Butea Monosperma, is also known with common names like Palash, Dhak, Palah, Flame of the Forest, Bastard Teak, Parrot Tree is a species of Butea native to tropical and sub-tropical parts of the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia, ranging across India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and western Indonesia
Butea is frequently used in Yagnas performed by priests in India.
- Its flowers are dried and colors made from it are used to playHoli
- It is also used to worship during Sivaratri and is believed that the tree is a form of Agnidev, God of Fire.
- Its gum is known as Bengal Kino and is considered valuable by druggists because of its astringent qualities and by leather workers because of its tannin.
- These colors prevent diseases like chicken pox which usually spread during that season. But excess usage of artificial colors these days has spoiled the health purpose behind playing Holi.
- It is also used as a dyeing color for fabric.
- This plant and its flowers control pollution in air wherever they grow.
Health Benefits Of Flame Of The Forest
As per Ayurveda, the tree balances Vata and Pitta. It has been used extensively in Ayurvedic, Unani and Homeopathic medicine. The extracts of various parts of the tree as well as the whole parts possess anti microbial, anti bacterial, anti fungal, hypogylcemic, anti inflammatory, astringent, tonic, aphrodisiac and diuretic properties.
Leaves
The leaves have astringent, carminative, anthelmintic, aphrodisiacal, tonic, anti inflammatory, antidiabetic, wound healing properties. A hot poultice of leaves relieves boils, pimples, skin ulcers, swelling and bleeding piles. The juice of leaves can be used as an enema. A decoction of the leaves treats leucorrhea and diabetes. They can be put into a douche to treat leucorrhea. The leaves are good for eye diseases.
Flowers
The flowers have astringent, anti diarrheal, anti cancer, hepato protective, anti oxidative, expectorant, diuretic, anti inflammatory, anti gonorrheal, tonic, aphrodisiacal and emmenagogue properties. They are also depurative, remove swelling and promote menstrual flow, prevent pus formation in urogenital tract of males. Extracts of flowers have free radical scavenging activity. They also have strong chemo protective effect.
Seeds
The seeds have anthelmintic activity. The seeds treat diarrhea, When ground and mixed with lemon juice, and applied, they can relieve itching of ringworm and eczema. The crushed seeds have the potency to kill maggots in wounds and sores. The fruit and seeds are useful in piles, eye diseases, inflammation. They cure skin diseases, abdominal troubles and tumors.
Bark
The bark is acrid and bitter and has appetizing, aphrodisiacal, laxative, anthelmintic, properties. It is useful in bone fractures, piles, hydrocele, liver disorders, gonorrhea, dysmenorrhea, biliousness and purifies blood. It cures diarrhea, dysentery, sore throat, ulcers, tumors and neutralizes snake bite poison. A paste of the stem bark relieves body swelling. Stem juice benefits if applied on goiter.
Roots
The roots possess anti fertility, aphrodisiacal and analgesic properties. They are useful in night blindness, filariasis, helminthiasis, piles, ulcers and tumors. They cure night blindness and other eye defects.
Gum
The gum is astringent to the bowels. It relieves stomatitis, cough, excessive perspiration and corneal opacitiy. The gum is used for treating diarrhea and dysentery. A decocotion or infusion of the gum is used as enema.
Some Specific Ayurvedic Remedies With Flame Of The Forest
Curing Cataracts in Eyes
Collected flowers of Butea Monosperma and extract their juice. Add Indian Beech seeds and let them soak for 48 hours. Then remove the seeds and make their paste with water (like extracting sandalwood paste). Apply this dilute paste to eyes (like kajal) and cataract will vanish.
Melting Kidney Stones
Make a soup with Butea Monosperma flowers in water by adding sugar. Having 100 ml of this soup twice a day will remove burning sensation in urination and also melt stones in kidney. Same soup can be used without sugar cures all liver related problems.
Curing Diabetes
Collect Butea Monosperma flowers during first half of lunar month (moon is waxing and before fullmoonday) and when moon is transiting Anuradha Nakshatra. Clean and dry them. On day 1, soak 1 flower in a cup of water all night and in the morning, squeeze its juice into water and drink that water. From day 2 till day 5, increase the flower count daily. On day 6, start decreasing the flower count (it should be 4 flowers on day 6) and continue till 9th day (it will be 1 flower on day 9). Repeat this cycle for 45 days and keep checking your blood sugar levels every 9th day. You will notice huge drop in sugar level before 45th day.
Curing Anaemia in kids
Take a white cotton shirt for kid. Soak squeezed Butea Monosperma flowers in water for half day and then soak the shirt in this water till its color turns RED. Make the kid wear this shirt before going to bed in the night. Along with this, use the method described above for melting kidney stones for 1 week.
Pain in Kidneys and blockage of Urination
Make a paste of Butea Monosperma flowers and heat it. Place this in a cotton cloth and use this as a hotbag to massage on skin over kidneys. This will give relief from pain. If massaged on navel, urine will be released immediately. If urine is still not release, mix rat droppings in that hot bag and massage on navel. Urine will be released without delay.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this hub is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your physician, or health care provider before taking any home remedies, supplements or starting a new health regime.
