ASVATTHA(Pippala) is a sacred tree having both religious as well as medicinal importance from time immorial.
Vedas are the earliest scientific documentation of the human mind.
The term veda means wisdom,Knowledge or vision and it is revered as the language of the Gods human speech.
There are four Vedas normally-
1).Rigveda
2).Samveda
3).Yajurveda
4).Atharv veda
The aim of vedas was to help humans overcome various aliments from era to era.
Asvattha as described in the Vedas
• In Rigveda,Yajurveda and in Atharveda its descriptions are found.
• In vedas it is said to be the resident of Gods.
• It is one among the yagya Vrksa.
• It Atharveda,it is said to be of immense importance for the destruction of the Envy(Which in directly correlates with the disease relieving action of Asvattha).
• In vedas, It is said that the fire ritual of Asvattha is useful in mental disorders(For instance unmada).
• It’s milky excudate having Anti-Haemorrhagic ,Anti-Inflamatory actions had been also found in traces in the VeThe planting of this tree is considerd to be a Punya karma or a Noble act,as Generation to come will be benefitted by it.
• Buddha is believed to have attained Nirvana or Enlightment by Sitting below a Pippala tree.
• It is refered to by lord Krishna in the Bhagvath gita Krishna Says”Among the trees,I am Asvattha” Meaning Pippala.
• Botanical name:- Ficus religiosa
• Family:-Moraceae
• Classical name:-Asvattha
• Sanskrit name:-Pippala,Caityadruma,Calapatra
• Groups(Gana):-
• Mutrasangrahaniya
• Kasayaskandha(caraka)
• Nyagrodhadi
• Ksirivrk-sa
• Pancavalkala(Astanga).
Scientific hierarchy
Kingdom-Plantae
Order- Rosales
Family-Moraceae
Genus-Ficus
Species-Ficus Religiosa
Description Of Asvattha
Pippala is a large glabrous tree.
Leaves- The leaves of Pippala are Colriaceous, 7.5-10cm.,Ovate-round,narrowed upwords,5-7 nerved,lateral main nerve about8 pair.
Petioles-The length of the petiol is 7.5-10cm ,Slenderical,Stipules minute,Ovate,Acute.
Stamen-Number of stamen 1, single anther,Ovate-round, short Filament.
flowers sessile or pedicellate,the gall flowers much more numerous than the fertile females.
Sepal- 5 in number ,lanceolate.
Style-lateral Short.stigmarounded.
Fruiting time:-Summer and rainy season.
Distribution:- It is found all over india specially Sub-Himalayan forests.It is found in the plains and lower hills of India,Ceylon and Malaya.It is commonly planted near the temples,since it is regarded a sacred tree having religious significance.
Chemical composition:-
Bark contains tannins,Cacutchouc and some wax.
Pharmacodynamics:-
Rasa-Kasaya
Guna-Guru
Virya-Ruksa,Sita
Vipaka-Katu
Dosakarma-Kaphapittasamaka
Action and Properties:-
Karma Mutrasangrahniya
Stambhana(Bark-tvak)
Snehana(Ripefruit-pakva phala)
Anulomana-mrdurecana
Raktasodhaka-svasahara
Garbhasthapana,Bajikarana
Visaghna
Roga
a). Abhyantara- Chardi-trsa,Atisara-pravahika,Udarasula-Vibandha,Prameha
Raktavikara-vatarakta,Raktapitta,YonidosaKlaiya
b). Bahya- Varnavikara,Vedana-Sotha-Raktasrava,Vrana- Vranasotha,Bhagandra,Mukhapaka.
Therapeutic uses-
It is useful as alterative,Aphrodisiac,Astringent,cooling,expectorant,Laxative and conceptive.
It is used in asthma,colic,consipation,conception(promoting maturity of foetus in pregnant mothers),diarrhoea,dysentry,disorders of genito-urinary troubles and whooping cough.
It is well-known rejuvenator and the leaf-bud made into jam and taken with milk for a fortnight.
It is used in blood diseases,earrache,fracture,diabetes,glandular disease especially suppuratong glands in the neck,haemophilic conditions,scabies,soreness in the mouth,swelling ulcers,urino-genital,disorders,vaginal discharges and vomiting.
It is used in diabetes,diarrhoeal affections,hysteria,menstrual troubles-menorrhagia,nervous disorders,stResearch-
Beta-sitosterol-D-glucoside has been found in the bark which has showed hypoglycaemic activity comparing favourably with tolbutamide.
It is recommended in diabetes cases.
Part used-
Bark,Fruits,Leaves.
Dose-
Juice 12-24gms;15-30ml.
Decoction 50-100gms;55-110ml.
Powder 2-5 gms.
Anti-Haemorrhagic Activity of Pippala-
1).Wound healing action of Pippala- The wound healing action of Pippala leaf extract prepared as ointment(5and10%) was investigated.Povidone iodine 5% was Chosen as standard drug.Assesment of the wound healing was assessed by the rate of wound contraction.).
2).Bleeding- Pippala is used in various conditions of spontaneous bleeding,like nasal bleeding,rectal bleeding.There are many ways to use it in leeding conditions.The ways are –
a).Application of ointment prepared by bark.
b).Use of bark decoction as bath .
d).Oral intake of Pippala bark decoction with honey.
3).Anti-inflammatory action of Pippala-The alcolic extract of bark showed significant result as anti inflammatory agent.
Conclusion-
1).India is a gold mine of well recorded and traditionally well practised knowledge of herbal medicine.
2).India is the largest procedure of medicinal herbs .Thus called the botanical garden of the world.
3).Pippala tree is highly used plant in Ayurvedic medicine as well as Indian rituals.
4).The plant is having versatile properties and broad spectrum.