Butea Monosperma: The Treasure of God (Palash, Flame of the forest)

Table of Contents

“The Palash should be planted in the South-East direction as it represents the planet, Moon. The roots are used in ritual ceremonies to pacify the negative effect of Chandra graha.”

1. Introduction

Butea Monosperma, also known as the “flame of the forest or palash” with scarlet and orange flowers is a well-known tree of India. The tree attains its Sanskrit name because of its beautiful foliage. The genus Butea is named after the Earl of Bute, a patron of botany, and monosperma means single-seeded.

In Hindi mythology, Palasha is considered an auspicious tree, it is believed that the tree is a form of Agni Deva, the God of Fire. Its flowers are offered to Goddess Kali as a substitute of blood in sacrifice rituals. Its wood is used in sacrificial ceremonies to God. This sacred tree is known as the treasure of God.

Butea gum, seeds, and leaves of the tree all have medicinal properties, ancient scriptures described Palash as a plant with immense medicinal and economical potential. Chakradutta has been advised to use its gum for external applications. Sharangdhar considered its seeds wormicidal. Sodhala used its root juice in netraroga, flowers in blindness, seeds in worm infestation, and stem as rasayana drug.  In folklore medicine, gum is used in the treatment of mouth ulcers, sore throat, leucorrhea, diarrhea, and excessive perspiration.

Besides medicinal uses, Palash leaves are used in rural areas for making leaf plates, cups, and cattle fodder. The flowers yield an orange dye that is used to make material Holi colors. Bark fibers are used for making cordage, and gum is added to food dishes and the leather industry.

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2. Vernacular Names

• Bengali – Palash, Palas
• Kannada – Muttug, Muttala
• Bihari – Paras, Faras
• Gujrati – Kesudo, Khakharo
• Kashmiri – Dhak
• Konkani – Palash
• Malayalam – Plasu, Plas
• Tamil – Purasu, Paras
• Telugu – Moduga, Chettu
• Urdu – Dhak
• Punjabi – Palash, Dhak

3. Synonyms

• Brahmavrisha – It is considered the sacred tree to worship Lord Brahma.
• Kinshuka – The shape of the flower resembles the parrot’s beak.
• Ksharshreshtha – The alkali obtained from the plant is the best, and highly efficacious.
• Samidvara – Its wood used for samidha in yagana,
• Vatapotha – The plant is a renowned drug to pacify vatu disease.
• Yagyiya – The wood of the plant is used in sacrificial ceremonies.

4. Distribution

The tree is indigenous to India, but it is native to South Asia, especially in Indo-Gangetic plains, Malaysia, Nepal, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. It is described throughout India in dry deciduous forests of the Himalayas, Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Gujrat, and Madhya Pradesh.

5. Morphology

It is a medium-sized tree, 30 to 40 ft. in height, the leaves fall in winter and flowers bloom in February-March in small but dense clusters generally on leafless branches and the tree appears to be aflame. The fruits are flat pods with a single seed in each fruit.

The red color gum is called Bengal kino or butea gum. It is obtained from the tree, and it is rich in gallic and tannic acid. The seeds contain a yellow-fixed oil called moodooga oil or kino-tree oil, small quantities of resin, and large quantities of a water-soluble albuminoid. Fresh seed contains proteolytic and lipolytic enzymes. Seeds contain a nitrogenous acidic compound, along with palasonin.

Leaves

Trifoliate, long petiolate, in which terminal leaflet is big, rhomboidal in shape, lateral leaflets are ovate, coriaceous, thick, leathery in touch, ash green colored, glabrous above, finely silky beneath

Flowers

Bright orange-red, large, in rigid racemes, velvety, borne on leaflets branches from January to March. Each flower consists of five petals comprising one standard, two smaller wings, and a curved beak-shaped keel. It is this keel which gives it the name of parrot tree.

Fruit

Indehiscent, flat, thin, silky, stalked tomentose pod, 10 to 13 cm long, pendulous, thickened at the sutures, containing a single seed. The seeds are flat, kidney-shaped, wrinkled surface, reddish brown. The plant is propagated by seeds and root suckers.

6. Ayurvedic Properties

Flower

 Rasa (Taste): The flowers of Butea monosperma are believed to have astringent (Kashaya) and bitter (Tikta, Katu) taste.

Virya (Potency): They are cooling in nature (sheeta).

Vipaka (post-digestive taste): The post-digestive taste is slightly sweet (Madhura).

Guna: Laghu, Snigdha.

Doshaghanta (Intensity): Kaphapittashamaka (Kapha & Pitta balance)

Leaves, Bark, Seed, and Gum

Rasa (Taste): They are considered to have an astringent (Kashaya) and bitter (Tikta, Katu) taste.

Virya (Potency): They have heating properties (Ushna).

Vipaka (post-digestive taste): The post-digestive taste is pungent (Katu Vipaka).

Guna: Laghu, Ruksha.

Doshaghanta (Intensity): Kaphavatashamaka (Kapha & Vata balance)

7. Chemical Constituent

The plant is rich in alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, phenolic compounds, amino acids, glycosides, resin, saponin, steroids, and fatty acids. Some of the important constituents are as follows:

Bark

It consists of gallic acid, kino-tannic acid, pyrocatechin, allophanic acid, butolic acid, shellolic acid, butrin, butein, butin, alanid, palasitrin, cyanidin, histidine, palasimide and miroestrol.

Flower

It contains triterpene butrin, isobutrin, corepsin, sulphurein, isocoreopsin, aurones, steroids, glycosides and flavonoids.

Seed

It has palasonin, monospermoside, allophonic acid, flavone glycoside, fixed oil, and fatty acids.

Gum

It contains tannins, resin, pyrocatechin, and mucilaginous material.

Leaves

Have knio-oil containing oleic, linoleic, lingnoceric, and palmitic acid.

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8. Identity, Purity, and Strength

For Stem Bark

• Foreign Matter – Not more than 2%
• Total Ash – Not more than 12%
• Acid-insoluble ash – Not more than 1.5%
• Alcohol-soluble extractive – Not less than 10%
• Water-soluble extractive – Not less than 14%

For Gum

• Foreign Matter – Not more than 2%
• Total Ash – Not more than 3%
• Acid-insoluble ash – Not more than 1%
• Alcohol-soluble extractive – Not less than 69%
• Water-soluble extractive – Not less than 63%

For Seeds

• Foreign Matter – Not more than 1%
• Total Ash – Not more than 7%
• Acid-insoluble ash – Not more than 0.5%
• Alcohol-soluble extractive – Not less than 9%
• Water-soluble extractive – Not less than 25%

(Source: The Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India 1999, 2004)

9. Ayurvedic and Pharmacological Actions

Ayurvedic Actions

Ayurveda classics attributed carminative, aphrodisiac, laxative, absorbent, union promoter, hemostatic, refrigerant, antipyretic, diuretic, and rejuvenator.

Flowers

Absorbent, coolant, aromatic, hemostatic and pacify burning sensation.

Fruit

Laghu, ushna

Seeds

Bitter, hot, anthelmintic, antileprotic, and antidotes to poison.

Gum

Union promoting, aphrodisiac, tonic and astringent.

Bark

Carminative, stimulant, hemostatic.

Pharmacological Actions

The Pharmacological actions are anthelmintic, analgesic, anticonvulsant, antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiarrheal, antifertility, antimicrobial, antifungal, antibacterial, antistress, chemo-preventive, hepatoprotective, antistress, osteo-protective, antioxidant and wound-healing activities.

10. Health Benefits

The entire plant is widely used in the treatment of diverse ailments like:

• Flowers – Burning sensation, dysuria, thirst, gout, skin disease, pruritus, pain, bleeding disorders, fever, discharge of vagina.
• Fruit – Diabetes, piles, worm infestation, skin disease, abdominal disease, abdominal tumors, spleen diseases.
• Seeds - Worm infestation, poisoning, minor skin ailments.
• Gum – Wounds, debility, hemorrhage.
• Bark – Fracture healing, IBS, diarrhea, uterine disorders.

11. Therapeutic Uses

External Uses

Burning Sensation – In case of a burning sensation due to fever apply a cold paste prepared by leaves.

Eczema - Mix 5 grams of Butea seeds with lemon juice and apply it to the eczema skin.

Skin Problems - Take 20 grams of dried flower powder and soaked in water overnight, use this water for a bath, helps to protect from skin problems.

Swelling - Take 20 grams of dried flower powder mixed with water and apply it to the pain area.

Internal Uses

Worm Infestation – Regular consumption of Palash seeds, Kampillaka and Vidanga powder pounded with jaggery with buttermilk, helps to expel roundworms from the intestine.

Bleeding Disorders – Take the Palash flower and mix it with double the quantity of sugar that should be taken with milk.

Diarrhea – Drinking Palash flower decoction mixed with milk followed by warm milk is advised for diarrhea.

Rejuvenator – Intake of Palash seeds, Vidanga seeds and mixed with Amala juice with honey for a month gives an anti-ageing effect.

Diabetes - Take 5 grams of Butea Monosperma leaves with water twice a day before a meal, which helps to control blood sugar and diabetes.

Mensuration Problem - Take 5 grams powder of dried flower with water, gives relief in mensuration problem, treat impotency.

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12. Official Part Used

Seeds, Bark, Fruit, Gum, and Leaves.

13. General Doses

• Seed Powder – 3 to 6 gm
• Bark Powder – 50 to 100ml
• Gum – 1 to 3gm

14. Hair Pack Recipe

Try this hair pack recipe at home, it is best to control hair fall and promote hair growth. Use this hair pack 2 times a month, you will see the visible results after 4-5 months.

Ingredients

• Butea Monosperma flower powder - 2 tbsp.
• Onion juice - 2 tbsp.
• Indian Gooseberry powder - 1 tbsp.
• Black Cumin (Nigella) powder - 1tsp
• Brahmi Booti powder - 1 tsp
• Egg yolk - 1

Method

• Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and leave for 20-30 minutes.
• Apply this pack on clean hair, and leave it for 25-30 minutes
• Wash hair properly and give a gentle massage of olive oil.