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Asoka

Botanical Name: Saraca Indica

Indian Name: Ashoka

Description and Composition

Asoka is a small, spreading, evergreen tree, with smooth brownish bark and compound leaves forming a dense crown. It has bright orange flowers in small dense branches and flat with several smooth grey seeds. This tree has to be distinguished from the Indian fir or mast tree, botanically known as ployalthia longifolia. Asoka is one of the sacred trees of the Hindus.

The dried bark of the tree constitutes the drug. The bark contains tannins and catechol. B.N. Ghosh of the School' Tropical Medicine, Calcutta, investigated the powdered bark ash of Asoka and found presence of silica, sodium, potassium! phosphate, magnesium, iron, calcium, strontium and aluminium A crystalline glycosidal substance has been isolated from the 00rl with galactose as the constituent sugar.

Healing Power and Curative Properties

The bark is prescribed in Ayurvedic medicine for arresting bleeding or secretion and as a uterine sedative. It is said to have a stimulating effect on the endometrium that is, the mucuous membrane lining the uterus and on the ovarian tissues.

Uterine Disorders

The bark of the tree is effective for excessive blood loss during menstruation due to the presence of uterine fibroids, leucorrhoea and other causes. It can be used as a substitute for ergot, a kind of dried fungus used in medicine in the treatment of uterine hamorrhages. It is taken as a decoction.

About 90 grams of the bark is boiled in 30 ml of milk and 360 ml of water till the total quantity is reduced to about 90. grams. This is divided in 2 or 3 doses to be given in a day. The treatment should commence from the fourth day of the menstruation and continue till the bleeding is checked. Fresh decoction is to be made every day.

Piles

The bark is also effective for internal piles. A decoction prepared in the same manner as in case of uterine disorders is taken in this condition.

Dysentery

The decoction is also useful in dysentery. A fluid extract of the flowers can be taken with beneficial results in haemorrhagic dysentery. This extract is prepared by grinding the flowers with water. It is taken in doses of IS to 60 drops.

Other Diseases

The dried flowers of Asoka tree are useful in diabetes. The bark of the tree is also useful in treating scorpion-sting.

Pradar Antak Churna

Pradrantak Churna is a complete herbal formulation to take care of female health problems. It is particularly effective in painful menstruation, pre menstrual syndrome (PMS), irregular menses, uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts and leucorrhoea. This herbal powder is a slight modification of classical Ayurvedic formula "Pushyanug" churna. The herb Saraca indica naturally balances the disturbed female hormones. Read more About Pradrantak Churna

Mutrakrichantak Churna