Overview
Mandar is one of the herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda for immunity & disease prevention. Alarka (Calotropis gigantea) is the purple/red-flowered variety of Madar. It grows up to 4-10 feet height with thick fleshy leaves. This species is considered equivalent in properties to Calotropis procera but is more commonly found in the Himalayan foothills and southern India. It is distinguished by its purple-red flowers compared to the white flowers of C. procera.
How Mandar Helps with Immunity & Disease Prevention
According to Ayurvedic pharmacology, Mandar has specific properties that make it valuable for addressing immunity & disease prevention:
- Potency (Virya): Ushna (hot)
- Post-digestive (Vipaka): Katu (pungent)
- Taste (Rasa): Katu (pungent), Tikta (bitter)
- Qualities (Guna): Laghu (light), Ruksha (dry)
Ayurvedic Properties
- Taste (Rasa)
- Pungent (Katu), Bitter (Tikta)
- Quality (Guna)
- Light (Laghu), Dry (Ruksha)
- Potency (Virya)
- Hot (Ushna)
- Post-digestive (Vipaka)
- Pungent (Katu)
- Also Known As
- English: Giant Milkweed, Gigantic Swallow-wort
Sanskrit: रक्तार्क, अलर्क, राजार्क
Hindi: लाल मदार, अकौआ
What the Classical Texts Say
- Kushtha (skin diseases)
- Visha (poisoning)
- Krimi (worms)
Source: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 3
Other Herbs for Immunity & Disease Prevention
See all herbs for immunity & disease prevention on the Immunity & Disease Prevention page.
Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Ayurvedic treatments should be pursued under the guidance of a qualified practitioner (BAMS/MD Ayurveda). Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment. Content is sourced from classical Ayurvedic texts and may not reflect the latest medical research.