In India, picrorhiza is used as a bitter tonic, equivalent in many respects to gentian, and given for indigestion, constipation, jaundice, and hepatitis. In China, it is chiefly employed to treat chronic diarrhea and dysentery. Picrorhiza also helps treat asthma, acute and chronic infections, conditions where the immune system is compromised, and autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis and vitiligo. Its traditional use for liver disorders is well founded, and picrorhiza may play an essential part in helping to treat severe liver disease.
Botanical Name
Picrorhiza kurroa
Part Used
Root
Common Names
Kuru, Katuka, Kutki, Kutkin, Katki, Katukarosana
Brief History
Picrorhiza has been used in Ayurvedic medicine since the earliest times as a laxative, bile-inducing, and bitter tonic herb, given for conditions as varied as snake bite and hepatitis.
Cultivation
Picrorhiza is native to the Himalayan Mountains of India, Nepal, and Tibet.
Constituents
Therapeutic Properties
Liver protective, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, immunostimulator, bitter tonic, choleretic.
Vitalist Properties
Temperature: Cold
Moisture: Drying
Therapeutic Indications
Asthma, Liver Infections, Allergies, Autoimmune Disorders, Weakened Immunity, Hepatitis.
Primary Uses
Liver Disorders
Clinical trials using Picrorhiza for the treatment of infective hepatitis demonstrated rapid falls in bilirubin levels and quicker clinical recovery.
Asthma
In an uncontrolled study using 400 mg/day of Picrorhiza root, marked relief was observed in all of 25 cases of asthma.
Clinical Research
Hepatitis
In a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial involving patients diagnosed with acute viral hepatitis (hepatitis B surface antigen-negative), a powder of the crude drug was administered orally (375 mg three times a day) for 2 weeks (n = 15) or a matching placebo was given (n = 18). The difference in values of bilirubin, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase between the group that received the placebo and the group that received the treatment with the crude drug was significant. The time in days required for total serum bilirubin to drop to an average value of 2.5 mg% was 75.9 days in patients who received the placebo versus 27.4 days in the treatment group
Asthma
A preliminary clinical trial involving 36 patients with bronchial asthma assessed the efficacy of an extract of the crude drug. The powdered crude drug at a dose of 75 mg twice daily was administered for 2 weeks. The study reported that 53% of patients had no attacks or chest symptoms, 25% had occasional attacks, which were reduced in severity after treatment. Treatment did not improve the condition of patients who smoked or regularly drank alcohol and was not sufficient for acute attacks.
Dosage (Divided Daily)
• Dried Powder: 500 – 2,000mg
Contraindications
None known
Side effects
High doses may cause diarrhoea, flatulence and griping in sensitive individuals. Picrorrhiza also can cause a skin rash. Some patients find the bitterness intolerable.
Interactions with other drugs
None known
Bibliography
- Bone, K. (1996). Clinical applications of Ayurvedic and Chinese herbs: monographs for the western herbal practitioner. Warwick, Qld.: Phytotherapy.
- Chevallier, A. (2000). Encyclopedia of herbal medicine (2nd American ed.). New York: DK Pub.
- Khare, C. P. (2004). Indian herbal remedies: rational Western therapy, ayurvedic, and other traditional usages, botany. Berlin; New York: Springer.
- World Health Organization. (1999). WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants. Geneva: World Health Organization.
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