Herb's Introduction
Salvadora persica L. is a small evergreen tree or shrub belonging to the family Salvadoraceae. It is widely recognized across the globe, especially in Islamic communities, for its use as a natural toothbrush, commonly known as the Miswak or chewing stick. Historically, this plant has been an integral part of traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda and Unani, as well as indigenous practices in various regions, celebrated for its diverse therapeutic applications beyond oral hygiene. The plant is resilient, often found in arid and semi-arid regions. Its various parts—roots, twigs, leaves, flowers, and fruits—have been used for centuries to treat a spectrum of ailments, showcasing its rich phytochemical profile.
Name in Different Countries
The plant is known by many names reflecting its widespread use and regional linguistic variations. Common Name: Meswak, Toothbrush tree, Salt Bush tree, Mustard tree. Arabic: أراك (Arak) Assamese: Arak, Irak Deutch: Zahnbürstenbaum Gujarati: Peelu, Khareejal Hausa: Ashuwaki Hebrew: סלוודורה פרסית (Salvadora persit) Hindi: मेस्वाक (Meswak), पिलु (Pilu) Kannada: ಗೊನಿಮರ (Gonimara), Kankhina, Genumar Malayalam: ഉകമരം (Ukamaram) Marathi: Khakan, पिलु (Pilu) Persian: اراک (درخت) (Arak-e-darakht) Punjabi: Peelu Russian: Сальвадора персидская (Salvadóra pérsidskaya) Sanskrit: गुडफल (Gudaphala), पिलु (Pilu) Siddha: Perungoli Sindhi: Khabbar/Jhaar Tamil: உகாய் (Ukay) Telugu: గున్నంగి (Gunnangi) Turkey: Misvak ağacı
Terminology
Botanical Name: Salvadora persica L. Family: Salvadoraceae Ayurvedic Terminology: The plant is recognized for actions like: Asmari (Lithontriptic/Stone Breaker), Arsha (Piles), Jvara (Fever), Mutrakrucchra (Dysuria/Difficulty in micturition), Vishavikara (Poison/Toxicity), Kushta (Skin diseases), and is considered carminative, diuretic, and deobstruent. Unani Terminology: Includes Mohallile Auram (Anti-inflammatory/resolvent of swellings), Mudirre Baul (Diuretic), Muqawwie Meda (Stomachic/Tonic to the stomach), Habise Ishal (Anti-diarrhoeal), and use in Wajaul Mafasil (Arthritis/Rheumatism). Miswak: This is the common term, especially in the Middle East, for the chewing stick prepared from the root or twig of the tree, used for oral hygiene.
Availability
Salvadora persica is typically a plant of arid and semi-arid tropical and subtropical regions. Its distribution is vast, spanning from Africa and the Middle East, eastward through parts of Asia, including India, Pakistan, and reportedly Nepal and Malaysia. It thrives in saline and sandy environments. While its usage for oral hygiene (Miswak) is globally recognized and often commercially available as a natural product, its distribution as a wild medicinal plant in Nepal is generally restricted to specific warmer areas, aligning with its natural habitat. It is often harvested from the wild rather than cultivated.
External Look
Habit: A small tree or shrub, typically evergreen, with a crooked trunk and scabrous (rough and cracked), whitish bark. The branches are often pendulous. Root Bark: Usually light brown on the outside and white on the inner surface. It has a distinctive smell, often described as like cress (mustard), and a warm, pungent taste. Leaves: Simple, opposite, ovate-lanceolate, and fleshy. Fresh leaves are sometimes eaten as a salad. They are bitter in taste. Flowers: Small, greenish-yellow, and fragrant, growing in loose panicles. Fruit: Small, barely noticeable berries, globose, turning red or purple when ripe. They are pulpy and edible, possessing a pungent and aromatic flavor.
Healing Properties
The plant contains a rich array of bioactive compounds, including volatile oils, flavonoids, alkaloids (like salvadorine), tannins, saponins, sterols, vitamin C, chlorides, and silica. These constituents contribute to its broad spectrum of healing properties: Antimicrobial/Antibacterial/Antifungal: Highly effective against various oral pathogens (cariogenic and periodontal bacteria), validating its use as Miswak. This is primarily attributed to components like Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC). Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic: Extracts show potential in reducing inflammation and pain, useful in conditions like rheumatism and painful swellings. Antioxidant: Contains antioxidant factors like lycopene and α-linolenic acid, which help in oxidative defense and wound healing. Hypoglycaemic and Hypolipidemic: Studies suggest it can decrease blood sugar and cholesterol/LDL levels. Anticarcinogenic: Research indicates potential effects against certain types of cancer cells (e.g., breast, ovarian, colon). Diuretic and Lithotriptic (Stone-breaking): Useful for renal calculi and dysuria, primarily through the fruit and root decoction.
Advantages
Oral Health: The most significant advantage is its natural efficacy as an oral hygiene tool (Miswak). It reduces plaque, fights gingivitis, strengthens gums, whitens teeth (due to abrasive materials), and has a bactericidal effect due to its natural chemical composition, often leading to better results than conventional toothbrushes in some studies. Gastrointestinal Health: The fruit acts as a carminative and mild laxative, regulating peristaltic movements and aiding in constipation and biliousness. Systemic Relief: Provides natural remedies for a variety of conditions, including fever, cough, asthma, rheumatism, and urinary disorders, offering a holistic approach to health. Accessibility and Economy: In traditional settings, the Miswak stick is a readily available, effective, and economical means of maintaining oral health.
Uses
Nearly every part of Salvadora persica has a traditional medicinal application: Oral Hygiene (Miswak): Chewing sticks from the root or stem twigs are used to clean teeth and massage gums. Digestive Ailments: Ripe fruits are consumed as a deobstruent, carminative, and diuretic, useful in biliousness, rheumatism, and to promote proper Vata movement. Respiratory Issues: A decoction of the leaves is used for cough and asthma. Dried fruit is also indicated for respiratory illnesses. Rheumatic and Inflammatory Conditions: Fatty oil extracted from the seeds is applied externally on rheumatic swellings. Leaves are used as a poultice in painful piles and tumors. Urinary Tract: Fruits and root decoctions are given for renal calculi (Asmari) and dysuria (Mutrakrucchra). Skin and Wounds: The root bark can be applied topically as a vesicant (causing blisters), and it is also mentioned in classical texts for snake bite poisoning. The plant is used against various Kushta (skin diseases). Gynecological: Bark decoction is used as an emmenagogue (to stimulate menstrual flow) and as a tonic in amenorrhea.
Using Way
The method of use varies significantly depending on the part of the plant and the desired therapeutic effect: Miswak (Chewing Stick): A small piece of the root or twig (typically 15-20 cm long and 3-5 mm in diameter) is chewed at one end until the fibers separate, forming a brush. This 'brush' is then used to clean the teeth. It is used fresh to maintain its potency. Decoction (Kashaya): Bark or leaves are boiled in water to extract the active ingredients. This decoction is typically strained and consumed in prescribed doses (e.g., 40-50 ml for cough or bark decoction for low fever/amenorrhea). Juice (Swarasa): Fresh leaf juice is extracted and given for conditions like scurvy or used as an antidote to poison. External Application: Seed oil is extracted and applied locally with gentle massage on painful joints for relief from rheumatism (Amavata). A paste of the root bark is also used topically. Edible: Ripe fruits are eaten fresh or dried, often to help with digestion and micturition. Tender shoots and leaves can be eaten as a salad.
Conclusion
Salvadora persica, or Miswak, is a plant of profound medicinal significance, standing as a compelling example of traditional wisdom validated by modern science. Its most renowned application is its use as a natural, highly effective tool for oral hygiene, demonstrating potent antimicrobial action. However, its therapeutic value extends far beyond the mouth, encompassing systemic actions such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, diuretic, and digestive properties, as utilized in Ayurvedic, Unani, and traditional regional medicine. As a resilient plant found across arid regions, including parts of Nepal, it represents a sustainable natural resource with immense potential for pharmacological development and continued traditional use in primary healthcare.
