Acacia is one of the most important herbs used in ancient medicinal science of India. Great sages have classified this drug under the ‘raktashodhaka’ category. Here, rakta means the blood and shodhaka means purifier.

Acacia is considered as a valuable herb for helping in various skin allergies. It regulates the histamine secretion and helps building immunity to fight against various allergens. The herb is found in various formula designed to cure eczema, acne and various inflammatory conditions of the skin.

Helpful in chronic diarrhea, chronic catarrh, chronic dysentery, the Acacia plays keyrole. It shows some disinfectant property. It has proven beneficial effects when used as an agent for local application in throat diseases, especially such as singers are subjected to. The tincture is often valuable as a local application to fissured nipples of nursing women. The extract of the herb is also helpful in above mentioned conditions.

Ancient Hebrews considered Acacia to be the Shittah tree of the Bible that supplied the sacred wood. The Ark of the Covenant and the sacred Tabernacle were made out of Acacia wood. As a spiritual icon, Acacia is also one of the most powerful "symbols" in Freemasonry representing the eternal soul and purity of the soul. The ancient Egyptians had used the gum of the Acacia on loose teeth. This is because Khadira’s thick mucilaginous (thick and sticky) properties support the tooth while the astringent qualities tighten up the gum tissue surrounding the loose tooth making it firm and unshakable.

Combined, it makes a meaning of the agent that is a blood purifier and hence can be used in various skin allergies. Some of the scholars suggest Acacia as potent anti-inflammatory agent as it can be used in relieving the toothache.

The Egyptians also used the herb as glue and as a pain reliever base. The gum of the Acacia tree used to apply onto open wounds as an antiseptic. The Aztecs used khadira as a food and dye, and ate the seedpods as an aphrodisiac.

Serving size: 2 Vegi caps
Servings per container: 30
Each 500 mg capsule contains: Khadir

Dosage: To enjoy the benefits of Acacia catechu, you can take one to two Khadir capsules, twice a day.

Skin rashes are common skin problems that can occur at any age. Some of the bumps that appear on your skins might be harmless, whereas others might be the symptoms of a severe skin disorder. Rashes might be localized or they might develop throughout the facial and body skin.

Contact dermatitis is a common skin problem that occurs when the skin is exposed to a substance that irritates the skin. It also occurs when your skin is exposed to an allergen. Some skin irritants also double as allergens.

Seborrheic dermatitis is characterized by red scaly eruptions that occur on the scalp, brows, forehead, external ears and cheek. Atopic dermatitis, commonly known as eczema, are red, itchy rashes that usually develop on the elbows, back of knees, ankles, wrists, neck and cheeks. Eczema is usually associated with asthma and allergies. Urticaria or hives is an itchy rash that might last for a few minutes up to several hours. Excess itching and scratching could break the skin.

Of all types of skin disorders, acne is perhaps the most common. It is linked to excess sebum secretion triggered by hormonal changes. Acne eruptions usually occur in the adolescence and might continue into early adulthood. Acne flare-ups are triggered by the pro-inflammatory activities of the P. acnes bacteria. The P. acnes bacteria are anaerobic pathogens that normally live in the hair follicles and feed on the sebum. People prone to acne usually have high levels of P. acnes bacteria in the hair follicles. Big pus-filled lesions are signs of abnormal activities of the P. acne bacteria. Obstruction in the hair follicles caused by sebum, dirt and dead cell debris trapped in the hair follicle, lead to blackheads and whiteheads.

Everyday the skin is exposed to pollutants and radiations. The pollutants and the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun boost the scavenging activities of free radicals. The free radicals damage the natural elasticity of the skin, accelerating the skin aging process. The free radicals and the ultraviolet B rays of the sun might damage the genetic material of the skin cells, increasing the risk of skin cancers.

Acacia catechu is known as Khadir in Sanskrit. In the Indian subcontinent, where it is also known as Babul or Khair, Acacia catechu is widely chewed with beetle leaf. In Ayurveda, Khadir is classified as a Rasayana plant. It is recommended in the traditional medicine system for treating skin disorders. Modern studies have attributed the therapeutic properties of Acacia catechu to tannins, flavonoids and catechins.

Antioxidant

Acacia catechu exhibits strong antioxidant functions. Although nearly every part of the plant contains antioxidant compounds, the heartwood of Acacia catechu possesses the highest antioxidant potential. (Guleria S, Tiku AK, Singh G, Vyas D, Bhardwaj A. “Antioxidant Activity and Protective Effect Against Plasmid DNA Strand Scission of Leaf, Bark and Heartwood Extracts from Acacia catechu.” J Food Sci. 2011 Aug 1). By inhibiting the scavenging activities of free radicals, Khadir could reduce the risk of developing skin disorders owing to mutation of DNA. Moreover, its strong antioxidant effect might delay the skin aging process.

Reduces inflammatory skin conditions

Excess serum secretion and changes in the pH of the skin activates the P. acnes bacteria that in normal circumstances are harmless to the skin. The heightened activity of the bacteria triggers inflammatory skin conditions such as rash and acne. The anti-inflammatory effect of Acacia catechu might prevent acne by inhibiting secretion of pro-inflammatory enzymes. The anti-inflammatory function of Acacia catechu has been demonstrated in experimental studies. (Burnett BP, Jia Q, Zhao Y, Levy RM. “A medicinal extract of Acutellaria baicalensis and Acacia catechu acts as a dual inhibitor of cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase to reduce inflammation.” J Med Food. 2007 Sep;10(3):442-51).

Reduces skin infections

The immunomodulatory effect of Acacia catechu helps to improve the activities of the immune system. It helps to stimulate production of antibodies and activates the T cells. (Ismail S, Asad M. “Immunomodulatory activity of Acacia catechu.” Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2009 Jan-Mar;53(1):25-33). Hence, intake of Khadir could reduce the risk of skin infections and skin rashes that develop as a symptom of an underlying infection. Moreover, the immunomodulatory effect of Acacia catechu might mitigate skin allergy.

Although invisible to the naked eyes, millions of bacteria and yeasts inhabit the skin. In normal conditions, the microorganisms dwelling on the surface of the skin prevent overgrowth of microbes, necessary for maintaining healthy skin. Bacterial infections such as pimples and fungal infections occur when the normal microbial balance of the skin is disturbed.

Unclean skin triggers overgrowth of microbes. In the absence of proper skin hygiene routine, dirt, sebum and dead skin debris that accumulate in the tiny pores of the skin would clog the pores. The anaerobic P. acnes bacteria that dwell in the hair follicles would grow and multiply by feeding on the sebum and dead skin debris. Hence, to check overgrowth of the acne causing bacteria, the excess oil, dirt and dead skin cells should be regularly removed from the skin.

Cleansing is the first step in the basic skin care schedule. You can use soap and water for cleaning the skin. However, if you want to avoid the harsh chemicals in soaps, you can opt for a mild cleansing product. Lukewarm water is more effective for loosening the dirt. While cleansing with water and a soapy product helps to remove the dirt from the surface of the skin, it might not effectively remove the dead skin debris from your skin. Besides clogging the skin pores, the dead skin layer on the surface of the skin makes the skin appear dull and darker. Exfoliation with an abrasive agent helps to remove the dead skin cell layer. Exfoliation could be done once or twice a week. Always use a mild exfoliating product or scrub with tiny grains. Occasionally, you can use chemical peels for improving your complexion and reducing blemishes.

If your skin is oily, you can use a toner for tightening the skin pores and reducing excess sebum secretion. However, it is advisable to avoid alcohol-based astringents.

After cleaning, you should hydrate and nourish your skin with a suitable moisturizer. Select a moisturizing product according to your skin type. Oil-based moisturizers are recommended for dry to normal skin, whereas water based moisturizing lotion is suitable for normal to oily skin. People with sensitive skin should opt for fragrance free mild moisturizers. To prevent skin irritation and allergies, moisturizers for sensitive skin should contain small number of ingredients. Regardless of your skin type, always use a non-comedogenic product that does not clog the skin pores.

After hydrating your skin, it is necessary to protect the skin from the harsh solar radiations. Apply a sunscreen with at least SPF 15 before going outdoors in the day. Often moisturizing lotions double as sunscreen products, eliminating the need for applying a separate sunscreen.

Once or twice a week, you can nourish and rejuvenate your skin with a homemade face mask. If your skin is excessively dry, you can add honey, almond oil or olive oil to the face mask. In case of oily skin, facial clay could absorb the excess oil from the skin. The vitamin C rich citrus fruit juices or tomato juice could help to fade the blemishes. Fruit pulps, egg, milk and yogurt are other common ingredients in face masks that can help to rejuvenate the skin cells.

A balanced diet could supply your skin the essential nutrients needed for supporting the health of the skin cells. A diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains could boost the antioxidant defense system of the skin. The antioxidant phytochemicals could protect the skin from oxidative stress triggered by the activities of the free radicals. Oxidative stress is one of the key causes of premature skin aging. Essential fats could improve the texture of your skin. A diet rich in fish and seafood would supply your body the omega-3 fatty acids needed for healthy skin and flawless complexion.

Regular exercises are also necessary for the health of the largest organ of the body. Workouts improve blood flow throughout the body, including the skin. Through the blood, the skin receives oxygen and nutrition for maintaining its health. Excess stress might harm your skin. Practicing stress management techniques, such as meditation and yoga, might improve the quality of your skin.

Indigenous Medical wisdom in India known as Ayurveda goes back to a hoary past. We find references in Vedas not only to medical science but to various drugs also. The medico-historical review of Khadira (Acasia Catechu linn.) including the historical perspectives, identity, varieties, formulae and therapeutic usage etc. is presented here, based on the classical treatises, medical lexicons, commentaries and other compilations, covering the from Vedic period to present times (For Bull Indian Inst Hist Med Hyderabad. 1996;26(1-2):39-48 as Khadira (Acasia Catechu Linn.) - A medico-historical review by Narayana A. at Indian Institute of History of Medicine, Hyderabad, India).

The herb has been practiced in Ayurvedic medical science since years. The herb has been giving promising results in skin diseases including leprosy and herpex. The herb has blood purifying capacity and hence, can be used in the treatment for leprosy etc. (Source from Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis. 1969 Jul-Sep; 37(3):302-7 on Clinical evaluation of Acacia catechu, Willd. (Khadira) in the treatment of lepromatous leprosy. By Ojha D, Singh G, Upadhyaya YN)

Khadir (Acacia catechu) is generally leafless during late spring to early summer. The old leaves are usually shed during Jan-Feb and new ones appear during April-May. The species gets full foliage by June-July when it paints the environment and makes the landscape very beautiful.

The leaves of Acacia tree are compound. The rachis branching from the mid-rib has four to five round prickles. The rachis is nearly 10-20 cm in length and bears 20-60 pinnae each about 3-4 cm in length. The Acacia tree flowers during June to October. The flowers or inflorescence is pale yellow to cream colored. The fruit of Acacia is pod shaped. It is 5-7 cm in length and 1-1.5 cm in width. Fruits are shining brown in color.

Serving size: 2 Vegi caps
Servings per container: 30
Each 500 mg capsule contains: Khadir

Dosage: To enjoy the benefits of Acacia catechu, you can take one to two Khadir capsules, twice a day.