Wood Apple

(Wood Apple)
Sanskrit: कपित्थ • Botanical: Feronia elephantum Correa

Kapittha (Wood Apple) is a moderate-sized tree found throughout India in dry deciduous forests. The fruit has a very hard shell which needs to be broken to access the pulp. The ripe fruit pulp is sour-sweet, aromatic and is excellent for the heart and digestion. It is one of the best Grahi (anti-diarrheal) fruits. The pulp is used to make chutneys and preserves. The unripe fruit is more astringent. The ripe pulp with sugar is cooling and nutritive. The fruit is particularly beneficial in chronic diarrhea, dysentery and hiccup. It increases appetite and is cardiotonic. The bark is used in liver and spleen disorders. The tree has thorns. Dose: Fruit as food; leaf juice 1-2 tola. Verses: 16.

Ayurvedic Properties

Taste (Rasa)
Sour (Amla), Astringent (Kashaya)
Quality (Guna)
Heavy (Guru), Dry (Ruksha)
Potency (Virya)
Hot (Ushna)
Post-digestive (Vipaka)
Pungent (Katu)
Key Constituents
Citric acid, Tannins, Psoralen, Mucilage, Vitamins
Also Known As
English: Wood Apple, Elephant Apple
Sanskrit: कपित्थ, दधिफल, ग्राहिफल, दन्तशठ, पुष्पफल
Hindi: कैथा, कबीट

What is Wood Apple (Kapittha / कपित्थ)?

Kapittha (Wood Apple) is a moderate-sized tree found throughout India in dry deciduous forests. The fruit has a very hard shell which needs to be broken to access the pulp. The ripe fruit pulp is sour-sweet, aromatic and is excellent for the heart and digestion. It is one of the best Grahi (anti-diarrheal) fruits. The pulp is used to make chutneys and preserves. The unripe fruit is more astringent. The ripe pulp with sugar is cooling and nutritive. The fruit is particularly beneficial in chronic diarrhea, dysentery and hiccup. It increases appetite and is cardiotonic. The bark is used in liver and spleen disorders. The tree has thorns. Dose: Fruit as food; leaf juice 1-2 tola. Verses: 16.

Source: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 6

Therapeutic Actions (Karma)

  • Grahi (absorbent)
  • Sangrahi (binding)
  • Ruchya (appetizer)
  • Hridya (cardiotonic)

Source: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 6

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.