Description

Symplocos racemosa, the lodh tree, is an evergreen small tree of the family Symplocaceae, native to the subtropical and warm temperate forests of the Himalayan foothills — particularly Assam, Meghalaya, West Bengal, Sikkim — and the Eastern Ghats of peninsular India. The bark, commercially known as Lodhra, is pale grey-brown and carries distinctive astringent, slightly bitter qualities attributed to its loturine and colloturine alkaloid content. In classical Ayurveda, Lodhra bark is among the most specifically referenced gynaecological and dermatological herbs — documented in the Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita in formulations for leucorrhoea, uterine tone, skin conditions, and eye care. It features prominently in classical formulations including Pushyanuga Churna, listed in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India for female reproductive health. Commercially sourced primarily from West Bengal and Assam.