition of his body, the individual should pass urine and faeces, clean teeth with any of the twigs of following herbs – Arka (Calotropis procera), Vata (Ficus benghalensis), Khadira (Acacia catechu), Karanja (Pongamia pinnata), Kakubha (Terminalia arjuna).

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Dinacharya Daily Routine

Kashaya Varga (Gana) – group of astringents: वगःकषायः प या ं शर षः ख दरो मधु कद बोद ु बरं मु ता वाला जनगै रकम ् बालं क प थं खजूरं वसप ो पला द च Group of astringents consists of Pathya – Chebuic Myrobalan (fruit rind) – Terminalia chebula, Aksha – Terminalia bellirica, Shireesa, Khadira – Black catechu (heart wood extract) – Acacia catechu, Madhu (honey), Kadamba, Udumbara, Mukta (Pearls), Pravala (Coral), Anjana – Aqueous extract of Berberis aristata (antimony), Gairika – Purified Red Ochre, B

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Rasabhediyam Tastes, Their

Source: Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Dinacharya Daily Routine; Rasabhediyam Tastes, Their

Khadira (Acacia catechu), saptaparna (Alstonia scholaris), musta (Cyperus rotundus linn), aragvadha (Cassia fistula Linn), dhava (Anogeissus latifolia, Wall).

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 21: Erysipelas Treatment (Visarpa Chikitsa / विसर्पचिकित्सा)

Sprikka (Delphinium zalil), plava (Cyperus rotundus), sthauneyaka (Taxus baccata), kanksi (Saurashtrika), shaileya (Parmelia perlata), rochana (bile of cow), tagara (Valeriana wallichii), dhyamaka (Cymbopogon martini), kunkuma (Crocus sativua), mamsi (Nardostachys jatamansi), agra (inflorescence) of surasa (Ocimum sanctum), ela (Elettaria cardamomum), ala (Haritala – Purified Arsenic trisulphide), kushtaghna (Khadira – Acacia catechu)), brhati (Solanum indicum), flower of sirisha (Albizzia lebbe

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 23: Poison Treatment (Visha Chikitsa / विषचिकित्सा)

If he is free from signs and symptoms of incurability, then incisions should be made on his scalp resembling the paw of the crow (kakapada), and one bilva (nearly 40 grams) of the paste of charmakasha (saptala – Acacia concinna) should be applied over it.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 23: Poison Treatment (Visha Chikitsa / विषचिकित्सा)

In poisoning of the mamsa dhatu, roots of khadira (Acacia catechu), nimba (Azadiracta indica) and kutaja (Holarrhena antidysentrica) should be taken mixed with honey and along with water.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 23: Poison Treatment (Visha Chikitsa / विषचिकित्सा)

If the wound caused by the nails of teeth of quadrupeds or bipeds is swollen, inflamed and oozing and associated with fever, the paste of somavalka (Acacia catechu), ashwakarna (Dipterocarpus alatus), gojivha (Onosma bracteatum), hamsapaadi (Adiantum lunulatum), haridra (Curcuma longa), daruharidra (Berberis aristata) and gairika (red ochre) should be applied.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 23: Poison Treatment (Visha Chikitsa / विषचिकित्सा)

Source: Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 21: Erysipelas Treatment (Visarpa Chikitsa / विसर्पचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 23: Poison Treatment (Visha Chikitsa / विषचिकित्सा)

In all types of Atisara (diarrhea): the juice of leaves of large Babbula (Acacia nilotica), or the juice of bark of Shyonaka (Oroxylum indicum) and Kutaja (Holarrhena antidysenterica), eliminates all forms of diarrhea when consumed.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 1: Svarasadikalpana (Svarasa, Kalka, Kvatha, etc.)

Triphala, Mustaka (Cyperus rotundus), Khadira (Acacia catechu), Nimba (Azadirachta indica), the two Haridras (turmeric and tree turmeric), Patola (Trichosanthes dioica), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Katuka (Picrorhiza kurroa), and Vidanga (Embelia ribes) — this decoction destroys Kushtha (skin diseases).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 2: Kvathakalpana (Decoction Preparations)

and with Khadira (Acacia catechu) decoction it destroys Vrana (ulcers) and Kushtha (skin diseases).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 4: Gutikakalpana (Tablet/Pill Preparations)

Mundatikadi Kvatha [as Anupana]: the decoction of Khadira heartwood (Acacia catechu), Pathya (Haritaki) decoction, or warm water should be given as the vehicle.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 4: Gutikakalpana (Tablet/Pill Preparations)

All should be combined into a single powder and then processed (Bhavana) with Bhringaraja (Eclipta alba) juice and the decoction water of Khadira (Acacia catechu) and Asana (Pterocarpus marsupium), reduced to one-eighth.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 6: Churnakalpana (Powder Preparations - Extended)

Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 1: Svarasadikalpana (Svarasa, Kalka, Kvatha, etc.); Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 2: Kvathakalpana (Decoction Preparations); Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 4: Gutikakalpana (Tablet/Pill Preparations); Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 6: Churnakalpana (Powder Preparations - Extended)

Perform oblations with sticks of Khadira (Acacia catechu), Palasha (Butea monosperma), Devadaru (Cedrus deodara), and Bilva (Aegle marmelos) — or of Nyagrodha (Ficus benghalensis), Udumbara (Ficus racemosa), Ashvattha (Ficus religiosa), and Madhuka (Madhuca longifolia) — smeared with curd, honey, and ghee, while reciting the Pranava (Om) and Maha-vyahritis.

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 2: Shishyopanayaniya Adhyaya - Initiation of the Student

Amalaka (gooseberry) juice, goat (products), pippali, saindhava, and honey — stored in a khadira (acacia) wood container.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 17: Drishtigata Roga Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Diseases of Vision / Drishti Roga)

It should also be cooked with Kushtha, Talisha, Khadira (Acacia catechu), Chandana (sandalwood), and Syandana.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 32: Putanapratishedha

The barks of Rohini, Sarja (sal), Khadira (Acacia catechu), Palasha (Butea monosperma), and Kubha should be decocted, and in that decoction, ghee should be cooked with Sattira.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 34: Shitaputanapratishedha

It should be coated with clay and baked over charcoal of khadira (Acacia catechu) wood.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Source: Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 2: Shishyopanayaniya Adhyaya - Initiation of the Student; Uttara Tantra, Chapter 17: Drishtigata Roga Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Diseases of Vision / Drishti Roga); Uttara Tantra, Chapter 32: Putanapratishedha; Uttara Tantra, Chapter 34: Shitaputanapratishedha; Uttara Tantra, Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Other Herbs for Ulcers

See all herbs for ulcers on the Ulcers page.

Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Ayurvedic treatments should be pursued under the guidance of a qualified practitioner (BAMS/MD Ayurveda). Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment. Content is sourced from classical Ayurvedic texts and may not reflect the latest medical research.