Botanical Name: Dalbergia sissoo Roxb ex DC.

Family: Papilionaceae; Fabaceae

 

 

 

 Introduction:

Latin name: Dalbergia Mr. Nicholas Dalberg; sissoo = from the Indian name shisav, or D.Iatifolia.

 

Names in different Indian languages

 

English

Sissoo, South Indian

Redwood, Sissoo

Hindi

Sisam, sisu

Kannada

Agaru, biridi

Malayalam

Irupul, sisam

Sanskrit

Shimshapaa

Tamil

Irupoolai

Telugu

Errasissu, simsupa

Unani

Seesham

Folk

 

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Shimshapaa, Krishnashimshapaa, Picchilaa

 

Classification according to Charaka, Susrutha & Vagbhata

 

Charaka

 

Susrutha

 

Vagbhata

 

 

          
        

  

 

Varieties & adulterants - (CV – controversy, AD – adulterants) 

 

 

 


Morphology

The tree grows to 15 - 20 mtrs. in height. Its synonyms like krishnasaraand shyamla are suggestive of its appearance. It is also known as shisham. shishu. sisam, rosewood etc. Trunk- sturdy and round. Bark is fissured. Core is thick, hard and blackish in colour (good for making furniture). Branches tender, pointing downwards. Stalk of leaf - long, wavy with 3.5 leaflets flowers small. yellowish or whitish. Legume- thin with a single seed. On chewing a thin branch, the colour changes from white to yellow and finally it becomes red.

Varieties: 1) Krishnasara and 2) Kapilsara

 


Distribution & Habitat

throughout India

 

Chemical constituents:

 Sissotrin, di-Me-tectorigenin,palmitic, stearic , oleic, linolenic , linoleic

 

Properties:

Guna: laghu. ruksha:

Rasa: kashaya. Katu, Tikta;

Vipãka:katu.

 Virya: Usna.

 

Karma -

Dushtavrana hara, balyam, ruchyam, varnyam

carminative, digestive,astingent,cooling,diuretic, antimicrobial, antifungal, anthelmintic,

Srotogamitva:

Dosha: Tridoshashamak.

Dhatu: Rakta (leaves - hemostat, trunk shodhak), meda (diabetes), rasa (dysmenorrhoea).

Mala: Mutra.

Organ: Uterus (abortifacient), bastigami.

 

 

 Indication:

Sopham, vrana, kusta, daha, medhas, vasti ruja

Ulcers, wounds, fever, skin disease, cough, piles, leucorrhoea

 

Part used:

  Bark, heartwood, leaves, root

 

Dosage: 

Leaf juice 10-15 ml

Powder 2-4 g

Decoction 50-100 ml

 

 

 

Uses: Since it pacifies all the three doshas. it is used in dermatoses, as an anthelmintic and a wound cleanser. Root. constipative. Leaves, appetizer, antimenorrhagic. Trunk - blood purifier, anti-inflammatory and is useful in dysmenorrhoea and menstrual disorders. Decoction o the leaves is used in burning sensation, while in fever, decoction of the trunk is used

 

 

Descriptions on  Ayurveda books / Nighandu:

  

 

Medicinal plants of India ; Ayurveda

Encyclopedia of Indian Medicinal Plants/Herbs mainly using in Ayurveda with good quality pictures and information like therapeutic usage of Medicinal Plants, cultivation, morphology, habitat, flower characters, Chemical content, parts used, research works etc.

medicinal plants