1. a tropical Asian tree (Hydnocarpus kurzii) or its oil, formerly used in the treatment of leprosy and other skin diseases
Usage: also spelled chaulmugra; medical/historical term; the oil was an important therapeutic agent before modern antibiotics

Examples

• Chaulmoogra oil was a standard treatment for leprosy in the early twentieth century.
• The chaulmoogra tree is native to Southeast Asia and produces seeds rich in medicinal oil.
• Before the discovery of sulfone drugs, physicians relied on chaulmoogra injections to treat Hansen's disease.
• Historical medical records document the use of chaulmoogra in dermatological practice.
• The active compounds in chaulmoogra oil were studied extensively by pharmaceutical researchers.