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
- Lupeol, Taraxerol, Flavonoids
- Also Known As
- English: Maple-leaved Bayur Tree, Dinner Plate Tree
Sanskrit: कर्णिकार, कर्णिका
Hindi: कनक चम्पा, मुचकुन्द
What is Karnikara?
Picture a tree with leaves so broad that people in the Himalayan foothills use them as plates for a meal, and white, fragrant flowers that open only at night. That is Karnikara, known in English as the Maple-leaved Bayur Tree or the Dinner Plate Tree.
Its botanical name is Pterospermum acerifolium. It is a large tree that grows in the Himalayan foothills at elevations up to about 5,000 feet, and its leaves can reach a foot across, with a silvery underside.
In Ayurveda, the flowers and bark are the medicinal parts. The Bhavaprakash Nighantu, a classical herbal reference, lists Karnikara as a herb that helps with bleeding disorders and improves the complexion. It is used mainly in external applications.
One point to keep in mind: the Charaka Samhita also uses the name Karnikara as a synonym for Aragvadha (golden shower tree, Cassia fistula), a different plant. This page is about Pterospermum acerifolium.
Benefits of Karnikara
Karnikara has a short, focused classical profile. Its tastes are astringent (Kashaya) and bitter (Tikta), its qualities are light (Laghu) and dry (Ruksha), and its potency is cooling (Sheeta Virya). Together these make it a herb for heat and for bleeding.
Bleeding Disorders
The Bhavaprakash Nighantu describes Karnikara as Raktapittahara, meaning it alleviates bleeding disorders (Raktapitta). In Ayurveda, Raktapitta is bleeding driven by excess heat in the blood.
The reasoning follows from its properties. Astringent taste tightens and binds tissue, and cooling potency counters the heat behind the bleeding.
Skin and Complexion
Karnikara is also called Varnya, a complexion enhancer, and it is associated with skin disorders (Kushtha). Bitter and cooling herbs are traditionally used to calm heat that shows up on the skin.
Balancing Pitta
Karnikara balances Pitta, the dosha of heat and transformation. Its cooling, bitter and astringent nature is a classic Pitta-calming combination.
How to Use Karnikara
Classical sources give Karnikara's dose simply as various external applications, using the flowers and bark. There is no standard internal dose in our sources, so treat it as a herb for practitioner-guided topical use.
| Form | Dose | Best For | When to Take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flower or bark paste (external) | Applied to the affected area, as advised by a practitioner | Skin concerns, complexion | As directed |
| Bark preparations (external) | As advised by a practitioner | Heat-related bleeding, under supervision | As directed |
| Internal use | No dose recorded in our sources | Not recommended without a practitioner | Not applicable |
Because Karnikara is light and dry, a practitioner may pair external preparations with something soothing for people with dry skin. Any bleeding that is heavy, unexplained or ongoing needs medical assessment first.
Safety & Side Effects
Our sources record no specific contraindications, drug interactions or overdose signs for Karnikara. That is an absence of data, not proof of safety, so treat it as a herb for guided, mostly external use.
- Drying nature. Karnikara is light, dry, bitter and astringent. In Ayurvedic terms these qualities tend to aggravate Vata, the dosha of dryness and movement, so people with very dry skin or a strong Vata constitution may find it too drying.
- Name confusion. The name Karnikara is also used for Aragvadha (Cassia fistula), which acts as a laxative. Check the botanical name, Pterospermum acerifolium, on anything you buy.
- Bleeding needs a diagnosis. Karnikara is classically used for bleeding disorders, but any unexplained, heavy or recurrent bleeding should be checked by a doctor before you try herbs.
If you are pregnant, nursing, giving it to a child, or taking prescription medication, especially blood thinners, talk to your doctor and a qualified practitioner first.
Recommended: Start Here
Karnikara is a classical herb, but it is rarely sold as a consumer product, and our sources describe it mainly for external use. It is not one to start on your own.
The simplest sensible step is to learn where it sits in the classical materia medica and bring a specific concern, such as heat-related bleeding or a stubborn skin problem, to a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner. They can decide whether a Karnikara flower or bark preparation fits your case.
If you want to read further, an edition of the Bhavaprakash Nighantu, where Karnikara is described, is a good place to begin.
Find Bhavaprakash Nighantu on Amazon ↗ Search Pterospermum acerifolium ↗
Safety note: confirm the botanical name before buying, since the name Karnikara is also used for a laxative plant, and see a doctor about any unexplained bleeding.
Karnikara vs Other Herbs & Supplements
Karnikara is rarely compared online, so the useful comparisons are with herbs that share its name or its classical job of calming heat-driven bleeding.
| Comparison | Karnikara | Alternative | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karnikara vs Aragvadha | Pterospermum acerifolium. Astringent, bitter, cooling. Used for bleeding and complexion, mainly externally. | Cassia fistula. Sweet, cooling. A gentle laxative that clears Pitta from the intestines. Also called Karnikara in the Charaka Samhita. | Different plants that share a name. Choose Aragvadha for gentle bowel clearing; Karnikara is a bleeding and skin herb. |
| Karnikara vs Lodhra | Astringent, bitter, cooling, light and dry. | Astringent, cooling, light and dry. An important herb for gynecological bleeding such as heavy menstrual bleeding. | Very similar energetics. Lodhra is the better documented choice for menstrual bleeding. |
| Karnikara vs Sandalwood | Cooling, used for bleeding disorders and complexion. | Bitter, sweet, astringent and cooling. The classic Pitta-pacifier for burning skin, fever and bleeding. | Sandalwood is far easier to find and more widely used; Karnikara is a lesser-known herb in a similar cooling role. |
These comparisons rest on classical properties and uses only. A practitioner who has assessed you is the right person to choose between them.
Karnikara for Specific Populations
Our sources describe Karnikara mainly for external use and give no population-specific guidance. The notes below lean toward caution for that reason.
Pregnancy & Nursing
There is no safety data for Karnikara in pregnancy or breastfeeding in our sources. Avoid internal use, and ask your doctor and a qualified practitioner before applying any preparation.
Children
No pediatric dose is recorded. Do not give Karnikara to children internally, and use external preparations only under practitioner guidance.
Elderly
Older adults often lean toward dryness, which Ayurveda links with Vata. Karnikara's light, dry nature may be too drying, so a practitioner may adjust or pair it with soothing preparations.
Athletes
Our sources do not describe any performance or recovery use for Karnikara. Its classical role is bleeding and skin, not muscle or stamina.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Karnikara called the Dinner Plate Tree?
Its leaves are very large, up to about a foot across, with a silvery underside. In the regions where it grows, the leaves are used as natural plates for eating.
Which part of Karnikara is used in Ayurveda?
The flowers and the bark are the medicinal parts. Classical sources describe them mainly in external applications.
Is Karnikara the same as the golden shower tree?
Not on this page. The Charaka Samhita uses Karnikara as one of the names of Aragvadha (Cassia fistula), the golden shower tree. The herb described here is Pterospermum acerifolium, a different tree.
What dosha does Karnikara balance?
It balances Pitta. Its cooling potency and bitter, astringent tastes counter heat in the body.
What compounds does Karnikara contain?
Our sources list lupeol, taraxerol and flavonoids among its chemical constituents.
How to Use Karnikara by Condition
Explore how Karnikara is used for specific health concerns — with dosage, preparation methods, and classical references for each.
▶ Classical Text References (1 sources)
References in Charaka Samhita
Eight synonyms: Aragvadha (disease overcomer), Rajavriksha (royal tree), Shampaka (auspicious fruit bearer), Chaturangula (four angulas in measure), Pragraha (disease seizer), Kritamala (garland-forming flower), Karnikara (golden shower), Avaghataka.
— Charaka Samhita, Kalpa Sthana — Pharmaceutical Preparations, Chapter 8: Pharmaceutical Preparations of Chaturangula (Chaturangula Kalpa Adhyaya / चतुरङ्गुलकल्प अध्याय)
Source: Charaka Samhita, Kalpa Sthana — Pharmaceutical Preparations, Chapter 8: Pharmaceutical Preparations of Chaturangula (Chaturangula Kalpa Adhyaya / चतुरङ्गुलकल्प अध्याय)
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.