Mulberry: Benefits, Uses & Dosage

Long before toothpaste, people in India reached for a twig. Shahtoot, listed here under the name Mulberry, is one of the trees whose bark was chewed as a tooth stick, which is why one of its English names is Tooth Brush Tree. If you are curious about traditional mouth care, this is a plant worth knowing.

A note on names: the plant described in the Bhavaprakash Nighantu under this entry is Streblus asper Lour., also called Siamese Rough Bush. Its Sanskrit names are Sahadeva (Sahadeva) and Shakhota (Shakhota), and in Hindi it is known as Sahora or Chhahota. It should not be confused with the common fruiting mulberry tree; check the botanical name on anything you buy.

It is a small tree or large shrub, common in India, growing up to about 30 feet with small fruits. The young shoots and leaves are so rough they were used as sandpaper, and the fibrous bark was once used to make paper. Medicinally, the bark and root are used, especially for tooth disorders, while its milky latex has a traditional place in fevers and skin diseases.

Shahtoot tastes astringent (kashaya, the puckering, drying taste) and bitter (tikta). It is light (laghu) and dry (ruksha), with a heating potency (ushna virya, its overall warming effect) and a pungent post-digestive effect (katu vipaka). The Bhavaprakash Nighantu records three main actions.

Teeth and Gums

Its best-known role is dantaroga hara, meaning it cures dental diseases. The bark is chewed or used as a tooth stick, and the bark and root are the parts used for mouth problems. The astringent taste, which tightens and dries tissue, fits this traditional use for tooth disorders.

Intestinal Worms

Shahtoot is classed as krimighna, an anthelmintic, meaning a herb that expels worms. This links it to the classical category of parasites and worms (krimi). Bitter, pungent and heating qualities are traditionally seen as hostile to parasites.

Fever

It is also jvaraghna, an antipyretic or fever-reducing herb. The classical text notes that the milky latex in particular is used in fevers.

Skin

The latex is also used in skin diseases, applied topically according to the classical dose note. Because the plant contains a cardiac glycoside, this is not a home remedy to improvise; see the safety section first.

The Bhavaprakash Nighantu gives two practical forms for Shahtoot: a bark decoction taken internally and the latex applied on the skin. The traditional tooth stick is a third, everyday form. Because the bark contains a cardiac glycoside called strebloside, any internal use should be set and supervised by a qualified practitioner.

Our sources do not specify a vehicle (anupana, the food or drink a herb is taken with) or any seasonal guidance. Its heating potency suggests it is less suited to people with strong heat or Pitta tendencies, so ask a practitioner to judge fit.

Shahtoot needs more care than most everyday herbs. The Bhavaprakash Nighantu notes that its bark contains a cardiac glycoside, strebloside, a type of compound that acts on the heart. That single fact is reason enough not to take the bark internally without a qualified practitioner.

The classical text gives the latex for topical use, not internal use. Our sources do not list specific contraindications, drug interactions or overdose signs, and that gap should be read as a reason for caution, not a sign of safety.

Anyone with a heart condition, or taking any heart medication, should avoid internal use unless their doctor and a practitioner both approve. Pregnant or nursing women and children should avoid it except under expert supervision. Its heating, drying nature may also aggravate heat or dryness if overused.

Finally, make sure you have the right plant. This entry is Streblus asper, not the fruiting mulberry, so confirm the botanical name before using any product.

Our knowledge graph does not yet hold the data needed to compare Shahtoot fairly with other named herbs, so this table compares the choices that matter when using it: the confusing name, the form, and the fit for your constitution.

Comparison	Shahtoot (Streblus asper)	Alternative	Verdict
Streblus asper vs fruiting mulberry	Siamese Rough Bush, Tooth Brush Tree; bark, root and latex used	The common fruiting mulberry, a different plant	This page covers Streblus asper only. Always check the botanical name.
Tooth stick vs bark decoction	Tooth stick: bark chewed for teeth, not swallowed	Decoction: classical dose 1 to 2 tola, taken internally	The tooth stick is the gentler starting point; internal use needs a practitioner because of strebloside.
Bark vs latex	Bark and root: dental problems, worms, fever	Latex: fevers and skin diseases, given topically	Use the latex on the skin only, and only with guidance.
Heating vs cooling fit	Heating potency, light and dry	People with strong heat or Pitta tendencies	Better suited to cooler constitutions; ask a practitioner if you run hot.

Classical sources give no population-specific guidance for Shahtoot. Because its bark contains a cardiac glycoside, the advice below is deliberately cautious and does not replace individual medical advice.

Pregnancy and Nursing

Avoid internal use during pregnancy and while nursing. Our sources give no specific guidance for these stages, and a compound that acts on the heart is not something to experiment with. Ask a practitioner even about external use.

Children

No child dose is recorded. Do not give children the bark, root or latex internally; worms or fever in a child should be seen by a doctor first, with any herbal support only under practitioner supervision.

Elderly

Older adults are more likely to have heart conditions or take heart medicines. That makes internal use of a herb containing strebloside a particular concern, so involve both a doctor and a practitioner.

Athletes

Our sources give no sports-related uses or doses for Shahtoot. Anyone who trains hard and is considering internal use should treat the cardiac glycoside content seriously and seek professional advice first.