Gmelina, Gambhari

White Teak, Malay Bushbeech, Kashmir Tree
Gambhari, Kashmiri (Ayurveda)
Kattanam, Kumizham (Siddha)

Gmelina
W. Roxburgh, Plants of the coast of Coromandel, (1819)

Gmelina arborea
(Photo by Ajtjohnsingh) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:

Gmelina arborea (syn. Premna arborea)

Parts used:

Root-bark, Fruit

Temperature & Taste:

FRUIT: Cool, dry. Sweet, Sour, astringent
STEM / STEM-BARK: Cool, dry. Sweet, Bitter
ROOT: Cool, dry. Bitter

Uses:

ROOT:
1. Clears Heat:
-Fever, Chronic Fever
-excess Bile Humor

2. Clears Damp-Heat, Promotes Urine:
-Edema, Obesity
-Dysuria, Auria, Anasarca
–urinary tract infections
-Gonorrhea

3. Promotes Digestion:
-indigestion, digestive weakness, poor appetite
-balances all 3 Dosas (Humors)

4. Promotes Milk:
-increases Breast Milk

5. Nourishes Yin:
-increases intelligence
-fatigue, emaciation
-promotes Fertility

FRUIT:
1. Clears Heat, Stops Leakage:
-Bilious Fever; Burning syndrome; Urticaria
-Bleeding from Heat; Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
-Diarrhea, Leukorrhea

2. Nourishes Yin:
-Weakness, loss of strength
-Wasting; Phthisis; Thirst
-Rasayana; Longevity tonic; improves Intelligence
-nourishes and promotes Sperm
-Diabetes
-strengthens and promotes Hair growth

3. Benefits the Heart:
-strengthens the Heart; Heart disease

STEM / STEM-BARK:
1. Clears Heat:
-Fever, Cold, Flu
-Burning Syndrome; Thirst
-Piles
-Abdominal pain, Diarrhea, Malabsorption
-also for Dizziness

2. Clears Heat and Damp:
-Edema, Dysuria

FLOWERS:
1. Clears Heat, Stops Bleeding:
-bleeding disorders
-excessive Menstruation

LEAF:
1. Externally:
-leaf paste applied to Boils and Abscesses
-leaf paste with ghee applied to stiffness and paralysis
-leaf paste applied to the head in fevers

Dose:

Root bark in Decoction: 20–30 grams (API)
Stem in Decoction: 5–10 grams (API)
Stem-Bark: 3–5 grams (API)
Fruit in Powder: 1–3 grams (API)
Leaf Infusion (1 in 10): 1–2 fluid ounces

Substitutes:

The fruits are used as a substitute for Raisins; hence, Raisins may be used in their place in most instances.

Main Combinations:

Dashmula (the 10 Roots of Ayurveda)
Used along with Solanum xanthocarpum, Solanum indicum, Desmodium, Uraria, Tribulus, Aegle, Oroxylum, Stereospermum. Clerodendron, all in equal parts.

1. Obesity, Gmelina root with Aegle. Adhatoda. Stereospermum suaveolens
2. Fever, Gmelina stem-bark, Tinospora, Solanum surattense
3. Malabsorption, Diarrhea, Dysentery, Gmelina stem-bark, Madhuca, Holarrhena, Woodfordia flowers, Raisins (as in Kutajarista)
4. To promote Milk, Gmelina root with Licorice, Honey, Sugar
5. Cough, Cold, Gmelina stem-bark with Andrographis
6. To promote Fertility, Gmelina bark with Licorice
7. Bilious Fever, Gmelina fruit, Grewia, Licorice, Red Sandalwood, Vetiveria zizanioides (equal parts, decocted to half)
8. Fever and Burning Sensation of the body, Gmelina fruit, Grewia, Red Sandalwood, Licorice, Vetiveria
9. Strengthening tonic in weakness, Gmelina fruit, Triphala, Raisins, Licorice
10. Arthritis, Gmelina friut, Gmelina stem-bark, Licorice
11. Children tonic, Gmelina fruit, Licorice, Chebula,