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)
 Picture
Picture Butea monosperma
Kerner, Hortus sempervirens, 1802

Picture Butea monosperma
(Photo by Varinder Naturaphile) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:


Butea monosperma (syn. B. frondosa)

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)

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: