N. 0. LEQ0MIN0S.E. 
413 
358. Psoralea corylifolia, Linn, h . f . b . i ., ii . 103, 
Roxb. 588. 
Sans. : — Sugandha, kantak, avalgiga, vakuchi, sonia-raj. 
Vern . : — Buckchi, babchi (H.); Hakuch (B.); Bawachi (Bomb.); 
Karpoo-garishi, karpugan, karu, bogi-vittula (Tam.); Kour- 
gestum, bapungie (Tel.) ; Kourkoal (Mai.) ; Bawcban (Duk.) ; 
Babehi (Pb.). 
Habitat : — Plains; from the Himalayas throughout India 
proper. 
An erect, annual, herbaceous under-shrub, l-3ft. high. Bran- 
ches firm, copiously gland-dotted. The plant under preser- 
vation lives for several years, six or seven or even more, 
reaching a height of 6 or 7 ft. Leaves simple, distinctly petioled, 
roundish, l-3in. long, inciso-repand, firm in texture, both 
sides conspicuously dotted with black dots, very glabrescent. 
Racemes dense, short. Flowers 10-30, in dense, copious, long- 
poduncled heads. Calyx nearly sessile, fin., teeth lanceolate, 
long, the lowest long. Corolla yellow, a little exscrted. Pod 
small, black, sub-globose, glabrous. 
Use : —Native works on Materia Medica describe the seeds 
as hot and dry, or, according to some, cold and dry, laxative, 
stimulant and aphrodisiac. They are recommended in leprosy, 
and other chronic skin diseases, and are given internally and 
applied externally as a plaster ; they are also said to be useful 
in bilious affections and as an anthelmintic (Dymock). 
In southern India, they are used as a stomachic and deob- 
struent, and prescribed in lepra and other cutaneous diseases 
(Ainslie' 
An oleature of Bavchi for use in leprosy internally and 
externally was once prepared by Mr. D. S. Kemp, so far back 
as 1870. 
In the Concan, the seeds are used in making a perfumed 
oil which is applied to the skin (Dymock.). Rai Bahadur K. L. 
Dey speaks highly of the oleo-resinous extract of the seeds, 
diluted with simple ointment, as an application to Ieucoderma. 
After application for some days the white patches appear to 
become red or vascular ; sometimes a slightly painful sensation 
