Psoralea corylifolia

Psoralea corylifolia is a medicinal plant widely used in traditional Chinese medicine (as 补骨脂) and Ayurveda (as bakuchi or babchi). The seeds and fruits are the primary medicinal parts. It contains bioactive compounds such as psoralen, isopsoralen, bakuchiol, bavachin, bavachalcone, corylin, and various flavonoids and coumarins. Traditionally it has been used for skin disorders (vitiligo, psoriasis), to promote bone health and calcification, as an aphrodisiac and rejuvenative tonic for kidney yang deficiency symptoms (e.g., lower back pain), to treat respiratory conditions like asthma and coughs, digestive issues including constipation and indigestion, urinary tract disorders including enuresis/bedwetting/frequent urination in elderly men or children. Modern research suggests antioxidant activity; anti-inflammatory; antibacterial; antifungal; immunomodulatory; estrogenic; anticancer properties. However there is no robust clinical evidence supporting its efficacy for any indication[3][7]. Oral use of supplements can cause severe hepatotoxicity[3]. In TCM it is considered warm in nature with actions to tonify kidney yang energy.

Brand names

Babuchi

Other names

babchibakuchiCullen corylifoliumPsoraleae Fructus补骨脂