Terminalia chebula commonly known as harrar in Hindi,
belongs to the family Combretaceae, is a common plant in India, Burma
and Sri Lanka. It is a moderate sized or large deciduous tree which has been
used by the Indian physicians since long.
For the preparation of homoeopathic medicines semi matured fruits are
used. In literatures, it is mentioned
to be used as a mild laxative. It is also reported to have efficacy in curing
vertigo, piles, constipation, chronic dysentery, diarrhoea, dropsy and skin
diseases. CCRH conducted a study on the drug during 1982 – 2003 in various
potencies, viz. Q, 6c & 30c. The study elucidated that Terminalia chebula
is an effective medicine in the treatment of vertigo, giddiness,
chronic headache, aphthae, halitosis, tonsillitis, gastritis, flatulence,
dyspepsia, colitis, dysentery, constipation, bleeding piles, loose stool,
frequent urination, backache and deltoid rheumatism as mentioned in various
homoeopathic literatures. It was also found that the symptoms like acidity,
diarrhoea, painful blind piles and scabies etc. were also relieved in a good
number of patients during the trial which can be recognized as additional
clinical symptoms / conditions of the drug.
Clinical verification studies made, so far, do indicate that many of the
indigenous medicines have vast potential of therapeutic use and could easily be
chosen in place of some widely used exotic plants in Homoeopathy. These
findings assume significance in view of the Government’s policy on medicinal
plants, which lays emphasis on indigenous substitution of exotic medicinal
plants. Confirmation of symptoms have
extended the domain of therapeutic applicability of these medicines in various
disease conditions and can safely be used by the profession.