Plants of India: Parijata

Parijata-The Wish-Granting Tree
by Christopher McMahon

Part 5: Medicinal Properties and Economic Uses of Parijata

When the foundations of Indian civilization were laid several thousand years ago, the sages and seers were careful to study in great detail, the plants, animals and minerals of the area in which they lived The aromatic principles of flowers like parijat were appreciated in their own right but the rest of the plant was also observed to discover what other properties in might possess to be of use in serving the needs of those who lived in their(the plants) vicinity. Even today the rural people of India utilize parijat in the same ways that their ancestors did.

Medicinal Uses

The fresh leaves of the plant prepared in the form of juice, infusions or decoctions and in combination with other herbs are found to be useful in treating inflamations, sciatica, pruritis(itching) fever, bronchitis, asthma, cough, dyspepsia(difficulty with digestion associated with pain, flautulence, heartburn and nausea), constipation as the active principals contained within them are found to have anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, digestive, expectorant, sudorific, diurectic and laxative properites. The leaves were also considered antidotal for reptile venom.Various preparations of the fresh flowers were found useful in treating diseases like colic, dyspepsia, flatulence, greyness of hair and balness as they wer astringent, stomachic, and carminative in nature. The bark when chewed with betelnut and leaf was eaten to promote expectoration of thick phlem. The seeds when powdered and prepared as a paste are used to cure scurvy and affections of the scalp.

Economic Uses

The wood has been used to form a food batten base for tile or grass thatch roofs while the young branches are suitable for making baskets. The bark of the tree is sometimes used as a tanning material and the leaves are used for polishing wood and ivory.

Updated: 5/26/2006

Copyright (C) 1998 by Christopher McMahon. All rights reserved.

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