The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s10.t9.2

c5.s10.t9.2

Khadira or catechu is obtained by boiling the wood of *Acacia catechu* in water and inspissating the decoction. The Bhávaprakása mentions two varieties of catechu, namely, *khadira* or the ordinary dark brown catechu, and *kadara* or pale catechu. This last is known as *pápri khaer*, or catechu having a laminated structure. Fluckiger and Hanbury thus describe the preparation of pale catechu in Northern India. “Instead of evaporating the decoction to the condition of an extract, the inspissation is stopped at a certain point and the liquor allowed to cool, “coagulate,” and crystallize over twigs and leaves thrown into the pots for the purpose.”³ Pale catechu is a porous, opaque, earthy looking substance with a laminated texture, light and easily broken.