Chirata (Swertia chirata): Ayurvedic Medicinal Properties, Uses and Complete Information
🌱 Names of the Plant
• Marathi name: Chirayat, Bitter Chirayat
• Hindi name: Chirayata, Kadwa Chirayata
• English name: Chirata, Indian Gentian
• Sanskrit name: Kiratatikta, Bhunimba
• Scientific name: Swertia chirata
• Family: Gentianaceae
Introduction of the Chirata Plant
• Chirata is an extremely bitter-tasting medicinal plant and is considered very important in Ayurveda.
• This plant is mainly used for fever, digestive disorders, blood impurities, and liver disorders.
• Chirata is mentioned in ancient Ayurvedic texts.
Type of Plant
• Medicinal herb
• Annual plant
Height
• The plant generally grows to a moderate height
Leaves
• Leaves grow opposite to each other and are elongated, pointed, and green in color.
• They are extremely bitter in taste and highly useful for medicinal purposes.
Flowers
• Small greenish-yellow flowers grow in clusters.
• These flowers also possess medicinal properties.
Stem
• The stem is straight, delicate, and green to light brown in color.
Seeds
• Seeds are small and brown in color.
• New plants are grown from these seeds.
🌍 Distribution
• India – Himalayan regions
• Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh
• Nepal and Bhutan
• Found at high-altitude mountainous regions
⚕️ Ayurvedic Properties
• Taste: Bitter
• Qualities: Light and dry
• Potency: Cooling
• Post-digestive effect: Pungent
• Effect on doshas: Pacifies pitta and kapha
Medicinal Uses of Chirata
• Stomach and intestinal disorders
– Useful in intestinal worms, digestive disturbances, and loose motions.
– Helps destroy intestinal parasites and improves digestion when used regularly.
– Beneficial in stomach pain and diarrhea when taken on an empty stomach.
• Skin disorders
– Useful in skin diseases caused by blood impurities such as itching, rashes, and patches.
– Applying crushed leaves externally helps reduce skin problems.
– Drinking Chirata decoction supports internal purification.
– A combination of Chirata, Guduchi, and Kutki bark taken as a decoction helps reduce symptoms.
• Eye health
– Applying a paste of Chirata leaves on the eyes helps improve eyesight.
– Using moistened dried paste also supports visual strength.
• Liver disorders
– Helpful in detoxifying the liver and improving liver function.
– Taking leaf juice with honey after cooling supports liver cleansing.
– Regular intake of Chirata decoction helps reduce abnormal growths and lumps.
– Nepali Chirata is considered especially effective for such conditions.
• Immunity
– Consumption of Chirata helps enhance the body’s immune strength.
• Fever and infectious diseases
– Useful in fever, body aches, limb pain, excess body heat, kidney infection, fatigue, laziness, cough disorders, malaria, and other fevers.
– Intake supports recovery in chronic and infectious fevers.
– It is believed that this medicine was identified by homeopathy expert Kalikumar Bhattacharya.
• Fever-causing germs
– Chirata helps destroy bacteria responsible for fever.
– Taking Chirata powder with honey reduces fever and helps eliminate pathogens.
• Acidity and vomiting
– Useful in acidity, vomiting, and dry belching by reducing excess pitta.
• Goiter and body swellings
– Regular use of Chirata decoction or powder is beneficial in swellings and gland-related disorders.
• Diabetes
– Helps control blood sugar levels and supports insulin production.
• Anemia
– Useful in reducing weakness, pallor, and symptoms caused by low blood levels.
Mental Stress
• Chirata helps in reducing mental stress and supports mental calmness.
• In cases of excessive menstrual bleeding or inflammation of the uterus, intake of Chirata decoction is beneficial.
Bleeding Disorders
• In conditions such as nosebleeds or bleeding through stool, Chirata powder or juice boiled in water and prepared as a decoction is useful.
• After cooling, adding honey or sugar candy and consuming it helps reduce bleeding.
Intestinal Wounds and Ulcers
• If there are wounds in the large intestine or ulcers in the stomach, consuming Chirata along with licorice helps destroy harmful microbes and supports healing of wounds.
Vata Disorder and Joint Pain
• In vata imbalance and joint pain, Chirata decoction is considered beneficial.
• A powder prepared by mixing Chirata, Haritaki, Bibhitaki, and Amla in equal proportion is highly beneficial for overall health when taken regularly.
Methods of Taking Chirata
Preparation of Chirata Decoction
• Useful for fever, digestive disorders, diabetes, skin diseases, liver disorders, and improving immunity.
• Add Chirata powder or leaves to water and boil until the quantity is reduced.
• Strain and consume when lukewarm or cool.
• Best taken on an empty stomach in the morning or some time after meals.
Consumption of Chirata Powder
• Beneficial in fever, stomach pain, blood purification, acidity, and vata disorders.
• The powder may be licked with honey or taken with lukewarm water.
• Once daily intake is generally sufficient.
Soaked Chirata Water
• Helpful in diarrhea, stomach pain, and intestinal disorders.
• Soak Chirata powder in water overnight.
• Strain and drink in the morning on an empty stomach.
Consumption of Chirata Juice
• Useful for liver detoxification, blood purification, and skin diseases.
• Fresh leaves are crushed to extract juice and lightly boiled.
• After cooling, mix with honey and consume.
Use of Chirata Mother Tincture
• Helpful in chronic fever, malaria, dengue, and typhoid.
• Taken by mixing in lukewarm water.
External Use for Skin Diseases
• Beneficial for itching, rashes, eruptions, patches, and psoriasis.
• Prepare a paste from fresh leaves and apply to the affected area.
• Can be applied once or twice daily.
Use for Eyes
• Prepare a mild paste by crushing the leaves.
• Apply gently over closed eyes from the outside.
• Do not apply directly inside the eyes.
Use as a Combined Herbal Powder
• Mix Chirata, Haritaki, Bibhitaki, and Amla in equal proportion and prepare a powder.
• Consume daily with lukewarm water for health enhancement.
⚠️ Important Note
• Chirata is extremely bitter and potent, so it should not be consumed in excessive quantity.
• Pregnant women and very weak individuals should consume it only after consulting a physician.
• Continuous long-term use should be avoided.
• People with low blood sugar levels should avoid consuming Chirata or take it only after medical advice.
Chirata (Swertia chirata): Ayurvedic Medicinal Properties, Uses and Complete Information
