Kutki
Picrorhiza kurroa
| Family | Plantaginaceae |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit | Katuki |
| हिंदी | कुटकी |
| മലയാളം | കടുരോഹിണി |
| Parts used | rhizome |
Protected / restricted — not offered — CITES Appendix II; on India's export negative list
Kutki is a small perennial herb with a creeping, woody rhizome, a rosette of toothed leaves and spikes of pale blue to white flowers. It grows on rocky, moist alpine slopes of the Himalayas, from Kashmir to Sikkim and Nepal, at high altitudes.
The intensely bitter rhizome, known in Ayurveda as Katuki, is traditionally used in bitter digestive and liver-supporting preparations. Wild over-harvesting has made it scarce, and it is listed on CITES Appendix II and on India's export negative list, so it is protected and restricted in trade and not offered here.
Articles are for general information about Ayurveda and personal care and are not medical advice. For any health condition, please see a qualified doctor.
