Kadamba: Benefits, Uses & Dosage

In the monsoon, the Kadamba tree is hard to miss: a large, fast-growing tree hung with round, orange-yellow flower heads, each 1 to 2 inches across and strongly fragrant. It is the tree of Lord Krishna in Indian tradition, and Ayurveda has quietly used its bark for fever and wounds for centuries.

Kadamba is the Sanskrit and Hindi name for Anthocephalus cadamba Miq. In English it is sometimes called Wild Cinchona, a nod to the bitter, fever-reducing bark. Other Sanskrit names include (Nipa) and (Vrittapushpa), "the one with round flowers."

The bark and flowers are the medicinal parts. The bark is bitter and rich in tannins, yielding 40 to 50% of them, which explains its strongly astringent character.

Kadamba appears across the classical texts: the Bhavaprakasha describes it, the Charaka Samhita uses its leaves and decoction in wound care, and the Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya place it in their groups of astringent herbs.

Kadamba's profile is simple and consistent. It tastes astringent (Kashaya), is light (Laghu) and dry (Ruksha), has a cooling potency (Sheeta Virya) and a pungent post-digestive effect (Katu Vipaka). The Bhavaprakasha lists three actions that follow from this.

Fever

The bark is a fever remedy (Jwaraghna). The Bhavaprakasha notes that the bitter bark is used in malarial fever, which is where the English name Wild Cinchona comes from.

Wound Healing

Kadamba is described as wound healing (Vranaropana), and the classical texts back this up in practice. The Charaka Samhita lists Kadamba in a decoction for washing wounds and names its leaves among those used to cover a wound:

For covering the wound, leaves of kadamba, arjuna, nimba, patala...

Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana 25 (Dwivraniya Chikitsa)

The Ashtanga Hridaya likewise lists Kadamba leaves among those suitable for dressing after surgical procedures. This tissue-repairing role is why Kadamba is linked to skin disorders (Kushtha).

Binding and Astringent Action

Kadamba is (Stambhana), an astringent herb that checks discharges and holds tissues together. The Ashtanga Hridaya includes it in its group of astringents, and the Sushruta Samhita places it in two classical astringent groups, the Rodhradi group alongside Lodhra and the Nyagrodhadi group alongside Udumbara.

Supporting Formulas

Kadamba also appears as an ingredient. The Charaka Samhita uses its paste with Amla, Pippali and other herbs in a medicated milk for gout (Vatarakta), and the Sushruta Samhita combines its bark with Vetiver (Ushira) in an antidote for a spider bite.

Kadamba is used as a medicine, not a food. Our sources describe which parts are used and how they appear in classical formulas, but they do not give a standard dose, so the table below sticks to what the texts actually say.

Notice that most classical uses are external or in combination with other herbs. Kadamba rarely appears as a stand-alone home remedy.

If you want to use it internally, work with a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner, who can choose the right part, preparation and vehicle (Anupana) for you.

Kadamba's bark and leaves have a long history of medicinal use, but the classical texts carry one clear warning you should know about.

The Flowers Are Listed as a Poison

The Sushruta Samhita names Kadamba among the five flower poisons:

The flowers of Vetra, Kadamba, Vallija (Naracha), Karambha and MahaKarambha are the five flower-poisons.

Sushruta Samhita, Kalpa Sthana 2

Although the flowers are also described as medicinal, do not eat or prepare the flowers yourself. Any use of the flowers belongs in the hands of a qualified practitioner.

Strongly Astringent and Drying

The bark is very high in tannins and the herb is light, dry and binding (Stambhana). This is the point of using it, but it also means it is not a herb to take casually or for long periods without guidance.

Interactions and Pregnancy

Our sources record no drug interactions or pregnancy guidance for Kadamba. If you are pregnant, nursing or taking medication, speak with your doctor first. Fever, especially suspected malaria, always needs medical diagnosis.

Kadamba keeps classical company with other astringent trees. Here is how it compares with herbs whose properties we hold, using only what our sources record.

Our sources do not include head-to-head classical comparisons, so treat these rows as a map of related herbs rather than a ranking.

Our sources give no population-specific doses for Kadamba. Given that it is a medicinal herb with a classical warning on its flowers, the default for every group is caution and qualified supervision.

Pregnancy & Nursing

There is no pregnancy or nursing guidance for Kadamba in our sources. Avoid internal use unless your doctor and a qualified practitioner both approve, and avoid the flowers entirely.

Children

Do not give Kadamba to children without a practitioner's guidance. Fever in a child needs medical assessment first.

Elderly

Kadamba is light, dry and strongly astringent. Older adults who already tend toward dryness or constipation may not suit a binding herb like this, so suitability is best judged by a practitioner.

Athletes

Our sources describe no use for performance or strength. Its classical place is fever and wound care, so it is not a training supplement.