Uses of Chaulmoogra Oil

Chaulmoogra is common name of the tree Hydnocarpus kurzii, belonging to family Flacourtiaceae. This tree is native to India, Myanmar and Thailand. In India this tree is mainly found in Assam and Tripura.

The seeds of the tree provide an oil which is known as Chaulmoogra Oil. The ripe seeds contain about 40-45% fixed oil. This oil is extracted by pressing the kernels in hydraulic press. Chaulmoogra Oil tastes acrid and bitter. It has yellow to brownish color. It contains chemically esters of unsaturated fatty acids of chaulmoogric acid (27%), hydnocarpic acid (48%) and glycerides of palmitic acids.

In Ayurveda, Chaulmoogra Oil is used for treating leprosy and other skin diseases from time immemorial. The oil is used both internally and externally. This oil was introduced into Western medicine by English doctor Frederic John Mouat in 1854. Mouat acquainted with this oil while he was a professor of medicine at the Bengal Medical College. He tested this oil on leprosy patients and found good results. He dressed the external ulcers of the patients with the oil. Internally, he gave a pill prepared by beating the seeds into a pulp. He reported that the ulcers healed and the patients improved.

Synonym: Hydnocarpus oil;Gynocardia oil

Medicinal uses of Chaulmoogra Oil

Chalmoogra Oil has strong bactericidal properties against bacteria of leprosy and tuberculosis due to the presence of unsaturated fatty acids. In Ayurveda, it has been used for hundreds of year to treat skin diseases, TB, gout and leprosy. Here is given few important Ayurvedic medicinal uses of Chaulmoogra Oil.

Ringworm/Tinea corporis (Daad in Hindi)

Mix Chaulmoogra Oil (10 ml) in Vaseline (50 g) well. Apply this mix on ringworm.

Mix Chaulmoogra Oil in butter and maasage on the affected skin part for treating ringworm.

Leprosy

For leprosy, this oil is used both internally and externally.

Initially 10 drops are administered orally in patient to cause vomiting. Then 5-6 drops of oil are mixed with milk or butter and orally administered twice a day. Gradually, over the time the dose is increased up to 60 drops.

For external use, oil is mixed with Neem oil and applied topically.

Vitiation of blood

Oral intake of 5 drops of Chaulmoogra Oil with butter is beneficial.

Itching

The oil is mixed with Castor oil and applied externally.

Side-effects, Warning

1. Chaulmoogra Oil is extremely irritating and bitter.
2. This oil is emetic and laxative.
3. Oral intake of 3-4 drops of oil can cause nausea and vomiting. The dose is dependent of digestive tolerance.
4. The oil should be taken with butter, only after the meal.

The recommended dosage of oil is 0.3 ml-1 ml, thrice a day and maximum dose is 4 ml/day.