Botanical Name

Saraca asoca (Rose.) De. Willd

Family

Leguminosae.

Synonyms

Saraca indica L., Jonesia asoca Roxb. , Jonesia minor Zoll. & Moritzi, Saraca arborescens Burm.f., Saraca bijuga Prain, Saraca harmandiana Pierre,

Regional Name

English : Asok Tree, Hindi : Ashoka, Sanskrit : Kankeli, Assamese : Ashoka, Bengali : Ashoka, Gujrati : Ashoka, Kannada : Ashokadamara, Ashokamara, Kankalimara, Kashmiri : Ashok, Malayalam : Asokam, Marathi : Ashok, Oriya : Ashoka, Punjabi : Asok, Tamil : Asogam, Asogu, Asokam, Telugu : Ashokapatta.

Part Used

Stem Bark.

Description

Ashok Tree is one of the most legendary and sacred trees of India and holds an invaluable importance in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. It is an evergreen tree 15-20 meters high. The leaves are 15cm long and of oblong shape. Ashok is grown in India, Burma, and Malaysia. In India, it can be found especially in Himalayas, Kerala, and Bengal and entire south region. It is a rain-forest tree. The original distribution is in the central areas of the Deccan Plateau and the Western Ghats and western coastal zone. The bark can be separated from 10 years older trees or more than that. Bark channelled, externally dark green to greenish grey, smooth with circular lenticels and transversely ridged, sometimes cracked, internally reddish-brown with fine longitudinal strands and fibers, fracture splintery exposing striated surface, a thin whitish continuous layer is seen beneath the cork layer, taste, astringent.

Phytoconstituents

Tannins and a crystalline glycoside.

Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa : Tikta, Kasaya, Guna : Laghu, Ruksa, Virya : Sita, Vipaka : Katu, Karma : Hrdya, Visaghna, Grahi, Varnya, Sothahara.

Ayurvedic Applications

Sotha, Daha, Asrgdara, Apaci, Raktadosa.

Medicinal Uses

It reduces excessive and painful bleeding, uterine disorders, leucorrhea and headache for women. The bark is used to cure bacterial and fungal infections. It is also helps in removing worms and comforts from swelling of the stomach, irritations and burning sensation in the skin and complexion. The leaves, flowers and barks are used to cure diarrhea and purification of blood. Ashok can be used for the cure of piles and bleeding caused due to piles. It is used in kidney stones and used as a memory enhancer, for urine retention.