Butea

Flame of the Forest; Bengal Kino (Gum)
Tesu, Dhak, Palas (Hindi); Palasha, Kimshuka (Sanskrit)
Palas, Dhak, Tesu, Samagh Dhak, Kamarkas (Unani)
Ma ru rtse  མ་རུ་རྩེ་ (Tibetan)

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Butea monosperma
Kerner, Hortus sempervirens, 1802

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Butea monosperma
(Photo by Varinder Naturaphile) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:

Butea monosperma (syn. B. frondosa)
B. parviflora (in Bhutan)

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)
4. Artemisia vestita (Nepal)

Correctives:

1. Tragacanth
2. Rose
3. 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:

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