Shikakai :

It is used as an ingredient in many herbal shampoos. The saponin content in its fruits and bark act as foaming agent and forms the foam.

Shikakai (Acacia concinna) is the best traditional herb used to promote hair growth, control dandruff, relieve skin problems etc. It works as the hair conditioner, strengthens the hair roots, cleanses the hair by removing dirt, relief scaling, itching, dryness and greasiness of scalp. It is also used as a remedy in constipation, jaundice, fever, wounds, poisoning etc.

Taxonomical Classification

Kingdom: Plantae - Plants
Family: FabaceaeGeraniaceae

Allied species:

Other herbs which are considered as saptala

– Origanum vulgare

– Euphorbia tirucalli

– Euphorbia dracunculoides

VERNACULAR NAMES

English: Soap pod
Hindi: Shikakai, Sikakai
Marathi: Shikekai
Gujarathi: Chikakhai
Tamil: Sheekay
Malayalam: Cheeyakayi, shikai
Kannada: Shige kayi

Definition

Classical categorisation

Dhanvantari Nighantu – Guduchyadi Varga

Bhavaprakasha Nighantu – Guduchyadi Varga

Kaiyadeva Nighantu – Aushadi Varga

Raja Nighantu – Shatahavaadi Varga

Shodala Nighantu – Guduchyadi Varga

Synonyms

Bhuriphena – forms the froth

Bhahuphena

Charmakasa,

Phena – foamy

Saptala, Saari

Vimala – clear

Shaatala, Saatala, Vidula

Amala, Deeptha

Rasa: Tikta
Guna: Laghu
Veerya: Sheetha
Vipaka: Katu
Karma: Vatala

It is used as an ingredient in many herbal shampoos. The saponin content in its fruits and bark act as foaming agent and forms the foam.

Phytochemistry:

Lupeol, spinasterol, acacic acid, lactone, and the natural sugars glucose, arabinose and rhamnose. It also contains hexacosanol, spinasterone, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, succinic acid, ascorbic acid, and the alkaloids calyctomine and nicotine. Bark and pods have saponins which form the foam.

Parts used for medicinal purpose

Bark, Leaves, Pods, ,

Dosage:

Infusion – 20 – 50 ml in divided dose

Powder – 2 – 4 grams

Controversy:

In Ayurveda saptala herb is considered as shikakai as the synonyms such as bhuriphena, vimala etc resembles shikakai qualities of forming froth, cleansing property etc.

Morphology:

Shikakai is a climbing shrub. Pods are oblong in shape, nearly 8 – 12 cm long, dark brown in colour. Branches possess numerous short thorns. Leaves are bi pinnate. Flowers are pink in colour.

Geographical distribution:

Sikakai is grown in Southern Asia including India, Myanmar and Thailand.

General Use:

In India shikakai fruits are used to cleanse the hair and clothes. It forms the lather and acts as an excellent cleanser.
Traditionally sikakai is used as remedy to treat jaundice, constipation and skin problems.
The leaves and pods are used treat cuts, wounds and oral diseases due to its astringent property.
Leaves of shikakai act as purgative, liver stimulant and improves taste.
The decoction of shikakai pods acts as purgative and used to treat constipation, abdominal pain, indigestion and flatulence.
Infusion of pods is used to treat chronic respiratory diseases. It reduces muscles constrictions in the airways of the lungs
The saponin content of the bark have spermicidal effect that destroys sperms.
Powder of bark, leaves or pods is used as hair conditioner. It cleanses the hair, removes excess oil and dirt, makes hair soft and detangle it. It strengthens the hair roots and promotes hair growth. It also works against dandruff.
In Jaundice, leaves of shikakai is used with black pepper. It can cause purgation or sometime it leads to vomiting. It normalises the bile secretion.
In head lice, pod decoction is used to wash hair. It also promotes hair growth and controls dandruff.
The wick dipped in pod decoction is kept as suppository in children, relieves indigestion and constipation.
Shikai leaves are used to treat malarial fever.
Leaves infusion is used to clear dandruff.
In skin diseases, the extract of grounded shikakai pod is used.
Shikakai bark is macerated in water and the solution obtained is used to wash the hair during bath. This promotes the hair growth, relieves dandruff, scalp itching and dryness. It is also used to get rid of hair lice.
Shikakai bark powder can be used as the bath powder along with other ingredients such as neem, turmeric, green gram powder etc. It removes the dirt, bad odour, relieves itching, dryness, scaling of skin etc.
Shikakai infusion used to wash wounds can help to reduce swelling, exudation, inflammation, itching, burning sensation and helps in healing the wound.
If shikakai powder used alone causes dryness then it can be used with amla powder and yogurt. This combination can avoid dryness of hair, controls dandruff, nourish the hair follicles and stimulate hair growth.

Therapeutic Uses:

Shotha – swelling

Kapha disorders like itching of the scalp, dandruff, low appetite, tastelessness etc

Anaha – Abdominal distension

Pitta disorders like jaundice, fever etc

Udavartha – reverse movement of Vata dosha

Blood related diseases

Kusta – skin diseases

Gulma – Abdominal distention or abdominal tumor

Arsha – piles

Udara – ascites

Gara visha – these are artificial poisons prepared by mixing various substances. It takes long time to produce its toxic effect and does not kill the patient instantly.

Krimi – intestinal worm infestation

Aruchi – tastelessness

Ubhaya shodhani – it is used to cleanse the body (shodhana) by both Vamana (emesis) and virechana (purgation)

Visarpa – herpes

Visphota – blisters

Research:

1. Anti fungal activity – A study conducted to evaluate the activity of different plant extract against the dandruff causing organism Malassezia furfur have proved promising anti-fungal activity of Lemon, Amla, Shikakai and Hennna against Malassezia furfur when compared with the marketed anti-dandruff shampoos.

2. Anti microbial activity – A study done to prove anti microbial activity of shikakai have concluded its promising activity against the bacterial and fungul caused disease.

3. Antibacterial and Anthelimentic Activities – A study proved the significant antibacterial effect of aqueous extract of the leaves of Acacia concinna against gram positive and gram negative bacteria. The aqueous extract of Acacia concinna also showed significant anthelimentic activity.

Toxicity studies:

There are no recorded side effects.

In high internal dosage and prolong usage can cause stomach irritation, nausea, loose stools.

Due to its spermicidal effect of saponin content it is best to avoid its oral usage in patient taking treatment for infertility.

Ayurvedic Formulations:

Common Ayurvedic Formulations of Shikakai with their Indications
Sri Sri Tattva Shikakai Henna Shampoo - It is mainly used in the treatment of hair fall , makes hair soft and lustrous.
Trichup Herbal Hair Pack Powder
G3 Triple Action Ayurvedic Hair Wash - G3 Hair Wash keeps hair soft, silky and manageable. It is completely safe & free from harmful chemicals.
Herbal Shikakai Henna Shampoo
Rovaan Herbal Shampoo
Hairvit Oil