Laksha (Lac) in Ayurveda: Properties & Everyday Use

In short

Laksha, known as lac in English, is a plant of the classical Ayurvedic tradition. Classical Ayurveda describes it as bitter and astringent in taste, dry in quality, and cooling by nature. It is known mainly through the classical texts rather than the everyday kitchen.

Good to know

This page is for learning, not a guide to taking it. If you're pregnant, nursing or take regular medication, check with your doctor before using it.

What it is

Laksha is lac: the scarlet resinous secretion of lac insects, of which the most commonly cultivated species is Kerria lacca Kerr (synonym Laccifer lacca), in the family Lacciferidae (order Hemiptera). The insects suck the sap of host trees, including Zizyphus mauritiana, Butea monosperma, and Schleichera oleosa, and secrete lac as a hard protective covering (Poorassar et al., 2020). It is a resin of animal origin, not a botanical drug: a botanical-accuracy point worth stating plainly, since "laksha" is often filed alongside herbs.

Crude lac is refined into seedlac and then shellac, a relatively pure form used as a sealing and coating compound in the pharmaceutical industry. Shellac is composed of roughly 70–80% resin, 6–7% wax, 4–8% coloring agents (including laccaic acids), plus debris (Poorassar et al., 2020).

Classical properties

Traditional use

Lac has a long classical history in India. Ayurvedic tradition uses it in the care of skin, bones and wounds: for skin burns, wound healing, bone fractures, fever, inflammation, and obesity (Poorassar et al., 2020, citing traditional sources). In the Unani system, lac is classified as a drug of animal origin and is described as haemostatic, a liver and stomach tonic, deobstruent, and antiobesity, and is used for conditions including obesity, hyperlipidemia, liver and spleen disorders, and cough (Perveen et al., Am. J. PharmTech Res. 2013). These are traditional descriptions, not clinical proof; the animal research is examined separately below.

What research has looked at

Antiobesity (animal study)

The only controlled study found was a 2020 experiment in male Wistar rats (Poorassar et al., Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences). Forty-eight rats were divided into eight groups (n=6) and fed a high-fat diet containing 0.1%, 0.2%, or 0.4% seedlac or shellac for 12 weeks. Both seedlac and shellac significantly prevented body-weight gain versus the high-fat-diet control, serum leptin levels fell in treated groups, shellac decreased triglycerides, and both raised HDL-cholesterol. Total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were unchanged (Poorassar et al., 2020). Treated rats also ate less food, so reduced intake may explain part of the effect.

Study limitations: a single small animal study from one laboratory, with no human data to follow it. It is a signal, not a verdict.

What has not been tested in humans

No human trials of lac for obesity, fracture healing, wound healing, liver disorders, or any other medicinal indication were located. Traditional uses for fractures, burns, and bleeding remain entirely untested in controlled studies. Marketing claims that go beyond the single rat study are ahead of the evidence.

Safety notes

FAQs

What is laksha?

Laksha (lac) is the resin secreted by the lac insect Kerria lacca (syn. Laccifer lacca Kerr), which lives on host trees in India, Thailand, and China. It is an animal-origin resin, not a plant (Poorassar et al., 2020).

Is laksha a plant or herb?

Neither: it is secreted by a scale insect (family Lacciferidae). Purified forms include seedlac and shellac, the latter used in pharmaceutical coatings (Poorassar et al., 2020).

Does laksha help with weight loss?

Only in rats so far. A 2020 study found seedlac and shellac reduced weight gain in rats on a high-fat diet and improved some lipid markers (Poorassar et al., 2020). No human trials exist, so weight-loss claims in people are unproven.

What is shellac made from?

Shellac is refined lac, about 70–80% resin, 6–7% wax, and 4–8% coloring agents (laccaic acids), produced by melting and filtering seedlac (Poorassar et al., 2020).

Is laksha safe to take?

Unknown. No human safety trials of medicinal lac were found. Its use as a food/pharmaceutical coating does not establish the safety of medicinal doses. Avoid self-dosing and consult a qualified practitioner.

Sources

Disclaimer

This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Herbal products can interact with medications and are not suitable for everyone. Talk to a qualified healthcare practitioner before use — especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, managing a medical condition, or taking prescription medicines.

Related herbs

Herbs with overlapping classical actions and dosha effects in the Swastik herb library.