priyala :

Charoli is called Priyala in Ayurveda. It is used as a cooking spice. It is aphrodisiac, nourishing, cardiac tonic but it may cause indigestion.

Buchanania lanzan is a deciduous tree which produces seeds that are edible to humans. It is known as Chironji (or Charoli). These almond-flavoured seeds are used as a cooking spice primarily in India. Buchanania lanzan is cultivated across India, primarily in the northwest. After the hard shell is cracked, the stubby seed within is as soft as a pine nut.

The charoli seed is lentil-sized, is slightly flattened and has an almond-like flavour. Though they can be eaten and used raw they are often toasted or roasted before use, as this intensifies the flavour.

They are commonly used in sweets in India. However, they are also ground into powders for thickening savory sauces and flavoring batters, and stewed into rich, meaty kormas.

Charoli seeds are used in the Ayurveda and Unani systems of medicine.

Taxonomical Classification

Family: Anacardiaceae

VERNACULAR NAMES

Sanskrit: Chironji चिरौन्जी, Chirounji, Chiraunji, Charoli, Priyal, charoli, chiraunji, chironji, kath bhilawa.
English: almondette, cheronjee, cuddapah almond
Urdu: chironji.
Telugu: Sara chettu, Morli, chaara, chaarumaamidi, saaraparuppu.
Marathi: char, chareli, charoli, chronji
Gujarathi: Charoli, चारोळी
Tamil: Karaka, சாரப்பருப்பு, saaraparuppu, saarai paruppu, caraiparuppu, pulimaangay.
Malayalam: cheru, kalamavu,mungalperlu.
Kannada: Nurkal, chaaraparuppu, chirapuli
Arabic: chirongi, habulsamnah
Persian: nakulekwajah

Mentions / Gana

Amradi Varga (Dhanvantari Nighantu)
Amradi varga (Raja NIghantu)
AmradiPhala Varga (Bhav prakasha)
Kakolyadi Gana (Sushruta Samhitha)
Nyagrodhadi Gana (Sushruta Samhitha)
Oushadhi varga (Kaiydeva Nighantu)
Phala Asava Yoni (Charaka Samhitha) - 26 fruit source of alcoholic preparations
Phalavarga (Sushruta Samhitha)
Shramahara (Charaka Samhitha) - group of herbs useful to relieve tiredness,
Udarda prashamana (Charaka Samhitha) - group of herbs useful in allergic skin diseases

Definition

Khara skandha – stem is rough to touch

Sannakadru – the tree bends forward

Dhanushpata – bark is used to prepare cloth for bows.

Chara, Dhanuspata, Rajadana,

Bahula valkala – has thick bark

Tapasesta, Dhanushpata, Drakshaphala, Munipriya, Amlaphala, Lalana, Khadru,

Snehabeeja – seed yields oil

Synonyms

Synonyms in Ayurveda: priyala, kharaskandh, bahalvalkal, snehabij, lalan, tapaspriya, caroli, ciraunji, karaka

Rasa: Madhura
Guna: Cala Guru Snigdha
Veerya: Sheetha
Vipaka: Maduram

Phytochemistry:

Kaempferol

Leaves – flavonoids and glycosides

Parts used for medicinal purpose

Bark, Nuts, Seed kernel, ,

Dosage:

Bark decoction 50-100 ml

Seed kernel – 10 – 20 grams per day.

How to use chironji –

It can be consumed raw or roasted and used as ingredient in cooking / dishes

Therapeutic Uses:

Health Benefits Of Chironji:

Bark – Balances Pitta and Kapha Dosha,

Asraghna – useful in blood disorders such as abscess, skin disorders, bleeding disorders such as menorrhagia, nasal bleeding etc.

Chironji nut uses:

Madhura – sweet

Amla – sour

Madhura Vipaka – undergoes sweet taste conversion during digestion process

Guru – heavy to digest

Snigdha – unctuous, oily

Sara – induces mobility, causes diarrhoea, purgation, relieves constipation

Balances Vata and Pitta Dosha

Indicated in:

Daha – burning sensation, as in gastritis, neuropathy, burning sensation in eyes etc

Jwara – fever

Trushna – excessive thirst

Brumhana – nourishing, nutritious

Vrushya – aphrodisiac, improves visor

Balya – improves strength and immunity

Charoli seed / seed kernel uses

Madhura – sweet

Vrushya – aphrodisiac, improves vigour

Balances Vata and Pitta Dosha

Hrudya – acts as cardiac tonic, congenial for heart

Atidurjara – difficult to digest

Snigdha – unctuous, oily

Vishtambhi – may cause constipation

May cause Ama – A product of indigestion and altered metabolism

Chironji oil

Chironji oil – Priyala Taila

Madhura – sweet

Madhura Vipaka – Undergoes sweet taste conversion during digestion process

Guru – heavy to digest

Increases Kapha Dosha

Keshya – Improves hair strength, promotes hair growth

Sheetala – coolant

Balances Vata and Pitta

Abhishyandi – sticks to the inner channels

Srushta mutra – acts as diuretic

Agnisada – may cause indigestion

Chironji oil is applied on hair to relieve grey hairs.

Chironji is used in making a dish called Shashkuli (Called Chakkuli in Kannada), along with other ingredients like black gram, ash gourd pulp etc – reference: Kaiyadeva Nighantu, Krutaanna Varga

Chirounji (Buchanania lanzan) mitigates vata effectively, is unctuous, cold in potency; its marrow is sweet, aphrodisiac,mitigates pitta and vata,

Kola majja (fleshy part of the ber fruit) is similar in properties with priyala majja (Seed kernel) relieves thirst, vomiting and cough. Ashtanga Hrudaya Sutrasthana 6/124

Charaka Sutrasthana 27/291

Oil of Priyala (Buchanania lanzan Spreng) is sweet in taste, heavy and aggravator of Kapha. Since it is not very hot, it is useful when Vata and Pitta are jointly aggravated. Charaka Sutrasthana 27/291

Chironji for skin

Chironji seeds along with other herbs like Tinduka, Manjishta (Rubia cordifolia), Usheera (Vetivr) etc are processed to prepare an oil, useful in treating Sadyovrana – acute ulcers and wounds.

Seed powder is used for Udvartana (powder massage) to slough debridement (remove top layer) in skin diseases.

The priyala seeds acquired from priyala fruit is colloquially known as saara paruppu in Tamil; as chronji in Hindi. The priyala fruit is commonly known as Apricot fruit in English.

The Apricot fruit is sweetish in taste. It is nourishes the tissues and increases the virility.

The epicarp of the apricot aggravates the pitta dosha.

The pulp or mesocarp of the apricot fruit is sweetish in taste, pleasant to eat, and appeases the pitta doSha.

Precautions:

It is not good to consume the nuts or seeds while having indigestion problem and during constipation.

It is used during pregnancy, lactation and in children.

Ayurvedic Formulations:

Common Ayurvedic Formulations of priyala with their Indications
Chandanadi Taila - a natural coolant oil. It is used to relieve burning sensation, dizziness, etc. External - Rakta vaatam, Nethra rogam, Rakta pitam.
Ashoka Ghrita - Herbal ghee used in gynaecological disorders.
Puga Khanda - used in the treatment of vomiting, gastritis, dyspepsia, abdominal colic pain, dizziness