Kalmegh: Benefits, Uses & Dosage

Kalamegha literally means ‘black cloud’ perhaps attesting to its harvest time just before winter. Also known as bhunimba meaning ‘Neem of the earth’ referring to its bitter neem-like taste and effects. Kalamegha is a very bitter tasting herb with a renowned immune-stimulating effect. It is used to treat infections, fevers and septic conditions of the blood.

• Bhedanı-ya: Accumulation breaker
• Lekhana: Scrapes accumulations from the channels
• Chedana: Toxin-removing via the action of scratching them from the tissues
• Raktapitta: Bleeding disorders Raktaśodhana Purifies the blood
• Dı-pana: Appetite stimulant
• Pa-cana: Digests ama
• Tr.s. .na-ghna: Thirst alleviating
• Jvarahara: Fever reducing Da-hapraśamana Alleviates burning sensations
• Kus..t ha: Skin problems
• Kr.mi: Worms Śva-saka-sa Breathing problems
• Yakr. duttejaka: Liver disorders
• Pittahara: Reduces pitta infections and inflammation, as kalamegha is a specific for pitta in the blood and an aggravated rañjaka pitta. As it has very effective hepatoprotective as well as antiviral activity it should be considered in hepatitis and all forms of sluggish liver where there is a reduced ability to digest fats or alcohol.
• Digestion: It is historically used in bacillary dysentery and enteritis (Bensky & Gamble 1993). The bitterness is useful for ulcers as well as removing parasites and intestinal infections with protozoal, fungal or bacterial infestations. Especially useful where pacaka pitta is aggravated causing colitis, sensations of burning in the abdomen and diarrhoea from high pitta. Combine with warming aromatic herbs such as cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) and cinnamon (Cinnamonum zeylanicum) to prevent aggravation of vata and stimulate the appetite and reduce mucous.
• Lungs: Useful in respiratory infections with high pitta with green mucous, thirst and fevers.
• Its: bitter, light, dry and penetrating properties help to cut COMBINATIONS * Kutki, guduchi, ginger for fevers. * Black pepper for infectious fevers from malaria or blood toxins. * Ashwagandha, guduchi for immunodysfunction. * Manjishtha, neem, daruharidra, rose for pitta aggravation of the blood. * Neem, brahmi, turmeric in skin problems. * Punarnava, coriander, rose, gokshura for urinary infections. medication is advised. It may prove beneficial as a liver protective when taking hepatic-harmful tricyclic antidepressants (Brinker 1998). through thick phlegm from high kapha.
• Skin: Hot, inflammatory skin conditions, sores and eczema are effectively treated. It can also be used externally as a wash or in a cream (Paranjpe 2001).
• Urine: Useful when pitta aggravates the urinary channel (mutravahasrotas) causing urinary infections with dysuria, pyuria, haematuria and proteinuria (WHO monograph 1999).
• Biomedical: Alterative, febrifuge, bitter tonic, cholagogue, hepatoprotective, immunostimulant, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic

Contraindications: Pregnancy. It may aggravate; digestion in some people (vata; constitution). High vata. Must be; balanced with ‘hot’ herbs if there; are any cold signs

Safety: No negative drug–herb interactions are known although caution with immunosuppressive

Dosage: 1–6g per day dried or 5–15ml per day of a 1:5 @ 25% tincture.