Overview
Padmaka is one of the herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda for conjunctivitis. Padmaka (Prunus cerasoides/P. puddum, Fam. Rosaceae) is Wild Himalayan Cherry found in the Himalayas at 3000-6000 feet. The heartwood is reddish and fragrant. It is cooling, astringent-bitter, and primarily used in bleeding disorders, burning sensations, and skin diseases. An important ingredient in many Ayurvedic formulations for Raktapitta (bleeding disorders). The bark is used in Ayurvedic practice. Book reference: Karpuradi Varga, shloka 18.
How Padmaka Helps with Conjunctivitis
According to Ayurvedic pharmacology, Padmaka has specific properties that make it valuable for addressing conjunctivitis:
- Potency (Virya): Sheeta (cold)
- Post-digestive (Vipaka): Katu (pungent)
- Taste (Rasa): Tikta (bitter), Kashaya (astringent)
- Qualities (Guna): Laghu (light), Snigdha (unctuous)
Other Herbs for Conjunctivitis
See all herbs for conjunctivitis on the Conjunctivitis page.
▶ Classical Text References (5 sources)
- Raktapitta (bleeding disorders)
- Daha (burning sensation)
- Kushtha (skin diseases)
- Visha (poisoning)
Source: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 1
The treatment shall be bathing (washing), pouring with water processed with anti-poisonous drugs, application of paste of Sevya (Ushira), Candana (sandalwood), Padmaka – Wild Himalayan Cherry (heart wood) – Prunus puddum / cerasoides;
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Anna Raksha Vidhi
Sita, Yasthimadhu (licorice), Suvarnatwak, Padmaka, Raktayastika Kustha, tagara and other scents – perfumeries.
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Dhumpana Medicated Smoking
Varsha (Rainy season) – काल यक तलोशीरमांसीतगरप कम ् Kaliyaka, Tila, Usira, Mamsi, Tagara and Padmaka.
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Gandushadi Vidhi Gargles
Source: Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Anna Raksha Vidhi; Dhumpana Medicated Smoking; Gandushadi Vidhi Gargles
Take kuṣṭha, aguru, devadāru, kaunti, cinnamon, padmaka, cardamom, sugandhabālā, palāśa, mustaka, priyangu, thauneyaka, nāgakeśara, jatāmāmsi, tālisapatra, plava, tejapatra, coriander, sriveshtaka, dhyāmaka, piper longum, sprikkā and nakha.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 12: Edema Treatment (Shvayathu Chikitsa / श्वयथुचिकित्सा)
Prepare medicated oil from vetasa, manjiṣhthā, mrināla, sandal, padmaka and khasha and bark of latex-exuding plants.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 12: Edema Treatment (Shvayathu Chikitsa / श्वयथुचिकित्सा)
Thereafter, bathing with medicated water prepared with sandal, khaśa and padmaka and heated by sun rays or with water prepared with latex-exuding plants or water mixed with milk is beneficial.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 12: Edema Treatment (Shvayathu Chikitsa / श्वयथुचिकित्सा)
The patient should be given warm water sitz bath with the decoction of madhuka, nifnala, padmaka, chandana (Santalum album), kusha (Desmospachya bipinnata) and kasha (Saccharum spontaneum) in cases suffering from bleeding, burning sensation and stickiness.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 14: Hemorrhoids Treatment (Arsha Chikitsa / अर्शचिकित्सा)
Take two pala (96 gm) each of chandana, padmaka, usheera, patha, murva, kuthannatha (kaivarta musta), shadhgrantha (vacha), sariva, asphota (aspurmallika), saptaparna, aṭarushakana (vasa), patola, udumbara, ashvattha, vata, plaksa, kapeetana (gandha musta), kathuki, musta and nimba and prepare decoction by adding one drona (12.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 15: Digestive Disorders Treatment (Grahani Chikitsa / ग्रहणीचिकित्सा)
Source: Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 12: Edema Treatment (Shvayathu Chikitsa / श्वयथुचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 14: Hemorrhoids Treatment (Arsha Chikitsa / अर्शचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 15: Digestive Disorders Treatment (Grahani Chikitsa / ग्रहणीचिकित्सा)
Amritottara Kvatha: Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Nimba bark (Azadirachta indica), Bilva bark (Aegle marmelos), Padmaka (Prunus cerasoides), and Raktachandana (red sandalwood — Pterocarpus santalinus) — this decoction should be consumed.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 1: Svarasadikalpana (Svarasa, Kalka, Kvatha, etc.)
The Kalka (paste) ingredients are: Mridvika/Draksha (Vitis vinifera — raisins), Padmaka (Prunus cerasoides), Kushtha (Saussurea lappa), Pippali (Piper longum), Raktachandana (Pterocarpus santalinus — red sandalwood), Patraka (Cinnamomum tamala), Nagapushpa (Mesua ferrea), and Atmagupta/Kapikacchu fruits (Mucuna pruriens).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 9: Snehakalpana (Oleaginous Preparations - Ghrita and Taila)
A paste of Triphala, Padmaka (Prunus cerasoides, wild Himalayan cherry), Ushira (vetiver), Samanga (Manjishtha, Rubia cordifolia), Karavira (Nerium oleander), Nala Mula (root of Arundo donax/giant reed), and Ananta (Sariva/Hemidesmus indicus) -- this paste destroys Kapha-type Visarpa.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)
The astringent Triphala and Manjishtha dry the oozing, Padmaka and vetiver are cooling yet drying, and Karavira (oleander) is a potent anti-inflammatory applied externally.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)
For Rakta Pitta (bleeding disorders): a paste made from Dhatri (Amalaki/Emblica officinalis), Kaseru (Scirpus kysoor), Hrivera (Pavonia odorata), Padma (lotus, Nelumbo nucifera), Padmaka (Prunus cerasoides), Chandana (sandalwood, Santalum album), Durva (Cynodon dactylon), Ushira (vetiver), and the roots of Nala (Arundo donax) should be applied.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)
Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 1: Svarasadikalpana (Svarasa, Kalka, Kvatha, etc.); Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 9: Snehakalpana (Oleaginous Preparations - Ghrita and Taila); Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)
Gundra, rice, shaivala (aquatic moss), shailabheda, daruharidra (tree turmeric), ela (cardamom), utpala (blue lotus), rodhra, abhra (mica), lotus petal, sugar, darbha (sacred grass), tala (palmyra), rodhra, vetasa (cane), and padmaka.
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 10: Pittabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Pitta-type Conjunctivitis)
or one prepared similarly with daru (devadaru), padmaka, and shunthi (dry ginger).
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 17: Drishtigata Roga Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Diseases of Vision / Drishti Roga)
Ghee cooked with shatavari, prithakparni, musta, amalaka, padmaka, and sariva — this destroys burning sensation and pain.
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 17: Drishtigata Roga Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Diseases of Vision / Drishti Roga)
Oil prepared with astringent and sweet herbs -- Madhuka (licorice), Ushira (vetiver), Hribera, Sariva (Indian sarsaparilla), Utpala (blue lotus), and Padmaka -- should be used for massaging the child.
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 30: Shakunipratishedha
PARISARPA-JVARA GHRITA: Prepared with Triphala, Ushira, Shampaka, Katuka, Ativisha, Ghana, Shatavari, Saptaparni, Guduchi, Neem, Chitraka, Trivrit, Murva, Patola, Arishta, Balaka, Kirata-tikta, Vacha, Vishala, Padmaka, Utpala, Sariva, Yashtya-hvva, Vikara, Raktachandana, Duralabha, Parpataka, Trayamana, Aturushaka, Rasna, Kudu, Kumanjishtha, Pippali, Nagara, and Dhatri-phala juice -- this ghee eliminates spreading fever, dyspnea, tumors, and skin diseases.
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 39: Jvarapratishedha
Source: Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 10: Pittabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Pitta-type Conjunctivitis); Uttara Tantra, Chapter 17: Drishtigata Roga Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Diseases of Vision / Drishti Roga); Uttara Tantra, Chapter 30: Shakunipratishedha; Uttara Tantra, Chapter 39: Jvarapratishedha
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.