Karanja /Millettia pinnata is a species of tree in the pea family, Fabaceae, native to eastern and tropical Asia, Australia, and Pacific islands. It is often known by the synonym Pongamia pinnata. Its common names include Indian beech and Pongame oiltree.[rx][rx]
Millettia pinnata is a legume tree that grows to about 15–25 m (50–80 ft) in height with a large canopy that spreads equally wide. It may be deciduous for short periods. It has a straight or crooked trunk, 50–80 cm (20–30 in) in diameter, with grey-brown bark, which is smooth or vertically fissured. Branches are glabrous with pale stipulate scars. The imparipinnate leaves of the tree alternate and are short-stalked, rounded, or cuneate at the base, ovate or oblong along the length, obtuse-acuminate at the apex, and not toothed on the edges. They are a soft, shiny burgundy when young, and mature to a glossy, deep green as the season progresses, with prominent veins underneath.[rx]
| Karanja Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Karanja |
| Scientific Name: | Millettia pinnata |
| Origin | Tropical and temperate Asia including parts of the Indian subcontinent, China, Japan, Malaysia, Australia and Pacific islands |
| Colors | Brownish-red |
| Shapes | Flattened, transversely elliptical, 1.5-2.5 centimeters (0.59–0.98 in) long |
Karanja is a tree or shrub which is broadly distributed from India through central and south-eastern Asia, northern Australia, and Indonesia. It stands in a wide range of soils including saline soils. The plant occurs naturally in lowland forests on limestone and rocky outcrops on the coast. It is a medium-sized fast-growing tree growing 15 to 25 meters tall with drooping or spreading branching habit and broad crown. The bark is grey-brown or grey and smooth or with faint vertical fissures. Leaves are hairless and pinkish-red when young that turns to glossy green above and dull green with prominent veins below when matured. Flowers are 2-4 clusters, pea-shaped, short-stalked, and about 15-18 mm long. The calyx is truncate (4-5 mm long), campanulate and finely pubescent. Corolla is white-pink and purple inside with brownish vein on the outside and five toothed. Pods are flattened, smooth, oblique-oblong to ellipsoid, 3–8 cm x 2–3.5 cm x 1–1.5 cm. Pods consist of 1 to 2 brown, thick-walled, leathery to sub woody seeds. Seeds are elliptical or compressed with a brittle coat (1.5–2.5 cm x 1.2–2 cm x 0.8 cm), dark brown and oily.
Plant description
The tree is medium-sized, evergreen, or briefly deciduous usually 8 meters tall but reaches 15 to 25 meters. The trunk is crooked or straight about 50 cm in diameter which is covered with grey-greyish brown bark usually smooth or vertically fissured. It has deep and thick taproot having several secondary lateral roots. Branches are drooping or spreading and form a broad hemispherical crown of dark green leaves. Branchlets are hairless with pale stipule scars. Leaves are alternately arranged along the stems. Leaves are pinnately compound, alternate, and consist of 5-7 leaflets that are glabrous and borne in 2 or 3 pairs and a single terminal one on slender stalks. Leaflets are ovate-elliptical, pointed at the tip and about 5-10 cm long and 4-6 cm wide. An inflorescence is 6-27 cm long raceme of papilionaceous and fragrant flowers. Flowers are pink white, lavender in color, pubescent, and about 15-18 mm long. Flowers are followed by fruits. Fruits are elliptical pods about 3-6 cm long x 2-3 cm broad. Pods contain 1 to 2 seeds that resemble beans. Seeds measure 1.5-2.5 cm long x 1.2-2.0 cm wide and are dark brown.
Traditional uses
- The plant is useful for hemorrhoids, dyspepsia, skin diseases, hemorrhoids, bronchitis, rheumatism, herpes, cough, sores, spleen enlargement, diabetes, ulcers, and sores.
- The juice extracted from roots is used to clean teeth.
- Use it externally as a liniment for rubbing on skin diseases and rheumatic joints.
- Seed powder is used as an expectorant for treating bronchitis and whooping cough.
- Leaves infusion is used to provide relief from rheumatism.
- Apply the crushed leaves as a poultice for treating parasitic skin diseases and provide relief from hemorrhoids.
- It is useful in the detoxifying vagina and treating uterine disorders.
- Use it for treating piles or hemorrhoids.
- It provides relief from bloating, stomach ailments, and flatulence.
- It provides relief from worm infestation and speeds up the healing of wounds.
- Leaves are used to treat diarrhea, inflammation, and constipation.
- Traditionally it has been used for treating fever, scorpion bites, and poisoning.
- It is used to treat syphilis and gout.
Medicinal applications
- Indigestion
Karanja is helpful in treating indigestion, the state of incomplete process of digestion. It is caused due to aggravated Kapha which causes weak digestive fire. This herb helps to promote digestive fire due to its hot potency and supports food digestion.
Tips:
Take ¼ to ½ teaspoon of Karanja powder. Take it after meals twice a day for managing indigestion.
- Appetite loss
Karanja helps to promote appetite when added to the diet. Loss of appetite is caused due to weak digestion. It is due to the aggravation of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha doshas that leads to incomplete food digestion. This results in insufficient secretion of gastric juice in the stomach leading to loss of appetite. It stimulates digestion and promotes appetite due to its appetizing properties.
Tips:
Take ¼ to ½ teaspoon of Karanja powder. Take it after meals to improve appetite twice a day.
- Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is caused due to aggravation of Vata dosha. It causes swelling, pain, and difficulty in moving. Karanja possesses Vata balancing property and provides relief from symptoms of osteoarthritis such as pain and swelling in joints.
Tips:
Take ¼ to ½ teaspoon of Karaja powder. After meals take it twice a day to provide relief from osteoarthritis symptoms.
- Cough and cold
Karanja is helpful in managing cough and cold especially whooping cough which is due to Kapha balancing property. It helps to melt thick mucus due to hot potency. It also eliminates mucus from the lungs and provides relief from cough.
Tips:
Take ¼ to ½ teaspoon of Karanja powder mixed with honey twice a day after meals.
- Skin disorders
Karanja oil is used for treating skin disorders such as abscesses, boils, and eczema with its antiseptic and healing properties.
Tips:
Apply 3-5 drops of Karanja oil mixed with coconut oil 1 to 2 times a day on the affected area. Repeat this till one get relief from symptoms of skin disorders.
- Treat piles
Karanja oil helps to manage swelling and inflammation of pile mass when applied externally which is due to its healing properties.
Tips:
Apply the mixture of Karanja oil (3-5 drops) and coconut oil to the pile mass once or twice a day after clearing the bowel.
- Arthritis
Karanja oil helps to lower pain and also improves healing on rheumatic arthritis and psoriatic arthritis when externally applied due to its hot and healing potency.
- Pain in joints
Apply Karanja oil to the affected area for lowering bone and joint pain. Due to its Vata balancing property, it helps to lower joint pain.
Tips:
Massage with 3-5 drops of Karanja oil mixed with Sesame oil. Repeat this to get complete relief.
- Ulcer
The root juice helps to heal sinus ulcers due to its healing property.
Tips:
Massage with the mixture of 3-5 drops of Karanja oil with coconut oil. Repeat this for quick healing.
- Heal wounds
Karanja oil helps to heal wounds quickly, lowers swelling, and provides normal skin texture. It is helpful for skin problems such as cuts due to its healing property.
Tips:
Apply the mixture of 3-5 drops of Karanja oil and coconut oil. Massage with this mixture on the affected area.
Recommended dosage
- Karanja powder: ¼-½ teaspoon twice a day
- Karanja capsule: 1-2 capsules twice a day
References
