Ficus Religiosa: Health Benefits, Therapeutic Uses, Dosage - Pipal

Table of Content

1. Introduction

Ficus Religiosa, commonly known as the Peepal tree, is one of the best trees of India. It has a hard, cracked and greyish white bark with numerous offshoots and somewhat leathery, broadly oval shaped leaves with a longish tail and a narrow apex.

The tree is venerated by the Hindus and the Buddhists, it is believed that the rishis of yore meditated under it. It was beneath a peepal that Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment, and that particular tree came to be called Bodhi or the "tree of wisdom". In popular Indian folklore, the peepal is considered as the female to the male banyan.

The tree grows abundantly on the lower slopes of the Himalayas, Odisha and Central India. It grows wild in most parts of India, especially on the banks of rivers and lakes.

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2. Common Names

• Family - Moraceae
• Hindi Name - Pipal
• English Name - Sacred fig
• Synonyms - Bodhidru, Chalpatra, Gajashan.

3. Morphology

It is a fast-growing deciduous tall tree with cordate-shaped leaves and with few or no aerial roots. 

Leaves - Long petiole, cordate, shiny leaves, the apex is linear lanceolate tail about half long as the main portion of the blade.

Fruit - Occurring in pairs, depressed globose, smooth, purplish when ripe.

4. Ayurvedic Properties 

Rasa (Taste): It has Madhur, Kasaya (sweet, pungent) taste.

Virya (Potency): It is Sheeta in nature (cold).

Vipaka (Post-digestive taste): It is Katu (pungent) taste.

Guna (Qualities) – Guru, Ruksha.

Doshakarma  - Pitta-kaphahara.

5. Ayurvedic and Pharmacological Actions

Ayurvedic Actions

It has wound healing, disease of blood, disease of female genital organ, burning sensation, diabetes, hemorrhage, diarrhea and vomiting.

Pharmacological Actions

It has complexion promoter, astringent, purification of vagina, wound healing and astringent.

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6. Health Benefits

The bark and leaves of peepal are useful in treating many common ailments. Its leaves are laxative and a tonic, relieve feverish feeling and produce a feeling of coolness. They are also useful in arresting secretion or bleeding - about 50 ml of raw juice of leaves or 1 tsp of powdered dried leaves can be taken with water in such cases. 

It is beneficial in wound healing, disease of blood, diseases of female genital organs, burning sensation, diabetes, diarrhea, and vomiting's.

7. General Uses

Boils - A leaf smeared with lukewarm ghee can be bandaged on the boils, in initial stage if there is any pus formation, it will burst, and the boil will subside.

Bruises - Pills made with leaves are useful in bruises and wounds, to prepare these pills grind a few leaves mixed with 25 grams of jaggery and roll them into 8 pills. One pill taken daily with milk helps relieve pain due to injury.

Constipation - The leaves of the tree are useful in relieving constipation, leaves are dried in shade and powdered. Pills are prepared by adding the required quantity of a solution of anise and jaggery with water. One pill taken with warm milk at bedtime ensures proper bowel movement.

Another remedy is to powder the fruit dried in shade and mix it with an equal quantity of sugar. This mixture in doses of 4 to 6 grams, taken at bedtime with milk, serves to relieve constipation.

Dysentery - Leaves are very effective in treating dysentery, equal parts of tender peepal leaves, coriander leaves and sugar can be chewed slowly to relieve the condition.

Mumps - Peepal leaves are also used in treating mumps, leaves smeared with ghee, warmed and bandaged over the inflamed part bring relief.

8. Ayurvedic Uses

Bark 

• Teeth and Gums - Take 5 grams of fine powder of Ficus religiosa Bark and gently rub on teeth and gums, giving strength and kills bacteria.
• Skin Problems - Take 4 grams of bark powder and add with honey, make a paste, and apply it on the face.
• Diabetes and Vaginal Tract Problems.40-50ml Decoction of bark a day.
• Mensuration Problems - Taking 1-2 grams of bark powder with water twice a day.

 Leaves

• Constipation - Take 5-10ml of leaf juice and mix it with one cup of lukewarm water.
• Heart Problems - Soak dry leaves overnight and take the extract thrice a day.
• Jaundice - Leaf extract of 2-3 leaves with sugar and milk, helps to cure .
• Nostrils Bleeding - Put some drops of leaves powder in the nostril.

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9. Official Part Used

Bark, fruit, latex and tender leaves.

10. Dosage

• Powder - 3 to 6gm
• Decoction - 50 to 100ml

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