It is an
important medicinal plant that is used in the treatment of various ailments.
The botanical name for the Sal tree is Shorea robusta which belongs to the
Dipterocarpaceae family. It is also called Shala it is widely used in the
treatment of non-healing wounds, diabetes, boils.
English – Sal tree
Hindi – Sakher
Bengali – Skaherr, skahua
Gujarati – Ral
Marathi – Rala. Sajara
Oriya – Sagua, Salo
Punjabi – Sal
Tamil – Attam, Kungiliyam
Telugu – Gugilamu
Russian – Sal
Urdu – Raal
German – Salbaum
Nepali – Agrakh
French – Damar de l’linde
Assamese – Sal
Chinese – Suo Luo Shuang
Japanese – Sara Noki
It is found from Punjab to the hills of
Garo, Khasi, West Bengal, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh. It
grows up to an altitude of 1,700 m in tropical Himalayan, Northeast and Central
India, and West Bengal
It is a deciduous tree with dark brown
color bark. The leaves of this tree are simple, alternate which is 10-30 cm
long and 5-28 cm broad. Fruits are 1-1.5cm large and ovoid and the plant
usually grows at a height of 30-35 m. The flower and fruit starts appear in
April to May
Parts used: bark, sapwood, heartwood,
resin, oil, seed, and seed oil
Taste: Sweet, Astringent
Potency: Cold
On
chemical compound analysis of Sal tree, it includes
Heartwood: Chalcone, glycoside-4-hydroxy chalcone-a-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside,
apolyphenol,-hopeaphenol, leucoanthocyanidin
Bark: Ursonic acid, Oleanane, Shoreaphenol
Oleoresin, triterpenoids
ACTIONS:
Analgesic
Antipyretic
Anti-inflammatory
Antinociceptive
Antibacterial
Anti-obesity
Antiulcer
Immunomodulatory
Wound healing
The bark and leaves of the sal tree are used
to treat ulcers, wounds, cough, leprosy, earache, gonorrhea, and headache
The fruits of the sal tree are used in the
treatment of seminal weakness, dermopathy, and burning sensation
In Ayurveda, dysentery and bleeding piles
can be treated by using honey or sugar with this herb
The decoction obtained from the bark is
used to treat earache problems
It is mixed with milk to treat bronchitis,
piles, and leucorrhea
The resin of the sal tree is effective for
gonorrhea, dysentery, toothache, and boils
To treat skin problems apply the seed oil to
an affected area
The
dose of the drug used according to the physician
Powder:
3-5gm
Decoction:
50-100ml
Gum-resin:
1-3g
The
use of this herb may cause constipation and hardens the stool in some patients
The
use of this herb may reduce the blood sugar level-so before initiating the
treatment monitor the patient blood sugar level while taking this herb along
with other anti-diabetic drugs.
Kindly avoid this herb if you are pregnant or
breastfeeding
Do
not use this herb if you are allergic to the constituents of sal tree
If
you have allergic to the bark, resin, or leaf paste of the sal tree then apply
the paste by mixing it with honey or rose water
Diarrhea
and Dysentry:
Due to its astringent and cold effect, the
use of resin obtained from the sal tree helps to control dysentery and
diarrhea. It also improves the weak digestion
Bleeding:
The sal tree resin helps to decrease the
inflammation and control bleeding by its Ropan (healing) and Kashaya
(astringent) properties
Metrorrhagia
and Leucorrhea:
The use of sal bark powder is considered an
effective treatment for female disorders like metrorrhagia and leucorrhoea due
to its astringent properties
Gastric
ulcers:
Traditional view: The use of this herb
protect the mucosal layer of the gastric by decreasing the gastric acid level
Modern view: Sal tree contain chemical constituents
like ursolic acid and amyrin it has a gastroprotective effect which inhibits
the gastric mucosal damage by decreasing the gastric acid, enzymes, and
proteins by its antioxidant properties
Ear
problems: Due to its analgesic effect it helps to
get relief from earaches
Wound
healing:
Sal tree contain Bergenin and ursolic acid
which has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties which produce its
action by increasing the synthesis of collagen and heal the wound quickly
Skin
disorders:
Due to its astringent properties, the use
of sal trees helps to control excessive oiliness, itching, and rashes. This
control the skin disorders
Pain:
By applying externally the resin obtained
from the sal tree helps to reduce the inflammation and pain that occur due to
piles
Burns:
The use of sal tree helps to treat burning
sensation and heal the wound quickly by its healing and astringent activity
The Sal tree comes in various
formulations includes
Sal
tree powder:
Take the required amount of sal tree powder as per
the dose and duration advised by the doctor and mix it with honey. Consume it
with water after your meals
Sal
tree kwath:
Take the required amount of salt tree decoction and the
same quantity of water. Consume it after your meals
Sal
leaves or bark paste with rose water:
Take the required amount of sal leaves and make it
as a paste then add rose water. Apply this on the skin wash it with tap water.
Use this remedy to reduce marks and scars
Sal
tree resin with honey:
Take the required amount of sal tree resin and mix
it with honey. Apply this paste on an open wound using this remedy to heal the
wound faster
Is Sal tree powder
available in the market?
Yes,
it is available in the market and it can be brought from online websites or
ayurvedic medical stores.
How to store Sal tree
powder?
It
should be stored in an airtight container and keep the medicines away from the
heat and light and Do not keep the medicines reaching out
to children
What are the other uses of Sal tree
wood?
It is used for construction and furniture
industry purposes and is also used for making door frames, windows, and
furniture items.
