FLAME OF THE FOREST IS VERY USEFUL FOR THE CURE OF HERPES OR "DHOBIE'S ITCH"

BUTEA FRONDOSA ROXB

​The Flame of the Forest commonly called ‘palas’ by the local people in Maharashtra, India, is a small tree which grows to a height of 12 to 15 metres. In the summer months, when most of the other trees and shrubs are dry due to the scorching heat of the sun, Butea frondosa, synonymous to Butea monosperma, truly stands out like a flame in the forest with its clusters of orange-red coloured flowers. Very often, it has a crooked trunk and irregular branches. The trifoliate oval leaves are more prominent in all other seasons except the summer months when it is time for the floral buds to be activated. The leaves of this tree are collected by the local people and few of them are woven together with small twigs to make circular disposable, biodegradable leaf plates to serve food. These disposable plates are often used by small or large groups of people during special occasions like marriages, picnics, etc.

Medicinal use:

• Night blindness and other defects of the eyes.
• Helps to check elephantiasis.
• As a laxative and for the expelling of worms from the body.
• Fractures of the bones.
• Dysentery, piles, hydrocele, ulcers, tumours and menstrual disorders.
• Cough and stomatitis or inflammation in the inner side of the mouth.
• Leprosy in the early ages, gout and skin diseases.
• Very useful for the cure of herpes or “dhobie’s itch.’

How to use:

• The decoction of the root is used to take care of night blindness, other eye defects and to check elephantiasis.
• The decoction of the leaves too may be used to take care of night blindness and other eye defects.
• The decoction of the bark is widely used to take care of items 3 to 5 under Medicinal use.
• The gum of the tree is useful for checking cough and stomatitis.
• The decoction of the flowers is used to cure leprosy in the early stages, and for gout and skin diseases.
• When the seeds are pounded with lemon juice and applied externally, they act as a powerful rebefacient and have been successfully used as a cure for herpes or “dhobie’s itch”.

Parts used:
The root, bark, gum, leaves, flowers and seeds.