Description

Astragalus gummifer, a thorny, mat-forming shrub of the family Fabaceae, is native to the mountainous semi-arid regions of Iran, Turkey, and Afghanistan, from which the oleo-gum-resin tragacanth is obtained by making incisions into the root. Tragacanth is one of the most ancient plant gums traded in world commerce, referenced in the Ebers Papyrus of Egypt and in Greek botanical texts. In Unani practice, it is known as Kateera or Gond Katira and is documented as a cooling, demulcent substance used for soothing the digestive lining, urinary comfort and skin applications. The gum swells dramatically in water, forming a translucent gel. In Indian Unani and folk traditions, Kateera is commonly mixed with rose water and consumed as a cooling summer drink during the hot season.