Befriend a tree!

Trees are the real givers. Along with absorbing Co2 from the air, they also absorb negative forces and transform them into good energy. During ancient times, sages used to meditate under some sacred trees in the forest considering them the best place for all spiritual streams. Today in the twenty fourth episode of series #SacredIndianHerbs we will be discussing about a fabled sacred tree, Peepal, a storehouse of medicinal values holding a special significance in Ayurveda.

Scientific name: Ficus religiosa
Hindi name: Bodhi tree, Ashwattha
English name: Sacred fig

Peepal tree is a generous tree being a chief oxygen provider all day and night. It is an evergreen large tree of height 20-25 metres and 2-3 metre in diameter. The leaves are thin and cardiac shaped. Fruits are small and green when unripe and turn to blackish color when ripe. Peepal tree is native to India constituting the capabilities to treat many disorders. Our ancestors had recognised the value of these trees and transferred them from the forests to towns to make it accessible for common people.

Medicinal usages of peepal

Peepal for asthma:
Due to the increasing amount of pollution in cities, asthma has become a very common ailment nowadays. The bark of peepal tree has proven to be very beneficial for treating asthma and can help you from keeping it at bay. Whenever a patient experiences an episode of asthmatic attack, the bark powder can be given. Moreover, we can give the powder to the patients for 30-40 days regularly for curing asthma and preventing any further attacks.

Peepal for nausea/vomiting:
Peepal bark has antiemetic action and is very beneficial for the children and adults who experience sour taste of mouth and acidic vomitus. For immediate cure, bark of the tree is burned to form ash. About 10g of ash is added in 1 cup of water. Slowly the sedimentation takes place and ash settles down. Store this water in an airtight bottle and consume this water 5-10 ml for 2-3 times in a day to prevent nausea/vomiting or hiccups.

Peepal for vagina health:
A group of 5 lactiferous trees including banyan, peepal, goolar, paras pipal and pilkhan trees are collectively called as Panchkshiri vriksha. These five milky trees are beneficial for curing various female disorders like leucorrhea, foul discharge from vagina, etc. The bark of all these trees are taken and are dried. They are then grinded to form powder. A decoction is made out of this 10 g powder by heating it in eight times water. When one fourth decoction is left, turn off the flame and allow it to cool. Store the decoction in an airtight bottle and consume it two times daily. Also, those who are complaining of troublesome vaginal discharge or vaginal infection, this lukewarm decoction can be introduced vaginally under the guidance of a practitioner. The decoction helps to wash off the discharges of vagina and alter the pH of vagina making it unfavourable for the growth of microorganisms.

Peepal for impotency:
The fruits of the tree are aphrodisiac in nature. They add nutrition as well as vigour to the body. Take half spoon of peepal fruit powder with milk to get rid of impotency.

A natural way to increase the chance for conceiving a child:
If you are planning for a child or wanting but not able to conceive a child then follow this natural remedy that may increase the chances of giving birth to a healthy child. Heat the roots of the peepal tree with black gram in cow milk. Consume this milk for a few days.

Peepal for a healthy gut:
According to Ayurveda, bhasma is a calcined preparation in which a metal is converted into ash. For attaining a better and a healthy gut, an effective remedy of peepal can be used. The bhasma of arsenious oxide or sankhya is made under the guidance of practitioner. In very small amount, it is mixed with the bark of peepal tree. On the day of kartik purnima, kheer of cow milk is made and the mixture is added to the kheer. The patient is asked to stay under the moonlight for overnight and the next early morning the kheer is given to the patient. It will help to eradicate pathogens from the stomach and prevent from ascariasis, the most common disease present in places without proper sanitation.

Religious importance of peepal

The scientist must be aware of the religious significance of the peepal tree. That's why they named it as Religiosa. Many sages considered it as the spiritually-advanced beings with subtle energy for meditation. Moreover, Gautam Buddha attained nirvana under the peepal tree. Thus it is also called as ‘Bodhi or the tree of wisdom’.

Thus peepal tree is not simply a part of India’s heritage but its several medicinal benefits had made it an exceptional medicinal tree. So, plant these trees and treat them as an embodiment of life and wisdom. They can really transform your overall health and life.