Rasa (Taste)
Kashaya
The primary taste perceived on the tongue.
Baboola (Gum Arabic Tree, Thorny Acacia)
It is a moderate-sized, thorny, and often evergreen tree, typically 5–20 m high, characterized by a short trunk, dark fissured bark, and a dense, rounded crown.
Medicinal Plant
Baboola (Gum Arabic Tree, Thorny Acacia)
Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. · Mimosaceae
It is a moderate-sized, thorny, and often evergreen tree, typically 5–20 m high, characterized by a short trunk, dark fissured bark, and a dense, rounded crown.
Scientific Name
Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd.
Family
Mimosaceae
Hindi Name
Babool, Keekar
Used Part
Fruit, Bark, Gum, Seed
Botanical Description
About the Baboola Plant
Morphology and field-identification notes as documented in our Dravyaguna library.
It is a moderate-sized, thorny, and often evergreen tree, typically 5–20 m high, characterized by a short trunk, dark fissured bark, and a dense, rounded crown. It features spines in pairs, bipinnate leaves with tiny leaflets, and bright yellow, globose flower heads (1.2–1.5 cm diameter). The pods are distinctively necklace-shaped (moniliform), grey-velvety, and constricted between seeds.
Ayurvedic Properties
Rasa Panchaka — Classical Properties
The five-fold framework Ayurveda uses to describe a drug — Rasa, Guna, Vipaka, Veerya and its effect on the doshas.
Guna (Qualities)
Guru, Ruksha
Physical and energetic attributes of the dravya.
Vipaka (Post-digestive Effect)
Katu
Taste that emerges after complete digestion.
Dosha Karma (Action on Doshas)
Bark-Kaphahara, Niryasa- Pittavata hara
Effect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha doshas.
Veerya (Potency)
Sheeta
Heating (ushna) or cooling (sheeta) energy.
Ayurvedic Actions (Karma)
Lekhana, Grahi, Pramehahar, Atisarahara,Krimighna.
Modern Phytochemistry
Chemistry & Pharmacology
How modern science maps onto the classical understanding of this dravya.
Pharmacological Action
What the Science Says
Antidiarrheal Antidiabetic Anti-inflammatory Antibacterial
Phytoconstituents
Active Compounds
Arabinose & arbinobioses, epicatechin, ẞ-sitosterol, paulownin.
Therapeutic Usage
Clinical Applications of Baboola
Classical Ayurvedic indications drawn directly from the Dravyaguna tradition — paired with the preparations recommended in shastra.
01
(1) Baboola phali churna is used in strengthening the bones.
02
(2)Tender leaves paste of babbula is given orally in atisara.
03
(3) Bark and pod is used in Raktapitta.
04
(4) Exudate of Babbula is used in shukradaurbalya.
05
(5)Decoction of bark is in used in Prameha.
Always consult a qualified Ayurvedic physician before using any herb therapeutically. Dose, anupana and Prakriti-specific suitability matter.
Yoga / Kalpana
Classical Formulations
Common Ayurvedic preparations where Baboola is a key ingredient.
- Baboolarishta, Lavangadivati
Shastra Pramana
Classical Reference
बब्बूलः कफनुद्ग्राही कुष्ठकृमिविषापहः ॥