Wrightia Tictoria is also known as Pala indigo Plant or dyers’s oleander . It is widely available in India, Southeast Asia and Australia. It needs mostly dry and little moistness to grow. Texts of Ayurveda recognize this plant by name “Shweta Kutaja”.

This plant is small sized tree or large shrub which grows from 4 meters to 14 meters height. The leaves are long and are oppositely arranged. White coloured flowers bloom between March and June. The seeds of this plant are also known as Indrayava.

Texts of Ayurveda explain the properties of Wrightia Tinctoria or Shweta Kutaja as follows.

It is light (laghu) to digest and absorbs moistness (rooksha) while getting digested. It has bitter taste (tikta rasa) mixed with astringent taste (Kashaya rasa). This herb has cold potency (sheeta veerya). Usually the bark and seeds of this plant are used in ayurvedic preparations.

Medicinal Uses of Wrightia Tinctoria-Shweta Kutaja

Healing of Skin diseases: Shweta kutaja when applied externally helps to heal stubborn wounds. It stimulates the growth of granulation tissue and hastens the healing process. Decoction and oil of this herb is useful in healing psoriasis, (Check Psoriban ayurvedic herbal Cream for psoriasis), acne and pimples.  Boil 2-3 leaves of this plant in a glass of water to reduce it to ½ glass. This water can be splashed on face to get rid of oiliness, acne and pimple. Same decoction can be used to wash wounds.

In Diabetes: Various researches have shown that the extract of this herb has anti-diabetic properties. This herb is helpful for persons who are obese and also diabetic.  (Check our Obese Vajikarana Therapy and Diabetes Vajikarana Therapy).

Stubborn Dandruff: This herb is usually added as an ingredient in herbal shampoo. Since this plant heals the skin lesions, it helps to heal dandruff or flaky scalp. Boil 4-5 leaves of Wrightia Tinctoria in 4 glasses of water to reduce it to 2 glasses. Wash your scalp with this water to get rid of dandruff.

Troublesome Digestive system: Wrightia Tinctoria is very effective in problems of digestive system. It is very effective in ulcerative colitis, IBS, bacillary dysentery and diarrhoea. This ayurvedic herb helps in bleeding piles or haemorrhoids.  Shweta Kutaja also helps in viral enteritis and intestinal parasites. A decoction made from bark and leaves of this herb can be used in above mentioned conditions. The dosage is 50 to 100 ml per day.

Blood Purification: This herb purifies blood and helps in treatment of allergic rashes and Gout. Shweta kutaja is very useful in bringing down the blood uric acid level which is the main cause for Gout.

In fever: The decoction of this herb helps to bring down malarial fever.

Weight Loss: Due to its moistness absorbing properties this herb is used to treat obesity. It helps to scrape of stubborn fat. (Check NILOBESE AYURVEDIC HERBAL WEIGHT LOSS TEA and NILOBESE AYUVEDIC HERBAL CAPSULES FOR WEIGHT LOSS).

In Herpes : Fruit and seeds of Shweta kutaja is used in treatment of herpes (both genital herpes and oral herpes).