Overview

Sonapatha is one of the herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda for inflammation. Sonapatha is described in the text as related to Shyonaka (Oroxylum indicum). The bark is used in various Dashamula formulations. It is found in forests across India and its root bark is valued for anti-inflammatory and anti-diarrheal properties.

How Sonapatha Helps with Inflammation

According to Ayurvedic pharmacology, Sonapatha has specific properties that make it valuable for addressing inflammation:

Potency (Virya): Ushna (hot)
Post-digestive (Vipaka): Katu (pungent)
Taste (Rasa): Tikta (bitter), Kashaya (astringent)
Qualities (Guna): Laghu (light), Ruksha (dry)

Other Herbs for Inflammation

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Agastya Flowers Sesbania grandiflora Linn.

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Arani Premna integrifolia Linn.

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Alexandrian Laurel Ochrocarpus longifolius Benth. & Hook. f.; Calophyllum inophyllum Linn.

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Amla Emblica officinalis

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Ashwagandha Withania somnifera dunal

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Bael Aegle marmelos

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Vamsha Bambusa arundinacea Willd.

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Barleria Barleria prionitis Linn.

See all herbs for inflammation on the Inflammation page.

▶ Classical Text References (3 sources)

Shotha (swelling)
Atisara (diarrhea)
Jwara (fever)

Source: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 3

f), shyonaka (Oroxylum indicum Vent), kashmari (Gmelina arborea), patala (Stereospermum suaveolens), shalaparni (Desmodium gangeticum DC), prishniparni (Uraria picta Desv), brihati (Solanum indicum Linn), kantakari (Solanum surattense Burm.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 13: Abdominal Diseases Treatment (Udara Chikitsa / उदरचिकित्सा)

Yavagu (rise gruel) and odana (rice) should be given along with cereal soup, or meat soup that are prepared by adding mild sour tasting drugs, small amount of ghee, pungent tasting drugs and panchamula (bilva (Aegle marmelos), agnimantha (Clerodendrum phlomidis), shyonaka (Oroxylum indicum), kashmari (Gmelina arborea) and patala (Stereospermum suaveolens).
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 13: Abdominal Diseases Treatment (Udara Chikitsa / उदरचिकित्सा)

Abdomen should be treated with parisheka (pouring medicated liquids on body parts) by using decoction prepared from vrishchikali (Tragia involucrata), vacha (Acorus calamus), kushtha (Saussurea lappa), bilva (Aegle marmelos), agnimantha (Clerodendrum phlomidis), shyonaka (Oroxylum indicum), kashmari (Gmelina arborea), patala (Stereospermum suaveolens), punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa), bhutika (Cymbopogon jvarancusha), nagara (Zingiber officinale) and dhanyaka (Coriandrum sativum).
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 13: Abdominal Diseases Treatment (Udara Chikitsa / उदरचिकित्सा)

Oil is prepared successively with each of the kshara of agnimantha (Clerodendrum phlomidis), shyonaka (Oroxylum indicum), palasha (Butea monosperma), stalk of tila (Sesamum indicum), bala (Sida cordifolia), kadali (Musa paradisiaca) and apamarga (Achyranthes aspera).
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 13: Abdominal Diseases Treatment (Udara Chikitsa / उदरचिकित्सा)

Shveta (Katabhi -Albizzia procera), vacha (Acorus calamus), ashvagandha (Withania somnifera), hingu (Ferula foetida), amrita (Tinospora cordifolia), kushtha (Saussurea lappa), saindhava (rock salt), lashuna (Allium sativum), sarshapa (Brassica campestris), pulp of kapittha (Feronia limonia), tuntuka (Oroxylum indicum), seeds of karanja (Pongamia pinnata), shunti (Zingiber officinale), pippali (Piper longum), maricha (Piper nigrum), flower of shirisha (Albizzia labbec), haridra (Curcuma longa), d
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 23: Poison Treatment (Visha Chikitsa / विषचिकित्सा)

Source: Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 13: Abdominal Diseases Treatment (Udara Chikitsa / उदरचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 23: Poison Treatment (Visha Chikitsa / विषचिकित्सा)

In all types of Atisara (diarrhea): the juice of leaves of large Babbula (Acacia nilotica), or the juice of bark of Shyonaka (Oroxylum indicum) and Kutaja (Holarrhena antidysenterica), eliminates all forms of diarrhea when consumed.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 1: Svarasadikalpana (Svarasa, Kalka, Kvatha, etc.)

Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 1: Svarasadikalpana (Svarasa, Kalka, Kvatha, etc.)