Baheda - Terminalia bellirica

Baheda (Terminalia bellirica), also known as Bibhitaki, is a large deciduous tree native to Southeast Asia and widely used in Ayurvedic medicine. It is among the three key fruits that make up the famous Triphala blend. Baheda is traditionally valued for its rejuvenating, detoxifying, and antimicrobial properties, and is used in the treatment of respiratory, digestive, and eye disorders.

Baheda Scientific Names

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Angiosperms
Class: Eudicots
Order: Myrtales
Family: Combretaceae
Genus: Terminalia
Species: Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb.

Terminalia bellirica Common Name

English: Beleric Myrobalan, Baheda
Sanskrit: Bibhitaki, Karshaphala
Hindi: Baheda
Tamil: Thandrikai
Telugu: Tani
Bengali: Bohera
Marathi: Behada

Terminalia bellirica Uses

Digestive Health - Acts as a mild laxative, helps relieve constipation and improves digestion.

Respiratory Relief - Beneficial in managing cough, asthma, and bronchitis due to its expectorant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Eye and Vision Support - Traditionally used as a rasayana (rejuvenative) to improve vision and eye strength.

Antimicrobial and Detoxifying - Exhibits antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties, Known for liver detox and enhancing skin health.

Hair and Scalp Benefits - Powder used to support hair growth, prevent dandruff, and darken hair naturally.

Phytochemical Constituents

Baheda contains multiple bioactive compounds contributing to its wide-ranging therapeutic effects:

Tannins: Gallic acid, Ellagic acid, Chebulagic acid
Lignans: Termilignan, Thannilignan
Flavonoids: Quercetin
Phenolic Compounds: Beta-sitosterol, Anolignan-B
Others: Saponins, Glycosides, and various fatty oils

References

Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API), Part I, Vol. I, Govt. of India, Ministry of AYUSH.

Sharma, P. V. (2000). Dravyaguna Vijnana, Vol. II, Chaukhambha Bharati Academy, Varanasi.

Chopra, R. N., Nayar, S. L., & Chopra, I. C. (1956). Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants, CSIR, New Delhi.

Kiritikar, K.R., & Basu, B.D. (2005). Indian Medicinal Plants, Vol. III, Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun.

Singh, D. P., & Gupta, R. S. (2011). "Pharmacological potential of Terminalia bellirica: A review." International Journal of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 2(11), 1236-1245.

Gupta, A., & Kumar, R. (2020). "A comprehensive review on phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of Terminalia bellirica." Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research, 13(5), 11-16.

European Pharmacopoeia, 10th Edition, Council of Europe.

WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants, Volume 4. World Health Organization, Geneva.