Myrica, Bayberry
Myrica, Box Myrtle, Wax-Myrtle, Candleberry, Waxberry
Tuffah Alajaib, Ood al-Barg Tandol, Kaayaphal (Unani)
Katphala (Ayurveda)
Marudam (Siddha)
The Family Flora and Materia Medica Botanica, Good, 1847
MYRICA ROOT-BARK
1, Portion of the bark without the corky layer. 2. Piece of the corky
layer. 3, Cross-section of the bark. 4, A thick piece of the bark.
Squibb’s Atlas of the Official Drugs, Mansfield, 1919
Botanical name:
Myrica cerifera
In the U.S., others are used similarly including M. californica, M. gale, M. ocuba, M. jalapensis.
In Unani, M. cerifera is used alongside M. nagi (syn. M. esculenta) and M. sapida.
Parts used:
Root-bark
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Bitter, Sour, Pungent
Uses:
1. Stops Leakage, Clears Damp:
-diarrhea
2. Warms the Stomach, Clears Damp:
-poor Appetite, Gastritis
3. Clears Cold-Phlegm and Damp:
-phlegm of the Throat, Mouth, Stomach, Bladder or Bowels.
4. Stops Bleeding:
-bleeding of the Lungs, Stomach or Bowels.
5. Emetic:
-Full doses have been used as an emetic (1 dram)
6. Moves the Blood, Clears Stasis:
7. Settle Wind, Stops Spasms:
8. Externally:
Dose:
500mg–3 grams of the powder
Corrective:
Substitute:
Main Combinations:
1. Cold Phlegm:
i. Bayberry bark with … available in PRO version
ii. Bayberry bark with … available in PRO version
2. Wind-Cold Common Cold and Flu:
i. Bayberry bark with … available in PRO version
ii. Bayberry bark with … available in PRO version
3. Opium habit: Bayberry root-bark … available in PRO version
4. Sore Throat, Cough, Asthma, Bayberry bark with … available in PRO version
5. Prostatitis from Cold-Damp, Bayberry bark with … available in PRO version
6. Colitis, Bayberry bark with … available in PRO version
7. Diarrhea:
i. Bayberry bark with … available in PRO version
ii. chronic Diarrhea, Bayberry bark with … available in PRO version
8. Leukorrhea, Bayberry bark with … available in PRO version
9. Topically to Piles, Bayberry bark with … available in PRO version
10. Chronic Catarrh, Nasal Polyps, Bayberry as a snuff with … available in PRO version
Cautions:
1. Large doses may cause mineral corticoid-like effects (hypertension, sodium and water retention etc.). It should therefore be used cautiously in Hypertension, Edema and Pregnancy.
