Bakuchi: Benefits, Uses & Dosage

Bakuchi (Psoralea corylifolia) is an excellent tonic and rejuvenative for the skin. Its rasa is pungent and bitter, with heating virya and pungent vipaka. It pacifies Kapha and Vata but may increase Pitta. It acts primarily on the plasma and blood tissues, through the circulatory and urinary systems. Its key actions include alterative, diuretic, diaphoretic, rejuvenative, aphrodisiac, and antiparasitical.

Bakuchi improves the complexion, restoring luster to the skin and improving growth of nails and hair. It is especially good for rough, cracked, scaly skin and broken or brittle nails, such as are common in Vata constitutions and in the elderly. It is indicated for impetigo, leucoderma, psoriasis, debility, roundworms, chronic fevers, impotence, and premature greying or falling out of hair.

When used by those with Pitta constitution, Bakuchi should be balanced out with other more cooling herbs. It should be avoided during chronic fevers. Typical preparation is as powder (250 to 500 mg) or oil.

• Kaphahara: Destroys kapha
• Rasa- yana: Rejuvenative
• Hr. daya: Cordial heart tonic
• Kus.t.ha: Heals skin disorders
• Jvaraghna: Anti-fever
• Kr. mina-: śaka Anthelmintic
• Raktapitta: Alleviates bleeding disorders
• Vran. ya: Treatment of ulcers (Suśruta Samhita, Bhavaprakaśa)
• Biomedical: Cardiac tonic, vasodilator, alterative, pigmentor

Dosage: Use up to 10% of a formula. 3–9g per day (powder) or 3–15ml per day of a 1:3 @ 25% tincture. Chapter 6 PLANT PROFILES

Combinations:

• Manjishtha sariva, neem, kutki for skin conditions.
• Nutmeg, haritaki for chronic diarrhoea with cold symptoms and loose, watery stool.
• Haritaki, gokshura for urinary frequency. Ashwagandha and bala for
• Pippali and ashwagandha for coughs.

Contraindications: Excessive UV therapy, high pitta; Use with caution in pregnancy

Safety: No drug–herb interactions are known but caution should be observed with external applications. Bakuchi should not be used with patients undergoing PUVA therapy due to the increased risk of photosensitive reactions.