VIBHITAKi

Sanskrit Name: : विभीतकी

निरुक्ति : बिभ्यति रोगा अस्मादिति ; अथवा - विगतं भीतं रोगभयमस्मादिति । (भा.नि.)

Vibhitaki : It maintains health by alleviating diseases.

Latin name: Terminalia belerica Roxb.

Family: Combretaceae

Gana/Varga:

Charaka	Jwarahara, Virechanopaga
Sushruta	Triphala, Mustadi
Bhavaprakasha nighantu	Haritakyadi varga 35-37
Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India Part I, Vol I	page 26
Dravyaguna Vijnana II (P.V.)	Chedana (Shleshmahara) page 239-241

Synonyms:

Based on Habitat
विन्ध्यजातः	विन्ध्यप्रदेशे बाहुल्येन जातः । (अ.)
Vindhyajata	It grows mostly in Vindya region.
Based on Swaroopa
वासन्तः		वसन्ते पुष्पितत्वात् । (ध.नि.)
Vasanta		Flowering is during Vasanta ritu.
कर्षफल		कर्षप्रमाणं फलमस्य । (भा.नि.)
Karshaphala (Bp. Ni.)		Fruits weighs 1 Karsha(10 gms).
अक्ष		अक्षति व्याप्नोति शरीरं स्ववीर्येणोति ; अथवा- अक्षमिन्द्रियं, तद्धितत्वादक्षः ; अथवा- अक्षः ध्यूतपाशकः, तदर्थं प्रयुज्यत इति ; श्रृयते, पुरा विभीतकस्य फलानि बीजानि वा ध्यूतपाशकत्वेन व्यवह्रियन्ते स्म ; अथवा - अक्षः कर्षः तत्परिमाणफलत्वादक्षः । (भा.नि.)
Aksha (Bp. Ni.)		In ancient times fruits were used as Dice. Or It is good for eyes.
कलिद्रुमः		कलेवृक्षः, ध्यूते प्रयुक्तत्वात्; ध्यूते कलिर्वसतीति प्रसिद्धिः । (भा.नि.)
Kalidruma (Bp. Ni.)		This was regarded as abode for Kali and Bhuta.
भूतवासः		भूताः वसन्त्यत्र, कलिद्रुमत्वेन भूतानां रक्षः पिशाचादीनामावासः । (भा.नि.)
Bhutavasa (Bp. Ni.)		This was regarded as abode for Kali and Bhuta.
तैलफलः		तैलयुक्तं फलं बीजमस्य । (रा.नि.)
Tailaphala		Seeds are oily.
Based on Karma
बहुवीर्यः		प्रभूतशक्तिमान् । (शो.नि.)
Bahuvirya		It has broad actions.
विभेदकः		विशेषण भिनत्ति रोगानिति । (आ.नि.)
Vibhedaka		It alleviates diseases.
संवर्तकः		संवृणोति रक्षति रोगेभ्य इति । (ध.नि.)
Samvartaka		It protects from diseases.

 

Vernacular names:

           

Hindi	Bahera, Baheda
Assami	Bhomora
Kannada	Tarekayi
Bengali	Bayada
Marathi	Behada
Gujarati	Bahedan
Telugu	Tani
Punjabi	Bahera
Tamil	Tanni
Malayalam	Tanni
Guajarati	Beheda
English	Belleric myrobalan

Morphology:

Habit: Large deciduous buttressed tree, thick brownish grey bark having shallow longitudinal fissures; Leaves: simple, alternate, long petioled, crowded about the extremities of the branches, broadly elliptic, margins entire; Inflorescence: axillary spikes longer than the petioles but shorter than the leaves, Flowers pale greenish yellow with an offensive odour;

 Fruits: ovoid grey drupes, obscurely 5-angled, narrowed into a very short stalk, fresh ripe fruits silvery or with whitish shiny pubescent surface; mature fruits grey or greyish brown with slightly wrinkled appearance; taste astringent. 

Distribution: Throughout India, in deciduous forests upto an elevation of 900m.

Types: NA

Guna-Karma:                      

Guna	Ruksha, Laghu; (Himasparsha Bp. Ni )
Rasa	Kashaya,
Vipaka	Madhura
Virya	Ushna
Prabhava	-
Karma
Doshaghnata	Kapha-Pittahara (P.V.-Tridoshahara, mainly Kaphahara) Kaphahara: Pertaining to Kashaya rasa and Ushna virya Pittahara: Pertaining to Kashaya rasa
Anyakarma	Kasahara, Bhedana, Netrahita, Keshya, Krumighna, Trushnanigrahana, Chardinigrahana,

Ardhapakwaphala: Rechana,

Pakwaphala: Grahi, Jwaraghna; Charaka mentioned Vibhitaka pacifies Doshas of Rasa, Rakta, Mamsa, Meda, Majja dhatus;

Prayoga: Kasa, Krumi, Vaiswarya, Shwasa, Jwara, Netraroga, Krumi

Vibhitaka majja : Kashaya, Laghu, Trushna, Chardi, KaphaVatahara and Madakari. (Bp. Ni.)

Chemical composition: Gallic acid, tannic acid and glycosides. Fruit contains Tannin, B-sitosterol, Gallic acid, Ellagic acid, ethyl gallate, Chebulic acid, mannitol, Glucose, galactose, fructose, ramminose etc. Bija majja also has yellow coloured fixed oil.

Prayojya Anga: Phala (Fruit)

Sangraha Kala: Fruits ripen towards November.

Amayika prayoga: Ardha pakwa phala- Virechaka; Pakkwa or Shushka phala- Grahi (Chunekar, P.V.)

Bahya:

1.     Granthivisarpa: Lepana of Phala tvak kalka is advised. (Cha.Chi11)

2.     Shotha: Lepana of Phala majja is advised. (Cha.Chi17)

Abhyantara:

1.     Pranavaha srotas: Kashaya rasa, Ushna virya makes Kaphashoshana and chedana.

Shvasa and Kasa: Vibhitaki Churna should be licked with Madhu. (A.Hru.Chi.3)

Kasa: Putapakita Vibhitaki Phala should be kept in mouth. (Chakradatta)

Prabala shvasa and Kasa: Vibhitaki Phala Churna should be licked with Madhu. (Chakradatta)

Pratishyaya, Kasa, Shwasa, Swarabhanga : Fruit is roasted and chewed;

2.     Annavaha srotas:

Atisara: Vibhitaki Phala masi churna mixed with Saindhava lavana should be given. (Vangasena)

3.     Mutravaha srotas: Ushna virya may crush(Bhedana) the calculus.

Ashmari: Vibhitaki Bija Churna should be licked with Madhu. (Su.)

4.     Daily intake of a seed is beneficial in Klaibya;

Matra: Churna : 3-6 gms.

Vishishta Yoga: Triphala churna, Lavangadi Vati;

Research :

1.   Antioxidant activity:T. belerica has been reported to possess potent antioxidant action . (esearchgate.net/publication/337050736_A_pharmacognostic_phytochemical_and_pharmacological_review_of_Terminalia_bellerica) 

2. Wound healing activity :T. belerica enhanced fibroblast function, improved production of glycosaminoglycan and deposition of collagen which is required for wound healing and may be useful as an adjuvant in wound healing process.( esearchgate.net/publication/337050736_A_pharmacognostic_phytochemical_and_pharmacological_review_of_Terminalia_bellerica) 

3. Antifertility activity: Terminalia bellerica bark were administered orally for 50 days to adult male rats. Biochemical estimation was done after dissecting and weighing epididymis and vas deferens. A decrease in the weight of accessory reproductive ducts was observed after treatment with Terminalia bellerica extract. It also showed an increase in total cholesterol content whereas a significant decreased in epididymal sperm count was observed. The results indicated the non-availability of androgens in rats treated with Terminalia bellerica bark.  (esearchgate.net/publication/337050736_A_pharmacognostic_phytochemical_and_pharmacological_review_of_Terminalia_bellerica)