Shorea, Shala

Sal tree; Sal Dammar (resin)
Shala, Safed Damar (resin) (Ayurveda)
Venkungiliyam (resin) (Siddha)
Raal (resin) (Unani)

Shorea robusta
W. Roxburgh, Plants of the coast of Coromandel, vol. 3 (1819)

Botanical name:

Shorea robusta
Vateria indica provides White Dammar and is used similarly.

Parts used:

Gum-resin
Heartwood; flowers and fruit are also used in India

Temperature & Taste:

Warm, dry. Bland

Uses:

RESIN:
1. Astringes, Stops Leakage:

-Diarrhea, Dysentery, including that with Blood (Ayurveda, Unani)
-Leukorrhea (Ayurveda)
-Spermatorrhea (Unani, UPI)
-urethral discharge

2. Benefits the Lungs, Stops Cough:

-chronic Bronchitis (Unani, UPI)
-Phthisis, Tuberculosis

3. Externally:

-fumes are inhaled for spasmodic Cough and Asthma
-as a Cicatrize, applied to Ulcers, Wounds
-skin eruptions
-Bleeding Hemorrhoids (Unani)
-ointment for freckles and skin blemishes
-ashes pf the plant were used as a caustic
-topically for Joint pain

HEARTWOOD:

-Goiter
-Polyuria
-Emaciation, anemia from Blood loss
-Menorrhagia

Dose:

Powder: 1–3 grams (Resin)
Heartwood, flowers are used in doses of 2–5 grams (powder)

Substitute:

1. Vateria indica
2. Shorea robusta appears to be used as a substitute for Frankincense in Tibetan Medicine.
3. The resin was stated to be a suitable substitute for Pine resin
4. Shorea robusta and Vateria indica have both been used as substitutes for Copal and Amber.

Main Combinations:

1. Diarrhea, Dysentery:
i. Shorea bark is combined with White and Black Catechu, Oroxylum bark, Pomegranate leaves, Zedoary, Cyperus rotundus, Garlic (of each 1 part), Turmeric (6 parts).
2. Hemorrhoids, Shorea gum with Cumin, Amber, Cyperus rotundus, Red Earth (as in Electuary for Hemorrhoids of Unani)
2. Wounds, Shorea gum with Bdellium, Frankincense as a plaster with oil and wax
3. Scrofula, Shorea gum with Bdellium, Frankincense, Gum Ammoniac, Galbanum, as a plaster with vinegar, oil and wax. (Unani)

Major Formulas:

Electuary for Hemorrhoids (Unani Medicine)

Cautions:

Not used in Constipation

1. Anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities of the ethanolic extract of Shorea robusta Gaertn. f. resin.
2. Analgesic activity of the ethanolic extract of Shorea robusta resin in experimental animals.
3. Inhibition of NO(2), PGE(2), TNF-α, and iNOS EXpression by Shorea robusta L.: An Ethnomedicine Used for Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Activity.
4. Wound healing activity of extracts derived from Shorea robusta resin
5. Evaluation of the wound healing activity of Shorea robusta, an Indian ethnomedicine, and its isolated constituent(s) in topical formulation.

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