Saptaparna – Alstonia scholaris: Benefits, Usage in Ayurvedic Treatment

Alstonia scholaris / Saptaparna is a famous bitter-astringent tasting Ayurveda herb used in skin diseases, intestinal worm infestation etc. It is named so, because its leaf occurs in a bunch of 7 whorls (7 – 10 small leaflets forming a bunch).
Botanical Name – Alstonia scholaries R.Br.
Family – APOCYANACEAE (Kutaja Kula)

Vernacular Names

Hindi Name – Satouna, Chitvan, Chitavan
Telugu Name – Edakula Ponna, Edakulariti
English Name – Dita, Milkwood Pine, White cheesewood, Blackboard tree, Indian devil tree
Bengali Name – Chatim
Punjabi Name – Satouna
Marathi Name – Satvina, Satveena
Gujarati Name – Satvana, Saatavan
Kannada Name – Maddale
Tamil & Malayalam Name –Pala

Sanskrit synonyms

Vishala, Vishalatwak – its barks are widely spread and it is the used part of the plant.
Visamacchada – bark has uneven rough surface
Sharada – The plant flowers during Sharat Rutu (autumn))
Salmali Patraka – The leaves resemble to those of Shalmali (Bombax malabaricum),
Saptacchada – bark is the used part.
Suparnaka – leaf bunches form beautiful design.

Classical Categorization

Charaka –
Kusthaghna – group of herbs used in skin diseases
Udarda prashamana – group of herbs that are used allergic skin conditions and ring worm infestation
Kashaya Skandha – group of astringent tasting herbs
Tikta Skandha – group of herbs with bitter taste
Sushruta – Aragvadhadi, Lakshadi group of herbs.
Vagbhata – Aragvadhadi group of herbs.

Different varieties

Alstonia macrosperma is used as its substitute.

Distribution

It is naturally found in Sub- Himalayan tract, West Bengal, Bihar, Peninsular India and Andamans. It is also found in moderately dry places of Karnataka like Shimoga district.

Major Chemical Constituents

Ditamine, echitenine and echitamine are used as alternative to famous medicine – quinine.  Akuammidine (rhazine); picrinine; strictamine, tetrahydroalstonine; angustilobine B, 6,7-seco-6-norangustilobine B (losbanine, alschomine, isolschomine, alstonamine; echitamine, tubotaiwine, alstonamine scholaricine etc.
(Reference: Illustrated Dravyaguna VIjnana, Vol. II, by Dr JLN Shastry)

Medicinal properties

Rasa (taste) -Tikta (bitter) , Kashaya (astringent)
Guna (qualities)  -Laghu (lightness), Snigdha (unctuousness, oilyness)
Virya -Ushna – hot potency
Vipaka -Katu – undergoes pungent taste conversion after digestion.
Usually herbs with lightness quality have dryness (Example – Lodhra). The substances that are oily are usually heavy (hard to digest), example – sesame oil. But this is a rare herb having combination of oiliness and lightness.
Pharmacological action – Stimulant, Carminative, Stomachic, Expectorant, Febrifuge

Effect on Tridosha

It balances all the three doshas.

Part used, dosage

Part used – Stem bark, latex, flower
Dosage – bark decoction 20 – 80 ml based on disease and patient in divided doses in a day. Powder- 1- 1.5 g

Therapeutic uses

Therapeutic uses of Alstonia scholaris –
For heart – Hrudya – acts as a cardiac tonic, good for heart, useful to relieve cholesterol deposits inside blood pipes (arteries). It also helps to lower cholesterol.
It detoxifies and cleanses blood. Hence used in wide variety of skin diseases.
Deepana – improves digestion strength
Sara – promotes movement of content inside body channels,
Shulanut – relieves constipation, abdominal colic
Gulmanut – useful in abdominal tumor, bloating
Kruminut – useful in treating intestinal worms
Kushtam hanti – useful in skin diseases with secretions, allergic skin diseases
Vranahara – heals wound quickly
Asrahara – useful in bleeding disorders like bleeding hemorrhoids, menorrhagia
Shvasaghna – useful in asthma, COPD
It is used in the treatment of diabetes.
It increases breast milk production (lactation)
It is used in treating Vishamajwara – chronic recurrent fever.
After-delivery care – It is one of the ingredients in making Kashaya (water decoction) which is given to women after delivery. It boosts immunity and helps the new mother to avoid cold and fever.

Interaction with medicines, supplements

Can this be used while taking Homeopathic medicine?
Yes. This product does not react with homeopathic medicine.

Can this medicine be continued while taking supplements like multivitamin tablets, Omega 3 fatty acids etc?
Yes. Generally, this product goes well with most of the dietary supplements. However, if you are taking more than one product per day, please consult your doctor for an opinion.

With western medicines
Seek your doctor’s advice if you are taking this product along with other western (allopathic / modern) medicines. Some Ayurvedic herbs can interact with modern medicine.
If both Ayurvedic and allopathic medicines are advised together, then it is best to take Allopathic medicine first, wait for 30 minutes and then take the Ayurvedic medicine.

Research

Anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic activity of Saptaparna

Ayurvedic medicines

Ayurvedic medicine with Saptaparna ingredient –
Mahatiktam Kashayam – useful in sinusitis, non healing wounds
Aragwadhadi kashayam – useful in skin diseases
Maha Pacnhagavya Ghritham – useful in epilepsy, fever, piles, fistula etc.

Morphology

Tall tree, with bitter milky juice
Bark – Grey, Rough, Branches whorled
Leaves – 4- 7 whorl, dark green above and pale beneath, base is tapering, oblong lanceolate, obtuse
Inflorescence – Cymes
Flowers – Greenish white
Fruits – Follicle, cylindric, Pendulous in clusters
Seeds – flattened, with hairs at both ends, hairs are longer than the seed