MEDICINAL PLANT-ASOKAM/ ASOKA/ OSAKA

Common name: asoka, Asok, Ashok, Asogam, Wu You Hua, Osaka

Scientific name: Saraca asoca (ROXB.) DE WILDE

Part Used : Bark, Leaves, Flowers, Seeds.

Commercial importance:

The bark contains tannins and some chemicals and is prescribed as a tonic. Crushed flowers and leaves are rubbed on the skin to get relief from skin diseases. When selecting trees for avenues or large gardens, it will be an excellent idea to choose Saraca asoka instead of the usual rusty shield bearer or the ubiquitous gulmohur. The dried flowers are used in diabetes and haemorrhagic dysentery and seeds are used for curing bone fractires, strangury and vesical calculi. The flowers are considered to be a uterine tonic and is used in cases like burning sensation, dysentery, hyperdypsia, scabiesin children and inflammation. It is also used in fever, dipsia, colic, ulsers and pimples. The seeds are strengthening and the ash of plant is good for external application in rheum-arthritis. It is considered as best female tonic.

How to cultivate

Soil and climate: The plant requires slightly acidic to neutral soils for good growth with

medium to deep well drained fertile soils. It grows well in tropical to sub-tropical

situations under irrigation.

Nursery raising and planting: The crop can be propagated by seeds and stem grafting. The seeds has to be collected from the matured tress in august- September. As the seeds have less life span, it will be betterto plant the seeds as early as possible. Prior to seeding, soak the seeds in water for one day and then sow them in either  nursery beds or in polythene covers filled with soil. Transfer the plants in nursery bed to polythene cover after two weeks of germination. After two years these plantlings can be used for planting in main field. The seedlings are planted in the well manured field during the rainy season with a spacing of 3* 3 meter.

Thinning and weeding: Weeding and thinning of the plants may be done as and when

required usually after 15-30 days for better growth.

Manures, fertilizers and pesticides: The medicinal plants have to be grown without

chemical fertilizers and use of pesticides. Organic manures like, Farm Yard Manure

(FYM), Vermi-Compost, Green Manure etc. may be used as per requirement of the

species. To prevent diseases, bio-pesticides could be prepared (either single or mixture)

from Neem (kernel, seeds & leaves), Chitrakmool, Dhatura, Cow's urine etc.

Irrigation: Normally grown as rainfed crop but for better yield irrigation may be done as

per requirement (weekly/fortnightly).

Harvesting/ post harvesting operation: Bark is removed from about ten years or older

tree and then it has to be sun dried. By thus time tree will also produce flowers.



MEDICINAL PLANT- ARAYAL/ Bodhi Tree, Peepal Tree, Sacred Tree

Common Name : Bodhi Tree, Peepal Tree, Sacred Tree

Scientific name :Ficus religosa

Part Used : Bark, Leaves, Tender Shoots, Latex, Seeds, Fruits.

 Commercial importance: The bark is cooling and astringent and is useful in inflammations and glandular swellings of neck. Root bark is good for stomatitis, clean ulcers and it is astringent in leucorrhoea and promotes granulations. According to Unani system of medicine, root, bark is aphrodisiac and also good for lumbago. Roots are said to be good for gout. The roots are chewed to prevent gum disease. The fruit is laxative, promotes digestion, aphrodisiac and checks vomiting. Ripe fruits are alexipharmic (an antidote or defensive remedy against poison, venom or infection), are good for foul taste, thirst and heart disease. The powdered fruit is taken for asthma. The seeds are cooling, laxative and refrigerant. Seeds are useful in urinary troubles. The leaves alone are used to treat constipation. The leaves and young shoots together are purgative (strong laxative). An infusion or decoction of the bark is used with some honey for the treatment of gonorrhoea, ulcers, skin diseases and scabies. Its power bark has been used to heal the wounds for years. 

 How to cultivate

Peepal tree is easily propagated through the seeds or through the cuttings. propagating the sacred fig (ficus religiosa) with seeds isn’t difficult. you can use a good regular potting mix. give the seeds just on the soil. to increase humidity put a glas or a freezing bag over the pot. don’t forget to air daily. place the pot on a bright location without direct sun. temperature should be +20 °c/68 °c. keep the soil moist but not wet. the sacred fig needs approx. 7 to 21 days to germinate (at 25 °c/77 °f). if the seedlings are approx. 5 cm/1.97 tall you can start slowly adapting them to your room climate with extending the airing time day by day. when they are 10 cm/3.94 inches tall they can be divided an re-potted. It can grow in any type of soil. Young peepal needs proper nourishment. It requires full sunlight and proper watering. Commonly cultivated areas Peepal tree is grown throughout India. It is mainly grown in State of Haryana, Bihar, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh. It is also found in the Ranthambore National Park in India.