PTEROCARPUS MARSUPIUM · THE INDIAN KINO TREE

Everything You Need to Know About the Herb, the Wood, and the Ritual

Vijaysar is the Ayurvedic name commonly used for Pterocarpus marsupium, a medicinal tree also known as Indian kino. The tree is also called Bijasar in Hindi, and classical Ayurvedic texts refer to it as Asana or Bijaka.

First, Vijaysar products may use heartwood, bark, gum, flowers, or extracts, but these materials are not interchangeable. For example, the familiar reddish-brown Vijaysar wood tumbler is usually made from heartwood, whereas capsules may contain powdered bark, wood, or a concentrated extract.

Explore Products Get Free Consultation
Traditional Vijaysar wooden cup with herbal drink

About The Herb

What is Vijaysar, exactly?

Vijaysar is the heartwood of Pterocarpus marsupium — a tall, deciduous tree that grows wild across the forests of India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. You'll find it in the Western Ghats, the Karnataka-Kerala belt, and scattered through the hills of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. It's not a hard tree to spot once you know what you're looking for: smoky-grey bark with vertical cracks running down it, yellow flowers, and a reddish sap (called "kino") that seeps out wherever the bark is cut.

People have been using this tree for a very long time. It shows up in the Charaka Samhita, the Sushruta Samhita, the Bhavaprakasha, the Ashtanga Hridaya — pretty much every major classical Ayurvedic text has something to say about it. And it's usually said in the same breath as one word: diabetes. Vijaysar has been called "the Ayurvedic tree for diabetes" for so long that in a lot of Indian households, that's just what it's known for.

Vijaysar heartwood pieces used in traditional Ayurveda
Authentic Vijaysar heartwood
Application In Ayurveda

What's actually in the wood —
the modern research side

Here's the thing about a lot of Ayurvedic herbs: they get dismissed as "just folk medicine" until someone runs it through a lab, and then it turns out there's a real reason people have been using it for three thousand years. Vijaysar is a decent example of that.

Researchers have identified a handful of compounds in the heartwood that come up again and again:

01

Pterostilbene

— a polyphenol that's been studied specifically for its role in glucose metabolism

02

Marsupin and pterosupin

linked to protective effects on pancreatic beta cells

03

Epicatechin, liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin

flavonoids with antioxidant activity

04

Tannins and kinotannic acid

— the compounds behind its astringent taste and wound-healing use

One study worth mentioning: a 2022 paper in the journal Metabolites ran Vijaysar heartwood extract through GC-MS, UPLC-MS and HPTLC to map out its chemical profile, then tested it on liver cells. The extract improved glucose uptake in those cells and appeared to protect them from oxidative stress. It's not the final word on how Vijaysar works — no single study is — but it's a decent bridge between "this is what Ayurveda has always said" and "here's a plausible mechanism for why."

Ayurveda Pharmacy

Vijaysar, in two authentic
forms.

Formulated and dispensed by Madhufit — available at madhufit.in.

Vijaysar Heartwood Pure Heartwood Pieces & Powder

Vijaysar (Single Herb)

Single-herb Pterocarpus marsupium. Traditionally used as a daily decoction for blood sugar and Kapha-Meda balance.

View Product →
Vijaysar Capsule Standardised Heartwood Extract

Vijaysar Capsule

A convenient daily capsule of standardised Vijaysar heartwood for those who prefer a measured dose.

View Product →
Madhufit
About Madhufit

25 years of excellence in the field of Ayurveda.

Madhufit Clinic & Research Center, based in Jaipur, India, is a working Ayurvedic hospital, traditional pharmacy and international training institute. Patients from over sixty countries have consulted our Vaidyas for Panchakarma therapy, classical formulations and authentic Ayurvedic care — including remedies built around Vijaysar.

25+

Years of Practice

200+

Classical Formulations

60+

Countries Served
About the Clinic →
Free Email Consultation

Speak with an Ayurvedic doctor — without a fee.

Share your concern in a short message. A qualified Vaidya from Madhufit will respond with personalised guidance — herb suitability, preparation, dosage and lifestyle suggestions for your constitution.

✉ Get Free Consultation

♡ Personalised Advice

Recommendations based on your prakriti and current sugar levels.

⚗ Herb Suitability

Whether Vijaysar — and in what form — is right for you.

🩺 Doctor Guidance

Direct response from a practising Ayurvedic physician.

Doctor-Led Personalisation

One herb. Many forms. The right
choice is personal.

Ayurveda is not a one-size remedy. A short conversation with a Vaidya ensures Vijaysar reaches you in the form, dose and combination that best supports your constitution — and that it works safely alongside any medication you are already taking.

I

Prameha & Madhumeha

The classical answer to Prameha (urinary disorders) and Madhumeha (diabetes). Pramehaghna and Medohara — moderating blood sugar and excess Meda dhatu.

II

Metabolism & Weight

Lekhana (scraping) and Kapha- Medohara — used in Sthaulya (obesity) and dyslipidaemia, helping the body draw down accumulated fat and ama.

III

Skin & Wound Healing

Kushtaghna and Krimighna — featured in formulations for chronic eczema, persistent itching and slow-healing diabetic wounds.

For Practitioners

Clinical detail, sourcing and the
modern evidence base.

Ayurveda is not a one-size remedy. A short conversation with a Vaidya ensures Vijaysar reaches you in the form, dose and combination that best supports your constitution — and that it works safely alongside any medication you are already taking.

🧪

Effect on Agni & Dhatu

Mildly Deepana with strong Lekhana action on excess Kapha and Meda dhatu. Sheeta-Virya makes it Pittashamaka without aggravating Vata at therapeutic doses. Particularly active on Rasa, Rakta and Meda.

⚗

Dosage & Forms

Tumbler infusion: 150–200 ml daily. Kwatha: 50–100 ml. Churna: 3–6 g/day. Capsules: 1–2 twice daily.

✔

Quality Control & Sourcing

Heartwood sourced from authenticated Pterocarpus marsupium, identity-tested and manufactured under GMP-certified standards.

Why people choose the MADHUFIT tumbler

We keep this simple, because the ritual itself is simple. The tumbler is carved from genuine Pterocarpus marsupium heartwood — not a dyed substitute — sized so a full morning dose fits comfortably. No capsules, no powder to measure, nothing to add to your routine except a glass of water you were probably going to drink anyway. It's built around what Ayurveda has used for centuries, and what current research is slowly catching up to explaining.

amazon flipkart

Want to start? Scan the QR Shop the MADHUFIT Vijaysar Herbal Tumbler

Opera Mobile App
Questions people actually ask

Common questions, answered.

What is Vijaysar?

The heartwood of Pterocarpus marsupium, a tree native to India, Nepal and Sri Lanka — used in Ayurveda mainly to support healthy blood sugar, along with digestion and skin health.

What's a Vijaysar wood glass actually for?

It's for making Vijaysar-infused water. Leave water in it overnight, it turns amber by morning, and you drink it — that's the entire ritual.

How long does the wood last?

About 3 years of regular use. Once the water stops turning brown overnight, it's done its job.

Does it interact with diabetes medication?

It can add to the effect, so it's worth keeping an eye on your levels and mentioning it to your doctor, especially in the first few weeks.

Can I use it long-term?

Yes — it's a Rasayana herb, meant for consistent long-term use rather than a short course. Checking in with a practitioner now and then is still a good idea.

Is "Vijaysar" the same thing as "Vijaysar wood glass"?

Not quite. Vijaysar is the herb itself. A Vijaysar wood glass (or tumbler) is the vessel carved from that wood, used to prepare the infused water.

Panchakarma

The deeper work of healing.

Panchakarma is Ayurveda's classical five-action cleansing and rejuvenation therapy — particularly valuable in Prameha and metabolic disorders. Madhufit offers Panchakarma as a residential, doctor-led programme for patients seeking deeper, structural healing.

Learn more about Panchakarma therapy →
Vamana
Virechana
Basti
Nasya
Raktamokshana
Shamana
Ayurveda Pharmacy

Reading & education.

All Articles.