Michelia champaca Uses, Research, Side Effects

Michelia champaca or Champak is a famous fragrant flowering plant. Its flowers and stem bark are useful in diabetes, quick wound healing, cardiac disorders, gout, dysuria and more. 

Botanical name- Michelia champaca Linn
Family- Mangnoliaceae

Vernacular names

Names in different languages: 
English name- Golden champa, Champak
Hindi name- Champa
Kannada name – Sampige
Telugu name- Sampangi
Tamil name- Sembugam, Shenbagam
Malayalam name – Chenbagam
Bengali name – Sorno champa

Sanskrit Synonyms

Champeya, Champaka, Hemapushpa, Kanchana, Shat Pada,  Latika, Phali, Gandhaphali, Gandhaphala, Deepapushpa, Sthirapushpa, Peetapushpa, Hemahva

Classical categorisation

Kaiyadeva Nighantu – Oshadhi Vargha, Sarvaushadhika Varga, Sugandhamalaka Varga
Sodala Nighantu, Dhanvantari Nighantu – Amradi Varga
Bhavaprakasha – Pushpavarga
Raja Nighantu – Karaveeradi Varga

Major chemical constituents

Stem bark – Iiriodenine, Macheline, Lanuginosine
Leaves – Polyisoprenoid, B- sitosterol, Liridenine
Roots- Champakin, Liriodenine, Micheliolide
Essential oil- (from flowers) Champacene, Linalool
(Reference: Illustrated Dravyaguna VIjnana, Vol. II, by Dr JLN Shastry)

Varieties

Acc. to Raja Nighantu – 2 types
Champaka
Ksudra champaka

Acc. to Saligrama Nighantu – 5 types
Sweta Champaka
Naga champaka
Sultana champaka
Nila Champaka
Bhumi champaka

Part used, dosage

Part used:
flower (Pushpa), steam bark and root bark
Dosage:
Powder 3-6 g ; bark decoction 50-100 ml.

Medicinal qualities

Champaka – medicinal qualities: 
Guna (qualities) – Laghu (lightness), Rooksha (Dryness)
Rasa (taste) – Tikta (Bitter), Katu (pungent), Kashaya (Astringent)
Vipaka – Katu – Undergoes pungent taste conversion after digestion.
Veerya – Sheeta – It is a coolant
Effect on Tridosha: It balances all the Three Doshas, especially Kapha.
Pharmacological action – Purgative, Emmenagogue, Stimulant, Carminative

Sanskrit verse

Michelia champaca is indicated in
Raktapitta –Bleeding disorders such as nasal bleeding, heavy periods, etc
Mutrakrichra –Dysuria, urinary retention
Visha – Toxic conditions, poisoning
Krumi – worm infestation
Hrudya – acts as cardiac tonic, congenial for heart
Vatasra – Gout
Daha – Burning sensation
Vrana – Ulcers, wounds
Flower buds are used in treating diabetes

It is also used as purgative, treatment of inflammation, amenorrhoea, cough, dyspepsia.

Research

Antidiabetic activity of Flower buds – The ethanolic extract of Michelia champaca exhibited significant antihyperglycemic activity but did not produce hypoglycemia in fasted normal rats.
Phytochemical studies of stem bark – reveals presence of triterpinoids, steroids, fatty acid and absence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, Glycosides, Resins, Saponins and tanins.
Characterization of Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Anticancer of seed and flower extracts.

Side effects

There are no known side effects with this herb.
Can be used in children and during lactation.
Seek medical advice during pregnancy.

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.

Ayurvedic medicines

Ayurvedic medicines with Champaka as ingredient:
Baladhatryadi Thailam – Oil, used in headache, eye disorders, burning sensation in eyes, head, gout arthritis.
Madana Kameswari Lehyam – Used as aphrodisiac tonic
Maharajaprasarini Thailam – Used in neurological problems

Morphology

Medium sized tree with grey or bown black bark
Leaf – Simple, alternate, oblong lanceolate, glabrous above
Flower – Yellow to Orange, fragrant
Fruit – Capsule
Seeds – Brown rounded on the back with pink fleshy aril
Part used – Bark, Flower