Ayurvedic Properties
- Taste (Rasa)
- Sour (Amla), Sweet (Madhura)
- Quality (Guna)
- Heavy (Guru), Unctuous (Snigdha)
- Potency (Virya)
- Cold (Sheeta)
- Post-digestive (Vipaka)
- Sour (Amla)
- Key Constituents
- Vitamins, Organic acids, Minerals
- Also Known As
- English: Indian Hog Plum, Wild Mango
Sanskrit: आम्रातक, मर्कटाम्र, पीतन
Hindi: अमाड़ा, अम्बाड़ा
What is Indian Hog Plum?
Imagine a fruit that looks like a small mango and tastes sour-sweet, the kind of thing you would eat raw with salt or turn into a sharp pickle. That is the Indian Hog Plum (Amrataka), also called Wild Mango.
Botanically it is Spondias mangifera Willd., a large deciduous tree of the forests of Eastern India. Its fruit is eaten raw and used in pickles, chutneys and other dishes, and in Hindi it goes by Amada or Ambada.
For anyone whose appetite has gone flat, Indian Hog Plum is a classical example of food as medicine. The Bhavaprakash Nighantu calls the fruit appetizing and laxative, good for Vata and Kapha, and notes that the bark is astringent.
Benefits of Indian Hog Plum
Indian Hog Plum is sour (Amla) and sweet (Madhura) in taste, heavy (Guru) and unctuous (Snigdha) in quality, cooling in potency (Sheeta Virya), and sour after digestion (Amla Vipaka).
Appetite
The Bhavaprakash Nighantu lists the fruit as appetizing (Ruchikara), a food that restores relish for eating. Its sour-sweet taste is what wakes up a dull appetite.
Gentle Bowel Support
The fruit is described as laxative. Paired with its heavy, unctuous qualities, this suits the dry, sluggish bowel typical of Vata.
Balancing Vata
It is classed as Vata-alleviating (Vatahara), and the text says the fruit is good for Vata and Kapha. Its unctuous quality and sour-sweet taste counter Vata's dryness.
Heart Support
Indian Hog Plum is listed as cardiotonic (Hridya), the basis of its link to heart disease (Hridroga).
Thirst, Fainting and Giddiness
Charaka Samhita includes it in an external application for these complaints:
The application of jambu, Indian hog plum, jujube, country willow, barks of five herbs (panchavalkal) and the herbs of panchamla group mixed with ghee over pericardial region, face are curative of fainting, giddiness and thirst.
Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana, Chapter 22: Thirst Disorders Treatment
How to Use Indian Hog Plum
The classical dose for Indian Hog Plum is simple: the fruit is taken as food. It is eaten raw and used in pickles, chutneys and other dishes.
| Form | Dose | Best For | When to Take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw fruit | As food | Dull appetite, Vata dryness | Before or with meals |
| Pickle or chutney | As a condiment | Appetite and relish for food | With meals |
| External paste with other herbs in ghee | Applied over the chest and face | Thirst, fainting, giddiness | As directed by a practitioner |
The external use comes from Charaka Samhita, where the fruit is one of several ingredients mixed with ghee.
Safety & Side Effects
Indian Hog Plum is eaten as food, and our classical sources do not list specific contraindications or drug interactions. The main caution comes straight from the Bhavaprakash Nighantu: the fruit increases Pitta.
If you are prone to heat, acidity, heartburn or inflammation, keep portions small or avoid it. Its sour taste and sour post-digestive effect are what push Pitta up.
The fruit is also laxative and heavy, so large amounts may loosen the stools or feel heavy on a weak digestion.
Recommended: Start Here
The easiest way to start with Indian Hog Plum is to eat it as food: a little raw fruit, or a spoonful of hog plum pickle or chutney with a meal.
This is most useful if your appetite is dull or you lean toward Vata dryness, since the fruit is appetizing, laxative and Vata-balancing. Fresh fruit is seasonal and regional, so a pickle or chutney is the practical option outside Eastern India.
Find Hog Plum Pickle on Amazon ↗ Dried Hog Plum ↗
Safety note: the fruit increases Pitta, so keep it small or skip it if you have acidity, heartburn or run hot.
Indian Hog Plum vs Other Herbs & Supplements
Indian Hog Plum is best compared with other foods on this site that Ayurveda uses medicinally.
| Comparison | Indian Hog Plum | Alternative | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Hog Plum vs Mango | Smaller, sour-sweet fruit of Spondias mangifera | The fruit it resembles | The Bhavaprakash Nighantu describes hog plum as similar to mango but smaller. It is used mostly raw and in pickles and chutneys. |
| Indian Hog Plum vs Makhana | Sour-sweet, appetizing and laxative; increases Pitta | Sweet-astringent, strengthening and binding | Choose hog plum to stimulate appetite and ease dry bowels. Choose Makhana to build strength or firm loose stools. |
| Indian Hog Plum vs Grape Juice | Sour aftertaste; raises Pitta | Sweet, cooling; settles Pitta | Both are fruits. If heat is the problem, grape juice is the better fit. |
Indian Hog Plum for Specific Populations
Pregnancy & Nursing
Indian Hog Plum is eaten as food, but our sources give no specific pregnancy or nursing guidance. Normal food amounts are the sensible limit, with extra care if you have heartburn, which the fruit's Pitta-raising nature may worsen.
Children
As a food it can be part of a family diet in small amounts. Its sour taste and laxative action mean large amounts are best avoided.
Elderly
A dull appetite and dry, sluggish bowels are common in later life, and both match the fruit's appetizing, laxative, Vata-balancing actions. Keep portions modest if digestion is weak, as the fruit is heavy.
Athletes
Our sources do not describe an athletic use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Indian Hog Plum taste like?
Sour-sweet. The fruit resembles a small mango, which is why it is also called Wild Mango.
Is Indian Hog Plum good for Pitta?
No. The Bhavaprakash Nighantu says the fruit increases Pitta but is good for Vata and Kapha.
Is the bark used?
Yes. The text notes that the bark is astringent, while the fruit is the part eaten as food.
Where does Indian Hog Plum grow?
It is a large deciduous tree growing in the forests of Eastern India.
How to Use Indian Hog Plum by Condition
Explore how Indian Hog Plum is used for specific health concerns — with dosage, preparation methods, and classical references for each.
▶ Classical Text References (1 sources)
References in Charaka Samhita
The application of jambu (Syzgium cumini), Indian hog plum jujube, country willow, barks of five herbs (panchavalkal) and the herbs of panchamla group mixed with ghee over pericardial region, face are curative of fainting, giddiness and thirst.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 22: Thirst Disorders Treatment (Trishna Chikitsa / तृष्णाचिकित्सा)
Source: Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 22: Thirst Disorders Treatment (Trishna Chikitsa / तृष्णाचिकित्सा)
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.