Babchi (Psoralea) 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Babchi (Psoralea) 100 g ($11.99), 50 g ($8.99), 25 g ($5.99)

Benefits
Psoralea is one of the main herbs in traditional Chinese and Japanese herbal medicine for the treatment of skin conditions. It has been used in the treatment of eczema and hair loss. In addition, in cell studies it acts against staph infections and may help stimulate the heart. The Chinese name of this herb, bu gu zhi, means “tonify bone resin.” Psoralea is used to promote bone calcification, making it useful in combination with conventional therapies for osteoporosis and bone fractures. Psoralens, components in psoralea, are active principles for inducing pigmentation of the skin. They cause residual pigmentation when applied on hypopigmented skin, together with increased blood flow and melanin-producing activity in the affected area.

Psoriasis. Psoralea is a natural source of psoralens, a group of chemicals that includes the active ingredient of a conventional psoriasis medication called methoxsalen (8-MOP, Oxsoralen-Ultra). Psoralens make ultraviolet-light therapy for this disorder more effective.

Vitiligo. Psoralea helps with vitiligo, a disorder in which patches of skin lose their pigmentation. In one study, forty-nine patients underwent six months of psoralea treatment. Of these patients, 14 percent were cured and another 19 percent regained pigmentation on at least two-thirds of the affected skin.
Skin, Hair, Nails  In Babchi there is Psoralen, Isopsoralen, Psorelidin, Isopsoralidin and Corylifolin etc. are present. Due to Psoralin & Isopsoralin pigments, it helps to provide natural colour to skin & helps to maintain normal complexion of body. Supports healthy complexion and purifies the blood. Babchi helps to support healthy skin colour and useful for dry skin. Provides calcium to body in natural form, so helps in strengthening bones. It may improve the flow of blood and enhance the activity to produce melanin pigments on the unhealthy areas of skin and also maintain healthy colour of skin, hair, and nails.
Babchi alleviates Kapha (Water) and Vata (Air) Doshas (Humor/Vitiation) but aggravates the Pitta (Agni/Fire) Dosha.

Recommended Use
Psoralea is available in capsules under the names psoralea seed capsule, scurfy pea, and bu gu zhi. Psoralea is unusual in that it can sensitize the skin to both healing and harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. Unless this herb is being used to treat a light-sensitive disorder, use sunscreen or avoid sun exposure when taking it. If mild stomach upset occurs when using psoralea, take a ginger tea.

You should not take psoralea with licorice root. In a few cases, local application may irritate the skin and cause blistering.

Botanical Name: Psoralea corylifolia
English: Babchi, Purple Fleabane
Also, known as: Somaraaji, Somavalli, Somavallik, Soma, Chaandri, Vaakuchi, Baakuchi, Avalguja. (Somaraaji and Avalguja have also been equated with Centratherum anthelminticum.) Baabchi, Bakuchi, Karpoogaarisi, Avalguja, Somaraji, Habucha, Bakuchi, Somraji, Hakucha, Veeja, Bavachi, Babchi, Bavachi, Bakuchi, Bauchige, Bhavantibeeja, Bhavanchigid, Babchi, Karkokil , Bawchi Bakuchi, Babchi, Bavchi, Karpokarısı, Karpogalarisi, Karbogalarisi, Bavanchalu Babchi
Habitat: Asia
Origin: India
Harvested: Cultivated
Parts Used: Seed

General Information:
Psoralea is a climbing bean found throughout China. Psoralea seeds, which are harvested in the fall when they have ripened, should be large, solid, and black. Unlike garden beans, psoralea seeds are pungent and bitter.

Psoralea corylifolia grows 50-90 cm tall and is an annual plant. It has pale-purple flowers in short, condensed, axillary spikes. Its corolla is pale purple. Flowers one-seeded fruits. The most distinctive feature is the occurrence of minute brown glands which are immersed in surface tissue on all parts of the plant, giving it a distinctive and pleasant fragrance. The Fruits is dark chocolate to almost black with pericarp adhering to the seed-coat, 3-4.5 mm long, 2-3 mm broad, ovoid-oblong or bean-shaped, somewhat compressed, glabrous rounded or mucronate, closely pitted, seeds campylotropous, nonendospermous, oily and free from starch, odorless, but when the chewed smell of a pungent essential oil felt, taste, bitter, unpleasant and acrid.

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. So you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

How Much To Use
It is common that 10g of a fresh herb = 1g when dehydrated.
So for babchi, a recommended amount is 3 grams (half teaspoon) 2 times a day with water 1-2 hours after meals. Take the first dose after breakfast.