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Herb
of the Month
Babul / Acacia arabica
Origin
of Herbs:
Acacia
popularly know as babul. Babul is a large tree, up to 14
meters high, with thrones on its branches. It has darkish gray
bark and yellow flowers in spherical heads. It occurs wild in
India and tropical Africa.
Healing
power:
The
leaves, the bark, the pods and the gum of the tree have
medicinal virtues. The leaves and the bark are useful in
arresting secretion or bleeding. The pods help remove
catarrhal matter and phlegm from the bronchial tubes. The gum
allays any irritation of the skin and soothes the inflamed
membranes of the pharynx, alimentary canal and genito- urinary
organs.
Diarhhoea:
The
various parts of the babul are useful in diarrhoea of ordinary
intensity .A mixture of equal parts of the tender leaves with
white and black cumin seeds can be administered in doses of 12
grams, thrice daily for the same purpose .The gum, used either
in decoction or in syrup, is an effective medicine for
diarrhoea.
Teeth
Disorder:
Chewing
of fresh bark of this tree daily, helps strengthen loose teeth
and arrest any bleeding from the gums. Dirty teeth can be
cleaned effectively by brushing them with a powder in which 60
grams of charcoal of babul wood, 24 grams of roasted alum and
12 grams of rock salt have been included.
Eczema:
The
bark of the babul tree is used in the treatment of eczema.
About 25grams each of this bark and the mango bark should be
boiled in about 1 liter of water and the vapors allowed to
ferment the affected part. After the fomentation, the affected
part should be anointed with ghee.
Tonsillitis:
A
decoction of the bark, mixed with rock salt, should be used as
a gargle in treating tonsillitis.
Conjunctivitis:
The
leaves of babul tree are effective in the treatment of
conjunctivitis. The leaves, ground to a paste, should be
applied on the affected eyes at night, supported by a bandage,
which should be untied the next morning. This removes pain and
redness.
Epiphora:
The
leaves are beneficial in treating epiphora- that is watering
of the eyes, in which tears flow onto the cheeks due to
abnormality of the tear drainages system. About 250 grams of
leaves should be boiled in one and a quarter litre of water
until only a quarter liter of water is left. This should be
filtered and kept in a well –corked bottle. The eyelids
should be painted morning and evening with this liquid
Leucorrhoea:
The
bark of the tree is useful in leucorrhoea. Its decoction
should be used ass vaginal douche for treating this disorder.
Other
uses:
It
is also said to increase the power of retention of the semen.
Even extremely debilitated patients suffering from the bad
consequence of masturbation are believed to get rejuvenated by
its use and attain normal retentive power. It improves the
viscidity of the semen and is an excellent medicine for
spermatorrhoea.
Another
preparation made from the pods is also a very effective remedy
for spermatorrhoea. Tender seedless pods are dried in shade,
powdered and mixed with an equal weight of brown sugar’s
grams of this mixture may be taken with milk in the morning.
Ayurvedic
supplements that contains Babul:
Babularistha
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