MEDICINAL EFFECT OF CHARAITA DESCRIBED IN UNANI SYSTEM OF MEDICINE -AN OVERVIEW

Charaita or Charaita is a well known Unani drug which is being used as medicament from centuries for the treatment of Amraze Jildiya (skin disease) as well as for other systems like hepatobilliary, cardiovascular, antidiabetic etc by Unani Physicians and they mentioned their medicinal efficacy in Unani Classical texts. It is native of India, China, Nepal and Bhutan. In India it is found naturally in northern hilly areas at altitude ranges of 1400-3200m. There are musaffi e khoon, mulattif, mohallil properties due to these it act and dissolves epidermal and dermal rashes and eruptions as well as pruritus and usually used in amraze jildiya (skin diseases).There are two principal chemical constituents documented such as ophelic acid and chiratin both are bitter in taste. Majun musaffi khoon, Majun Ushba Majun Chobchini are the famous compound drugs having Charaita as an ingredient. The present review reveals that Swertia Chirata is a valuable…