Udumbara (Ficus racemosa)

Common Names: Cluster Fig, Country Fig, Udumbara, Audumbara
Sanskrit Synonyms: Udumbara, Audumbara, Dhumra, Jantuphala, Kṣīrī Vṛkṣa (latex-bearing tree)
Family: Moraceae
Part Used: Tvak (Bark), Phala (Fruit), Kṣīra (Latex), Mūla (Root), Patra (Leaf)

Ayurvedic Pharmacology (Dravya Guṇa)

• Rasa (Taste): Kaṣāya (Astringent), Madhura (Sweet)

• Guna (Qualities): Guru (Heavy), Rukṣa (Dry)

• Virya (Potency): Śīta (Cooling)

• Vipāka (Post-digestive effect): Madhura (Sweet)

• Karma (Actions):
  Stambhana (Astringent, stops discharges), Raktaprasādana (Blood purifier), Pittahara (Pacifies Pitta), Vrana-ropaka (Heals wounds), Dāha-praśamana (Relieves burning), Śothahara (Anti-inflammatory), Pramehaghna (Anti-diabetic), Arśoghna (Anti-hemorrhoidal), Grahī (Bowel astringent), Hṛdya (Cardiac tonic), Vranashodhana (Cleanses ulcers)

Doshic Action

Pacifies Pitta and Kapha doṣas; stabilizes Vāta due to its cooling and astringent properties.
Acts mainly on Raktavaha, Mutravaha, and Māṃsavaha srotas — supporting blood purification, urinary health, and wound healing.

Therapeutic Indications

Udumbara is a key herb among the Pañcavalkala group (the five bark herbs — Nyagrodha, Udumbara, Aśvattha, Pārīśa, and Plakṣa), highly valued for wound healing, skin health, and mucosal repair.

It is beneficial in:

• Raktapitta (Bleeding disorders, nasal bleeding)

• Atisāra / Grahaṇī (Diarrhea, IBS, malabsorption)

• Prameha (Diabetes, urinary disorders)

• Arśas (Hemorrhoids, fissures, rectal bleeding)

• Kuṣṭha (Skin diseases, eruptions, eczema)

• Vrana (Ulcers, wounds, burns, non-healing sores)

• Śotha (Swelling, inflammation)

• Dāha (Burning sensation, Pitta heat)

• Raktadushti (Impure blood, Pitta-Rakta imbalance)

Its Kṣīra (latex) and Tvak (bark) are particularly useful in wound healing and bleeding disorders.

Pharmacological Insights

Ficus racemosa contains tannins, glycosides, sterols, flavonoids, and triterpenoids, contributing to its astringent, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties.
It has demonstrated hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective, and antiulcer effects, supporting its classical roles in Prameha, Vrana, and Raktapitta chikitsā.
The bark decoction acts as a natural mucosal astringent and blood coolant.

Formulations & Classical Preparations

• Pañcavalkala Kaṣāya / Kvātha – Decoction of five barks including Udumbara for wound care and skin health

• Udumbarāṣṭaka Taila / Ghṛta – For ulcers, wounds, and skin lesions

• Udumbara Kaṣāya / Chūrṇa – For Pitta disorders, bleeding, and inflammation

• Kṣīrī Vṛkṣa Ghṛta – For Pitta-Kapha imbalance, ulcers, and bleeding

• Jatyādi Taila – Contains Udumbara bark extract for external wound healing

Anupāna & Dose

• Kaṣāya (Decoction): 30–50 ml twice daily before meals

• Cūrṇa (Powder): 3–6 g with buttermilk or cold water

• Taila (External): Used for wound dressing and local application
  (Use under supervision of an Ayurvedic physician.)

Special Notes

• Part of the sacred Pañcavalkala group — a classical wound-healing and cleansing combination.

• Highly effective in bleeding piles, skin lesions, and chronic ulcers.

• Latex (Udumbara Kṣīra) is used externally for warts, fistula, and hemorrhoids.

• Also used in religious rituals and Yajñas symbolizing purification and grounding.

Classical References

• Charaka Samhita – Sutra Sthana (Pañcavalkala & Vrana Chikitsa)

• Sushruta Samhita – Sutra Sthana 38 (Vanaushadhi Adhyaya; Pañcavalkala dravya)

• Bhavaprakasha Nighantu – Haritakyādi Varga

• Astanga Hridaya – Chikitsa Sthana (Raktapitta & Vrana Chikitsa)

• Kaiyadeva Nighantu – Oshadhi Varga