# Plant Monograph: Catechu
**Name of plant:**
Catechu
**Catch phrase (Carmina Gadelica or traditional invocation if available):**
**“The heart of the tree, gathered in strength; binding what is broken and guarding what is tender.”**
No Carmina Gadelica invocation specifically associated with catechu is recorded. Its medicinal tradition is principally South Asian.
**Family:**
Fabaceae
**Genus and species:**
*Senegalia catechu* (L.f.) P.J.H.Hurter & Mabb.
Synonym: *Acacia catechu* (L.f.) Willd.
**Other names:**
* Black catechu
* Cutch
* Catechu gum
* Khair
* Khadira
* Katha
* Kath
* Cachou
* *Acacia catechu*
* *Senegalia catechu*
* Khair tree
**Brief introduction:**
Catechu is a concentrated extract prepared primarily from the heartwood of *Senegalia catechu*, a thorny deciduous tree native to the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia. The tree is particularly associated with dry forests and woodland.
The heartwood is boiled in water and the resulting extract concentrated into a dark, astringent substance known as catechu or cutch. It has been used for centuries in **Ayurvedic and other South Asian medical traditions**, particularly for conditions involving excessive secretions, inflammation, wounds and disorders of the mouth and throat.
Catechu is exceptionally rich in tannins and catechins, giving it its characteristic dark colour and pronounced astringency.
**Traditional uses:**
* Used as an astringent for diarrhea and excessive intestinal secretions.
* Used traditionally for inflammation and irritation of the mouth and throat.
* Applied externally to wounds, ulcers and bleeding tissues.
* Used for gum disorders and oral inflammation.
* Traditionally employed for skin conditions characterized by excessive moisture or discharge.
**Historical use:**
* *Senegalia catechu* has an extensive history in Ayurvedic medicine under the name **Khadira**.
* Heartwood extract was traditionally used in preparations for oral and dental health.
* Catechu became an important ingredient in traditional betel quid preparations throughout South Asia.
* The concentrated extract was historically traded as a medicinal astringent and dyeing material.
* Catechu was incorporated into European pharmacopoeias as an astringent during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
**Parts used and method of use:**
* Heartwood.
* Concentrated aqueous heartwood extract.
Used as:
* Decoction of the heartwood.
* Concentrated dried extract (catechu/cutch).
* Gargle or mouth rinse after dilution.
* External wash or application to affected skin.
**Use in healing (modern herbal practice):**
* Used as a topical astringent for minor skin irritation.
* Used traditionally in preparations for mouth and gum inflammation.
* Used as a gargle for minor throat irritation.
* Traditionally employed for uncomplicated diarrhea because of its tannin content.
* Investigated experimentally for antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity.
Catechu's astringency provides a plausible pharmacological basis for several of its traditional topical and gastrointestinal applications, although modern clinical evidence is considerably stronger for some specific oral preparations than for broad systemic claims.
**Pharmacology and biochemistry:**
* **Catechin and epicatechin** — flavan-3-ols occurring in high concentrations.
* **Tannins and condensed tannins** — responsible for much of the characteristic astringency.
* **Quercetin and related polyphenols** — contribute antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.
Mechanisms:
* Tannins precipitate proteins on mucosal and skin surfaces, producing astringency and reducing local secretions.
* Polyphenols demonstrate antioxidant activity through free-radical scavenging.
* Experimental studies demonstrate antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects in extracts.
**Overall profile:**
Catechu is a **strongly astringent, tannin-rich botanical extract** with a long history in South Asian and historical Western herbal medicine. Its best-supported traditional pharmacological characteristic is local astringency, while antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions are supported primarily by laboratory research.
**Common dosage:**
* **Dried catechu extract, oral:** approximately 1–2 g daily in divided traditional preparations; modern use should follow a standardized product label.
* **Heartwood decoction:** approximately 2–5 g dried heartwood prepared as a decoction.
* **Gargle/mouth rinse:** diluted aqueous extract used locally and **not swallowed**.
* **External preparation:** diluted decoction or extract applied to affected skin.
Internal dosing should not be treated as interchangeable between raw heartwood, concentrated extract and commercial catechu products.
**Safety factors (including side effects):**
* High tannin content can cause nausea, constipation or gastrointestinal irritation when taken internally.
* Excessive astringent use may interfere with absorption of some nutrients and medicines.
* Avoid medicinal internal use during pregnancy and breastfeeding unless specifically advised by a qualified healthcare professional.
* Concentrated preparations may irritate sensitive tissues or cause allergic reactions.
* Prolonged high-dose internal use is inappropriate because concentrated tannin exposure has not been adequately studied for long-term safety.
**First aid / adverse reaction response:**
* **Mild gastrointestinal irritation:** discontinue use and monitor symptoms.
* **Constipation:** discontinue or reduce exposure; seek advice if persistent.
* **Skin irritation:** wash the affected area thoroughly and discontinue external application.
* **Suspected excessive ingestion:** contact a poison-control centre or medical professional for guidance.
* **Difficulty breathing, facial swelling or severe allergic reaction:** seek emergency medical attention immediately.
**Drug interactions:**
* Tannins may reduce absorption of orally administered medicines by binding compounds in the gastrointestinal tract.
* Catechu should be separated from important oral medicines when clinically appropriate.
* High-tannin preparations may theoretically reduce absorption of iron and other minerals.
* Because standardized interaction studies are limited, concentrated catechu should be used cautiously alongside prescription medicines.
**Horticultural requirements:**
* **USDA / Canadian zone:** Approximately USDA zones 9–11; generally unsuitable for outdoor cultivation in most of Canada.
* **Soil pH:** Approximately 6.0–8.0; tolerates moderately alkaline soils.
* **Light requirements:** Full sun.
* **Moisture:** Moderate to low once established; prefers well-drained soil and tolerates seasonal drought.
**Other notes (growth habit, harvest timing, etc.):**
* **Growth habit:** Medium-sized, thorny deciduous tree, commonly reaching approximately 10–15 m.
* **Flowering/fruiting:** Small pale yellow to cream flowers occur in spikes; flattened legumes develop afterward.
* **Harvest timing:** Heartwood is harvested from mature trees; traditional extraction involves chipping the heartwood and boiling it in water.
* **Habitat:** Dry deciduous forests, woodland and savanna-like environments of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
* **Propagation/cultivation notes:** Propagated primarily from seed. Requires warm conditions and good drainage. The species tolerates drought once established and is capable of nitrogen fixation through its legume symbiosis.
**Sampling of clinical reports / studies:**
* **Clinical evidence:** Catechu has a long pharmacopoeial history as an astringent, particularly for oral and gastrointestinal applications, although modern controlled clinical trials are limited.
* **Pharmacological study:** Extracts demonstrate experimental antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and astringent activity.
* **Phytochemical study:** Heartwood is particularly rich in catechin, epicatechin, condensed tannins and other polyphenols.
* **Ethnobotanical evidence:** Extensive Ayurvedic and South Asian traditional use exists under the name **Khadira**, including oral, gastrointestinal, dermatological and wound applications.
* **Overall assessment of evidence:** **Strong historical and ethnobotanical evidence for a tannin-rich astringent medicine; plausible pharmacological activity is well established experimentally, but modern clinical evidence is limited for systemic therapeutic claims.**
Educational Use Only: The information presented on this page is provided for educational, historical, and informational purposes only. ArdNemeton na Tuatha and Bhùth Draoi do not provide medical advice. Always consult your physician and pharmacist before using any herb, mushroom, supplement, or botanical product for medicinal purposes. Traditional uses described herein do not constitute medical claims.