Support NLAM   Find NLAM on Facebook  

Chitrak

ABOUT

The classical Ayurveda plant Chitrak is co-related to the genus Plumbago botanically. Raj Nighantu has described two species of Chitrak; Shwet Chitrak (bearing white flowers)and Rakt Chitrak(bearing red flowers). Theses twoa varieties are highly discussed. A scan of Ayurveda literature and certain ethnomedicinal works refer to a third variety Nil-chitrak(bearing blue flowers). This variety is termed as rare and highly medicinal. Many scholars co-relate the taxon Plumbago auriculata as Nil-chitrak. The information is arguable and Nil-Chitrak requires further investigation with respect to botanical identity.(This abstract is borrowed from the research thesis by Dr. Sumit Ashok Kesarkar and is copyright protected)