Ashoka Tree Benefits, Natural Healing Herb
Our ancient poets have all paid glowing tributes to the beautiful flowers, fruits and trees of our country and have particularly sung in praise of the Ashoka Tree.
Even te great poet Kalidas has referred to it many times and we read of Ashoka Vatika in the Ramayana also. The word "Ashoka" itself means "devoid of sorrow". In the season of Vasanta, the flowers of the tree offer a pleasing sight.
Ayurveda has made good use of the Ashoka tree. The bark of the tree is used for medicinal purposes. It is cooling, soothing, pungent and dry. It improves complexion, allays thirst and burning sensation, expels worms, and removes swelling and blood impurities.
It reduces pain and hence it has got an energizing effect also. It stops bleeding. This herb is chiefly used in the treatment of leucorrhoea, discharge of excessive blood and the diseases of the uterus.
The following are the simple home remedies deseribed in the ancient texts and used even today in the rural areas with great advantage.
Take the bark of Ashoka 2 tolas, milk ½ seers and water ½ seers; boil them together gently and when only milk is left, filter it. Given regularly it decreases leucorrhoea, and menstrual flow is maintained at the normal level.
The powder of the flowers taken with water is highly efficacious in diarrhea with blood discharge.
A famous remedy prepared from Ashoka is Ashokarishta, which is highly efficacious in diseases of women. It is a fine tonic. ½ oz taken with equal quantity of water for a long time after the principal meals will stop excessive bleeding, reduce leucorrhoea and relieve headache. Even a complete cure of leucorrhoea is achieved with the prolonged use of this medicine.
