Bhallatak 

(Holy Marking Nut)

Department of Dravyaguna
Uttaranchal Medical College of Ayurveda & Research

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Basic Details

• Botanical Name: Semecarpus anacardium

• Family: Anacardiaceae

• Synonyms: Bhallataka, Marking Nut, Bhalaya, Arushkara, Agnik, Agnimukh

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Morphological Description

Habit:
A medium-sized deciduous tree growing up to 40 ft in height.

Bark

• Rough

• Grayish-brown

• Vertical fissures present

Leaves

• Simple

• Alternate

• Oblong-lanceolate

• Size: 6–30 inches long and 5–12 inches wide

• Leathery texture

Flowers

• Small

• Greenish-yellow

• Arranged in terminal panicles

• Flowering time: February – April

Fruits

• Heart-shaped drupe

• About 1 inch long

• Green → turns black when ripe

• Contains a single seed

• Enveloped in corrosive juice

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Rasa Panchaka

• Rasa: Katu, Tikta, Kashaya

• Guna: Snigdha, Laghu

• Virya: Ushna

• Vipaka: Madhura

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Pharmacological Properties (Karma)

• Vata-Kaphashamaka

• Pittavardhaka

• Deepana

• Bhedana (purgative)

• Krimighna

• Shothahara

• Vranaropaka

• Raktashodhaka

• Kushtaghna

Modern Actions

• Antioxidant

• Antimicrobial

• Anticancer

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Therapeutic Uses

• Arthritis

• Gout

• Skin diseases (eczema, psoriasis, leprosy)

• Hemorrhoids

• Asthma & bronchitis

• Digestive disorders

• Blood disorders

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Useful Parts

• Fruit

• Seed oil

• Leaves

• Bark

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Dose

• Decoction: 10–20 ml

• Powder: 1–2 g

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Important Formulations

• Bhallataka Ghrita

• Bhallataka Taila

• Bhallataka Rasayana