Overview
Sappan Wood is one of the herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda for inflammation. Patanga (Caesalpinia sappan, Fam. Caesalpiniaceae) is Sappan Wood, a medium-sized thorny tree. The heartwood yields a red dye used in fabrics and preparations. It has astringent-bitter taste with cooling potency. Used in blood disorders, skin diseases, and wounds. Heartwood is the medicinal part — deep red with strong coloring properties. Contains Brasilin and Haematoxylin as key chemical principles. Also used as a fabric dye. Its decoction is blood-purifying. Book reference: Karpuradi Varga, shloka 18-19.
How Sappan Wood Helps with Inflammation
According to Ayurvedic pharmacology, Sappan Wood has specific properties that make it valuable for addressing inflammation:
- Potency (Virya): Sheeta (cold)
- Post-digestive (Vipaka): Katu (pungent)
- Taste (Rasa): Kashaya (astringent), Tikta (bitter)
- Qualities (Guna): Laghu (light), Ruksha (dry)
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
- Sappan red (dye from heartwood), Brasilin, Haematoxylin, Resorein. Sapwood contains tannins and coloring matter.
- Also Known As
- English: Sappan Wood
Sanskrit: पतङ्ग, रक्तसार, रञ्जन, विक्रान्त
Hindi: पतङ्ग, बक्कम
What the Classical Texts Say
- Raktapitta (bleeding disorders)
- Kushtha (skin diseases)
- Vrana (wounds)
- Prameha (urinary disorders)
Source: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 1
Other Herbs for Inflammation
See all herbs for inflammation on the Inflammation page.
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.