Panchavalkala Kwath in classical Ayurveda

What it is

Panchavalkala ("five barks") is a compound of the stem barks of five trees, mixed in equal proportion according to the Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI):

• Nyagrodha: Ficus benghalensis (banyan)
• Udumbara: Ficus racemosa (also cited as F. glomerata, a synonym)
• Ashvattha: Ficus religiosa (peepal)
• Parisha/Parisa: Thespesia populnea
• Plaksha: Ficus lacor (also cited as F. infectoria, a synonym)

The composition was verified in a 2018 standardization study by CCRS (Ministry of AYUSH) authors reviewing the AFI formula. (J Ayu Med Sci 3(2):356–368, 2018)

As a kwath, the equal-part bark mixture is coarsely powdered and simmered as a decoction, following the classical kwatha method (Sharangadhara tradition). (Wisdomlib: WJPR review)

Classical properties

• Taste (rasa): astringent (Kashaya)
• Qualities (guna): dry (Ruksha)
• Potency (virya): cooling (Sheeta)
• After digestion (vipaka): pungent (Katu)
• Doshas: traditionally said to settle Pitta and Kapha; may increase Vata

Traditional use

In Ayurvedic practice Panchavalkala is a classic five-bark preparation of wound (vrana) care. The AFI indications recorded for it are inflammation due to wound, ulcer, syphilis, leucorrhoea and conjunctivitis, used as a paste (lepa) or decoction. Sushruta grouped these barks within the Nyagrodhadi category of wound-healing drugs. (J Ayu Med Sci 2018; Natl J Maxillofac Surg 2024) Traditionally the decoction is used as a wash for wounds and ulcers, and as an external wash in leucorrhoea; these are classical indications, not trial-proven therapies.

What research has looked at

Surgical-incision healing (randomized trial, 2024)

The strongest evidence is a randomized, single-blinded 44-patient trial in patients undergoing incisions for zygomatico-frontal fracture surgery. Three Panchavalkala extracts (water, alcohol, hydroalcohol) were compared with a Neosporin group, each applied to the incision for 21 days and assessed on days 1, 7, 15 and 30 with the Bhat wound-healing scale. At day 30 there were no statistically significant differences between any groups on any wound-healing variable: all wounds had healed. The hydroalcohol extract showed the greatest improvement ordering, followed by the alcohol and water extracts and then Neosporin, but this ordering was descriptive rather than statistically significant. The study was self-funded with no reported conflicts, and the authors explicitly noted the small sample size and limited generalizability. (Natl J Maxillofac Surg 15(1), 2024) Takeaway: this was a small trial in which all wounds healed alongside surgical care; the evidence is preliminary, and Panchavalkala is not a treatment for wounds. Never use it in place of, or alongside, prescribed medicine without your doctor.

Post-fistulectomy wound healing (comparative study, 2015)

In a 90-patient comparative study of wounds after fistula-in-ano surgery, healing was 76.14% with Nishadya taila, 70.62% with Panchavalkala kwath, and 82.96% with the combination; the authors reported no adverse effects in any group. This was not blinded, so it is weaker evidence than the 2024 RCT. (Meena et al., Anc Sci Life 2015, via AyurLog review)

Wound cleansing and microbial load (clinical study, 2014)

A clinical study (Bhat et al., Ayu 2014) tested a Panchavalkala cream for vrana shodhana (wound cleansing), reporting effects on microbial load and wound infection: supporting the traditional use of the barks as a wound wash, though the trial itself was small. (Cited in Natl J Maxillofac Surg 2024)

Antimicrobial activity (laboratory studies)

In disc-diffusion testing, Panchavalkala Kashaya showed activity against oral microbes including Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. A separate review of the formulation's antimicrobial work found the tannin fraction most active. These are in-vitro findings and cannot be extrapolated to treatment effects. (Rekha et al., JRIM; IJAPR review)

Safety notes

• The human studies above reported no adverse effects with the research preparations used. (Meena et al., via AyurLog)
• Do not apply a homemade decoction to surgical, diabetic, deep, bleeding or infected wounds. The trial evidence covers standardized, sterile research extracts used alongside surgical care: not home preparations, which may carry microbial contamination.
• Internal (oral) use is classical, but the published human trials studied topical application; systemic safety and long-term use data for drinking the decoction are limited: consult a qualified practitioner.
• In the surgical trial, pregnancy and known hypersensitivity were exclusion criteria; safety in pregnancy, lactation and children is not established, so it is best avoided without medical guidance. (Natl J Maxillofac Surg 2024)
• Safety data is limited: talk to a clinician.

FAQs

Which five barks are in Panchavalkala kwath?

Equal proportions of stem bark of Nyagrodha (Ficus benghalensis), Udumbara (Ficus racemosa, syn. F. glomerata), Ashvattha (Ficus religiosa), Parisha (Thespesia populnea) and Plaksha (Ficus lacor, syn. F. infectoria), as standardized in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India. Different regional sources may use the listed synonyms; they refer to the same species. (J Ayu Med Sci 2018)

What is Panchavalkala kwath traditionally used for?

The AFI indications are inflammation due to wounds, ulcers, syphilis, leucorrhoea and conjunctivitis, used as a paste or decoction wash. It is one of the classical vrana (wound) remedies of the Nyagrodhadi group. These are traditional formulary indications; only the wound-healing use has any clinical-trial support. (J Ayu Med Sci 2018)

Does research show it heals wounds?

A small 44-patient randomized trial studied standardized Panchavalkala extracts on surgical incisions alongside a Neosporin group; all wounds healed by day 30, with no significant differences between groups. A separate comparative study after fistula surgery reported about 71% healing with the kwath alone. Results are encouraging but the trials are small: they do not show it can replace standard care. Never use it in place of, or alongside, prescribed medicine without your doctor. (Natl J Maxillofac Surg 2024; AyurLog review)

How is the kwath prepared?

Classically, the equal-part bark powder is simmered and strained as a decoction by the Sharangadhara method. The clinical trial instead used standardized extracts: home preparation does not reproduce a research preparation. (Wisdomlib: WJPR review)

Can it be used for leucorrhoea (vaginal discharge)?

The AFI lists leucorrhoea among the indications for the decoction, used traditionally as an external wash. However, no published clinical trial has tested Panchavalkala for this use, so it remains a traditional practice rather than an evidence-based therapy: discuss with a qualified practitioner rather than self-treating. (J Ayu Med Sci 2018)

Is it safe to drink Panchavalkala kwath daily?

Classical texts include internal use, but the available human studies tested topical application only, and none reported adverse effects. Systemic safety and long-term use have not been studied in published trials, so daily internal use should not be started without guidance from a qualified practitioner. (Meena et al., via AyurLog)

Sources

• Tier 1 — Jayadevan A.P. et al., "Pharmacopoeial standardization of Panchavalkala Churna," J Ayu Med Sci 3(2):356–368, 2018 (AFI composition, botanical identities). jayumedsci.com
• Tier 1 — "Comparative Evaluation of Soft Tissue Wound Healing in Zygomatico-Frontal Fractures Using Panchavalkala Extracts Versus Neosporin: A Randomized Study," Natl J Maxillofac Surg 15(1), 2024 (44-patient RCT, methods and results). ovid.com
• Tier 1 — Meena et al., "A comparative clinical study of wound healing in fistula in ano" (Nishadya taila vs Panchavalkala kwath), Anc Sci Life 2015, summarized in AyurLog review (90 patients, healing rates, no adverse effects). ayurlog.com
• Tier 2 — Bhat K.S. et al., "Efficacy of Panchavalkala cream in vrana shodhana w.s.r. to its action on microbial load and wound infection," Ayu 35:135–140, 2014 (cited in NJMS 2024 reference list).
• Tier 2 — Rekha R. et al., "Antimicrobial activity of Panchavalkala Kashaya against oral microbes" (disc-diffusion, in-vitro). onlinejournals-heb.pen-nic.in
• Tier 2 — IJAPR review, "Panchavalkala: a review" (AFI indications, tannin antimicrobial work). ijapr.in
• Tier 3 — WJPR review via Wisdomlib (classical kwatha preparation method). wisdomlib.org

This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Do not apply homemade preparations to wounds; consult a qualified practitioner before using Panchavalkala kwath.