Ark
(Crown Flower)
Department of Dravyaguna
Uttaranchal Medical College of Ayurveda & Research
Botanical Details
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Botanical Name: Calotropis procera
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Family: Asclepiadaceae
- Synonyms: Ark, Madar, Toolphal, Ksheerparna, Vikirna, Aasphots
Morphological Description
Habit:
A perennial shrub growing up to 2.5 meters in height with many branches and sub-branches.
Bark
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Furrowed
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Yellowish-white
Leaves
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Simple
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Opposite
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Ovate
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Cordate at base
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Size: 4–6 inches long, 2–3 inches wide
Flowers
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Fragrant
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Arranged in clusters
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White to lavender in colour
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Five-pointed petals with a small crown
Fruit
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Follicle
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Thick, fleshy, green
Seeds
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Numerous
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Broadly ovate
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Brown
Rasa Panchaka
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Rasa: Katu, Tikta
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Guna: Laghu, Ruksha, Tikshna
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Virya: Ushna
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Vipaka: Katu
Pharmacological Properties (Karma)
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Kapha-Vatashamaka
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Vedanasthapana
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Shothahara
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Vranashodhana
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Vamaka
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Gulmahara
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Deepana
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Swedajanana
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Kushtaghna
Therapeutic Uses
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Kapha-Pitta disorders – flowers
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Karnashoola & deafness – Ark oil
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Shodhana & Ropana – leaf powder
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Ajeerna, constipation, Gulma – root bark powder
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Kapha-Vata diseases – root bark with ksheera
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Jeerna & Vishama Jwara – root bark
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Kasa & Shwasa – root and flowers
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Visha (poisoning) – root juice with black pepper
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Mentioned in cancer management (traditional reference)
Useful Parts
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Root bark
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Flowers
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Leaves
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Latex (Ksheera)
Dose
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Root bark powder: 0.5 – 1 g
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Flower powder: 1 – 2 g
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Ark ksheera: 0.25 – 0.75 g
Important Formulations
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Ark Lavan
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Ark Oil
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Arkeshwar
