Ashoka
Family Name : Caesalpiniaceae
English Name : Ashok tree
Sanskrit : Tamrapallav, Ashok, Madhupushp, Hemapushp, Apshok, Bhanjari
Hindi : Ashok
Gujarati :Ashank
Bengali : Ashok
Marathi : Ashok
Punjabi : Ashok
Telugu : Ashokamu, Nanjulamu
Dravidi : Ashokam
Kannada : Ashok
Introduction
Ashok trees are found all over India. These are grown in gardens for decoration. It is more common at heights of 2000 ft.
The evergreen Ashok tree is 25-30 ft tall and with its numerous dense branches provides cool shade. When mature, it is brown in colour and rough. The inside of its bark is reddish. Leaves are 9 inch long, round and pointed. They grow together in pairs of 5-6. New leaves are reddish in colour but turn dark green in colour on maturing. The edges of the leaves are wavy. Flowers grow in bunches. These are orange or reddish in colour when mature and very beautiful with a nice fragrance. The pod is 4-10 inch long, 1-2 inch wide and grows in summer season. Each pod has 4-10 seeds. When unripe it is dark purple in colour and when ripe, it turns into red colour. Seeds are 1-1.5 inch long, flat with thick outer covering. When the stem is pricked, liquid oozes out which turns red when exposed to air.
Ashoka (Saraca indica)
Ashoka is an Indian (Indica) tree. It grows everywhere in India except in extremely hot or cold regions. Some mistakenly call the deodar [Cedrus deodara] with its wavy leaves ashoka, but it is different. The deodar belongs to the pine family of trees and ashoka does not. Ashoka flowers are mostly reddish in hue. Some ashoka trees have white, golden or yellow flowers, but these are rare varieties. The flowers, bark and roots of ashoka are used in the preparation of many types of medicines. In particular, the efficacy of Ashoka in the treatment of female diseases is universally accepted. The medicines ashokásava, ashokárista and ashokakśiira are made from ashoka.
Ashokásava in the treatment of puerperal ailments
If a woman takes pregnant ashokásava (a medicinal elixir made of ashoka leaves) with cow’s milk that has frothed up once while boiling, the chances of a mishap during delivery are reduced.
Drákśásava in the treatment of puerperal ailments
A woman suffering from a puerperal ailment will regain her strength within a short period of time if she takes ten drops of drákšásava [medicinal elixir made of grapes] with goat’s milk that has risen up once while boiling.
Drákśárišťa (a medicinal sublimate of grapes] for treating postpartum woman in immediate mortal danger
In such a condition, if the mother is given drákšáriśła with gurúci sugar [Tinospora cordifolia] to drink, there is a chance of her surviving. If drákšárišťa is not at hand, mrtasainjiivanii surá [a life-giving medicinal alcohol] will serve to some extent.
Ashokakśiira in the treatment of secondary amenorrhoea
Ten to twelve ashoka flowers from which the stalks have been removed are to be boiled with half a seer of milk and four seers of water till the combined weight is reduced to a poyá and a half [one poyá is approximately 250 grams]. This preparation is called ashokakšiira.
Ashokakśiira in the treatment of menstrual problems
Ashokakśiira gives good results in all ailments related to menstruation.
Observance of ashokaśaśíhii and ashokášťamii by women
On the day of ashokaśaśfhii [the sixth day of the month of Caetra, the last month of the Bengali calendar year, that is, from 15th March to 14th April] all women of menstruating age should swallow, in one gulp, six mung beans or máškalái [black gram] pulses and six ashoka flowers or buds of ashoka flowers about to open, placed inside a ripe banana or with milk or water. Similarly, eight mung beans or máśkaláya and eight ashoka flowers or buds of ashoka flowers should be taken on the day of ashokášťamii [on the eighth day of the same month].
This practice should also be observed by married women and widows. On other śaśthiis [the sixth day after the full or new moon], they should take fruits and tubers during the day instead of rice and chapati, and avoid cereals at night.
Source : Natural Remedies, Yogic Chikitsa by Shrii P R Sarkar
Compiled by : Dr Ashu, Tata Nagar
