Bakuchi belongs to a leguminous family, and it is an erect, annual herb that grows up to 100 cm tall. Bakuchi plant is branched, and its stem and branches are covered with white hairs. The leaves of Bakuchi plants are 7 cm long, rounded, petiolate with toothed margins having black colored glandular dots.

The seeds of Bakuchi are surrounded by oily pericarp, which has medicinal importance due to its psoralein content. Bakuchi seeds are kidney-shaped, with a bitter taste and an unpleasant odor. Bakuchi plant has its reputation due to the medicinal properties, and it is used thousands of years as per Ayurveda. For skin treatment, the Bakuchi oil is very effective. Bakuchi oil has an anti-inflammatory property.

Therefore the mixture of coconut oil with Bakuchi oil, when applied to the skin helps to reduce the inflammatory reactions in the skin. Bakuchi is a natural remedy for treating Vitiligo because of its Rasayana and Kusthagana properties that helps in shrinking the white patches on the skin.

Sources of Bakuchi

Bakuchi needs a humid environment for its growth. Therefore it is grown throughout India. The humid climate is mainly found in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and few districts of Rajasthan. It is also grown in other regions of the country such as Karnataka, Deccan, a valley in Bihar, Bundelkhand, Oudh, Dehra Dun, Himalayas, Bengal, and Bombay. Other than India, Bakuchi is also grown in other countries like Southern Africa and China.

Essential chemical composition of Bakuchi 

Bakuchi seed contains coumarin, volatile oil, flavones, phenols, lipids, and stigmasteroids. The volatile compounds present in Bakuchi oil are limonene, terpin-4-ol, β – caryophyllene, linalool, and geranyl acetate. The essential medicinal components of bakuchi oil are psoralen, psoralidin, isopsoralen, isopsoralidin, bavacoumestan A, corylidin, and bavacoumestan. Bakuchiol is a component present in seed oil. The fatty acids of Bakuchi are composed of palmitic, linoleic, and oleic acid with small fractions of lignoceric, stearic, and linolenic acids.

Other Names for Bakuchi

• In Sanskrit, it is known as Bakuchi, Bvalguja, Chanderprabha.
• In Hindi, it is known as Babchi, Bavanchiyan, Bakuci, Bemchi.
• In Marathi, it is known as Bavchi.
• In English, it is known as Bakuchi
• In Kannada, it is known as Bavachige, Bavanchi.
• In Tamil, it is known as Karpokarishi, Karpokarisi.
• In Telugu, it is known as Bavanchalu.
• In Malayalam, it is known as Karkokil.
• In Bengali, it is known as Bavachi, Latakasturi, Kakuch, Bakuchi.

Medicinal benefits of Bakuchi

Bakuchi and Vitiligo

Bakuchi extracts have medicinal properties such as Rasayana and Kusthaghna properties. These properties of Bakuchi helps in the shrinking of white patches and helps to cover this area with darker areas slowly.

Bakuchi and skin disease

Bakuchi extract has blood purifier properties known as Raktashodaka that helps in treating skin problems like ringworm, eczema, dermatosis, itching of eruptions, and itching of red papules.

Bakuchi and Indigestion

Consumption of Bakuchi helps to improve digestion to promote digestive fire further to digest food faster. Bakuchi extract is known to possess hot potency.

Bakuchi and Cough

Bakuchi has Kapha balancing and Ushna Virya properties; therefore, it is beneficial to control asthma, bronchitis, and cough.

Bakuchi and Wound

Bakuchi has Ropan properties that help in the quick healing of wounds after its application on affected areas. The Ropan property of Bakuchi helps in accelerating the wound healing process.

Bakuchi and Hair loss

Bakuchi seed powder has Keshya property, and this helps in the removal of dandruff when the paste prepared from this powder applied to the scalp. The powder of Bakuchi also helps in enhancing the growth of hair.

Other health benefits of Bakuchi

• Bakuchi paste helps in reducing the boil and skin problems because of its healing property.
• The mixture prepared from Bakuchi powder and honey helps prevent pigmentation because of immunomodulatory activity.
• Consumption of the mixture prepared from Bakuchi powder and honey because of its antiviral activity helps manage respiratory diseases.
• Bakuchi extracts contain several bioactive components. They possess a potent antioxidant potential that helps fight free radicals, which helps manage liver injury by preventing hepatic cell damage.
• Bakuchi is a pharmacologically studied herb that has chemoprotective, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Bakuchi is also known as “Kushtanashini” this is because it has leprosy destroying properties.
• The extract of Bakuchi is used in the treatment of leukoderma.
• The furanocoumarins, which are bioactive mixtures in Bakuchi, secrets the psoralens that’s help to promote pigmentation.
• The powder of Bakuchi is used in the preparation of paste and skin ointment that is used internally for treating leprosy and leukoderma.
• Bakuchi oil contains Bakuchiol which has the antimicrobial property that helps to fight against streptococci.
• The decoction prepared using seed powder of Bakuchi has the detoxifying property that helps reduce pain and poison effect during scorpion-sting and snake bite.
• Bakuchi extract has antitumor, antidepressant, and antihyperglycemic properties that help in fighting several diseased conditions.
• The seed powder and its extracts are anthelminthic, diuretic, laxative, and wound healing.
• Bakuchi supplements are effective against men’s menstruation disorder, impotence, and uterine hemorrhage.
• The supplements of Bakuchi are helpful for the treatment of premature ejaculation and spermatorrhea.
• The roots of Bakuchi are beneficial for treating teeth problems.
• For treating problems like osteoporosis and bone fractures, Bakuchi extracts are beneficial as it helps to promote bone calcification.
• The ethanol extracts of Bakuchi is used as an additive in processed foods such as pickle for food preservation in Japan.

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Bakuchi products and their recommended dosages

The ayurvedic dosage of Bakuchi varies according to its variants. Different forms of Bakuchi products

Side effects and Precautions While Using Bakuchi

• The consumption of the Non-purified form of Bakuchi has many side effects such as severe vomiting and nausea.
• It is recommended not to apply the concentrated Bakuchi oil directly on the skin as it may lead to rashes, significant infections, and allergies.
• It is observed that the excessive use of Bakuchi leads to skin discoloration.
• The consumption of Bakuchi is not recommended to pregnant or breastfeeding women.
• The higher dosages of Bakuchi lead to hyperacidity and gastritis.

FAQs

How to use Bakuchi oil? 

Bakuchi oil is always used in a diluted form. Bakuchi oil is diluted with coconut oil before its use onto the skin. This mixture helps cure infections of bacteria and fungus on the skin. The oil of Bakuchi is used majorly in the treatment of skin diseases.

Is Bakuchi helpful in treating respiratory diseases?

Yes, Bakuchi is very useful in the treatment of respiratory diseases. The cough problems are related to an imbalance of Kapha dosha, leading to the accumulation of mucus in the respiratory tract. Bakuchi extracts help to manage Kapha balancing, and it further helps in reducing cough problems.

Can Bakuchi be used as Homeopathic medicine?

Bakuchi is available naturally, and therefore, it is organic. Yes, it is used in homeopathic medicine with no side effects on the patients.

Summary

Bakuchi is commonly known as babchi, which is a popular herb. Bakuchi is used for many years in traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine because of its magical effects to cure various skin diseases. Bakuchi is a boon for many who are suffering from Vitiligo spots because of its Kusthagna and Rasayana properties that helps in shrinking the white patches.

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Disclaimer: The information included at this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a health care professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.