The Five Barks (Panacavalakama)

Modern description

A combination of five tree barks used in various forms such as poultices, decoctions, and ghee preparations, primarily for wound healing and reducing inflammation.

Purpose

Used as poultice, sprinkling, ghee preparation, and wound dusting.

Indications

• Wound healing (especially non-healing ulcers), inflammatory conditions, skin diseases, excessive sweating, menorrhagia, diarrhea, vaginal discharge, hemorrhoids.

Classical indications

• Vrana (wounds)
• Shopha (inflammation)
• Twak Vikara (skin disorders)

Karma

• Vrana Ropana (wound healing)
• Shothahara (anti-inflammatory)
• Stambhana (astringent)
• Kapha Pitta Shamaka (balances Kapha and Pitta doshas)

Key ingredients

• Vata stem bark
• Udumbara stem bark
• Ashvattha stem bark
• Plaksha stem bark
• Parisha stem bark

Adult dose

Powder: 3-6 grams per day. Decoction: 50-100 ml, twice a day.

Pediatric dose

Variable, typically for external use

Preparation steps

• Collection of the barks of the five trees.
• Drying the barks under shade.
• Cutting the dried barks into small pieces.
• Boiling the barks in water to prepare a decoction (Kwatha).
• Filtering the decoction to remove solid particles.
• Concentrating the decoction by further heating, if required.
• For paste (Pichu), grinding the dried barks into a fine powder and mixing with a suitable liquid like water or honey.
• For Ghee preparation, the decoction or paste is added during the ghee making process.