Botanical Name: Quercus infectoria Oliv.
Family: Fagaceae
Introduction:
Gall on Quercus infectoria is called ‘mayaphalam’. The name mayaphal is a misnomer. Mayaphala is not actually a fruit but a cocoons of an insect made by using the juice of the tree, It is hollow from within. Name of the insect is ‘Adeleria gallae-tinctoriae’
Latin name: Quercus = Quer = fine. cues = tree (Celtic); infectoria = of the dyers, stained
Names in different Indian languages ( gall )
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English |
Oak gall, magin nut, dyer’s oak gall |
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Hindi |
Muphal |
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Kannada |
Macike |
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Malayalam |
Mayakku |
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Sanskrit |
Mayaphalam |
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Tamil |
Masikkai |
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Telugu |
Masikkai |
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Unani |
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Folk |
Synonyms
Mayaphal. Mayiphala, Chidraphala (small holes on the fruit). Mayika , Mayi.
Classification according to Charaka, Susrutha & Vagbhata
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Charaka |
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Susrutha |
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Vagbhata |
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Varieties & adulterants - (CV – controversy, AD – adulterants)
Varieties: There are four varieties - 1) Blue 2) Black 3) Green and 4) White.
The first three varieties are superior whereas the last variety is considered to be inferior
Morphology (plant)
This is a shrub with a greyish trunk.
Leaves - long, oblong, with dentate margins.
Flowers - unisexual.
Fruits - small, round, yellowish with a single seed. An insect called
Sinips galli tinctoria sucks the juice from its branches and makes a coccoon-like shelter for itself in which it lays its eggs. This is called mayaphal.
Distribution & Habitat
U.A.E.. Asia minor, Syria. Persia
Chemical constituents:
Mayaphal contains 50 to 70 % gallotannic acid and 3% tannic acid.
Properties: (gall)
Guna: laghu. ruksha:
Rasa: kashaya;
Vipaka: katu;
Virya: sheeta;
Karma -
Nerahita, vranahara, grahi, raktapitta hara
Antidote to antimony, aconite, datura, karaskara, blackening of hair
Srotogamitva:
Dosha: Kaphapittaghna.
Dhatu: Rakta, mansa, meda.
Mala: Hair, sweda, purisha. ‘ .
In case of poisoning; its decoction should be used after a proper stomach wash.
Indication:
Vrana, kasa, asmiri, sweta pradara, yonikantam, atisaram
Cough, fever, syphilis , tonsillitis , skin diseases
Part used:
gall
Dosage:
Powder 1-2 g
Internal uses: (gall)
External uses: It is used as a hair dye. Since it is an astringent and wound healing, it stops
bleeding from wounds. It is used for gargling in pharyngitis and stomatitis. Its powder is used for application in rectal prolapse. piles and wounds. Application of its powder is done in excessive sweating.
Internal uses: It is strong constipative (also causes vomiting in excess dose). It is useful indiarrhoea (colonic), dysentery, bleeding piles, bleeding diathesis, cough, polyuria, diabetes, pyuria and leucorrhoea. Its vaginal suppository is used in leucorrhoea. In case of poison.ong bystrychnine, dhattura, aconite, morphine or antimony, its decoction is given repeatiaJly in large doses after a proper stomach wash.
Descriptions on Ayurveda books / Nighandu:
