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Butea

Flame of the Forest; the Gum is called Bengal Kino
Tesu, Dhak, Palas (Hindi); Palasha, Kimshuka (Sanskrit)
Palas, Dhak, Tesu, Samagh Dhak, Kamarkas (Unani)
Ma ru rtse  མ་རུ་རྩེ་ (Tibetan)
Butea monosperma
Kerner, Hortus sempervirens, 1802

Butea monosperma
(Photo by Varinder Naturaphile) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:
Butea monosperma (syn. B. frondosa)

Parts used:
Gum; also seed, leaf and flower

Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Pungent

Uses:
1. Astringes to Stop Leakage (gum, bark, flowers):
-Diarrhea, Dysentery
-Leukorrhea
-also for Bleeding

2. Astringes and Strengthens the Kidneys:
-increase Semen viscosity to inhibit premature ejaculation (Gum, seed; Unani)
-Sexual Debility, Leukorrhea, Edema, Back Pain (Bark; Unani)
-Gum is used in formulas for Leukorrhea, Sterility, Premature Ejaculation
-vitiation of Semen (Leaf, bark: Unani)
-Chronic Diarrhea and Leukorrhea
-used for Joint diseases, Rheumatism (Tibet)

3. Clears Heat:
-Fever (seed; Unani)
-Eczema, Herpes (Seeds internally and topically)
-all types of diseases caused by micro-organisms in the head or sinus (Tibet)

4. Liver tonic (Flowers)
-strengthens the Liver
-Hepatoprotective effect

5. Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough (Bark; Unani, Tibetan):
-in decoction for Catarrh, Cold, Cough
-Lung diseases

6. Promotes Menstruation (Flowers)
-Amenorrhea
-Puerpural tonic for women

7. Kills Worms (Seed, Bark; Unani, Tibetan)
-ascaris (no longer recommended)

8. Externally:
-seed powder with lemon juice topically for Ringworm, Eczema and Herpes (Ayurveda)
-boils, pimples, buboes, hemorrhoids (Ayurveda)
-leaf is used in a gargle for relaxed sore Throat.
-bark decoction used as a douche for laxicity of the Vagina (Unani)


DOSE:
Powder of the Flower, Seed or Bark: 2–6 grams
Powder of the Stem-bark: 5–10 grams
Powder of the Gum: 500mg–1.5 grams

SUBSTITUTE:
1. Gum: Gum Arabic (Unani)
2. Gum: Kino (Waring)
3. Santonica (Waring)

CORRECTIVES:
Tragacanth, Rose, Sandalwood (Unani)

Main Combinations:

Cautions:
1. Seeds can cause Nephrotoxicity. Internal use for Worms is no longer recommended.
2. Not used during Pregnancy (seeds induced fetal malformation)

Main Preparations used: