Bavanchalu

• Botanical Name(s): Psoralea corylifolia

• Popular Name(s): Bakuchi, Bavanchalu, Bhavanchi-vittulu, Hakuchi, Latakasturi, Somaraji, Vakuchi

• Parts Used: Seeds

• Habitat: Babchi is widely found in India.

• Description: Babchi is an erect herbaceous plant that possesses broad elliptic leaves. Its flowers are yellow or bluish purple in colour. The plant bears pods containing single seed.

Uses: This herb has been considered by Ayurveda doctors to be so effective in the treatment of leprosy that it was given the name of 'Kushtanashini' (leprosy destroyers). The powder from the seed is used to treat leprosy and leucoderma internally. It is also applied in the form of paste or ointment externally.Psoralea is one of the main herbs in traditional Chinese and Japanese herbal medicine for the treatment of skin conditions. It has been used in the treatment of eczema and hair loss. In addition, it acts against staph infections and helps stimulate the heart. The Chinese name of this herb, bu gu zhi, means "tonify bone resin." Psoralea is used to promote bone calcification, making it useful for treating osteoporosis and bone fractures. Psoralens, components in psoralea, are active principles for inducing pigmentation of the skin. They cause residual pigmentation when applied on hypo-pigmented skin, together with increased blood flow and melanin-producing activity in the affected area.

Benefits of psoralea for specific health conditions include the following:

Cancer. Psoralea contains bavachinin, corylfolinin, and psoralen, all of which inhibit the multiplication of osteosarcoma and lung cancer cells.

• Psoriasis. Psoralea is a natural source of psoralens, a group of chemicals that includes the active

ingredient of a conventional psoriasis medication called methoxsalen (8-MOP, Oxsoralen-Ultra). Psoralens make ultraviolet-light therapy for this disorder more effective.

• Vitiligo. Psoralea helps fight vitiligo, a disorder in which patches of skin lose their

pigmentation. In one study, forty-nine patients underwent six months of psoralea treatment. Of these patients, 14 percent were cured and another 19 percent regained pigmentation on at least two-thirds of the affected skin.

Other medical uses - [[Bone cancer]].