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Ashoka banishes sorrow

The Ashoka tree is steeped in legend and history. Its medicinal properties make it a tree worth planting in every house

The legendary Ashoka tree is one of the sacred trees of India, and also one of the most fascinating flowers in the Indian sub-continent. The Latin name of the tree is Saraca asoca, which belongs to the Caesalpiniaceae flowering plant family. It is a very handsome, small, erect evergreen tree, with deep green foliage, drooping branches and very fragrant, bright orange-yellow flowers, which later turn red. The flowering season is around April and May. It is found in central and eastern Himalayas as well as on the west coast of Bombay, growing wild.

`Ashoka' is a Sanskrit word meaning `without sorrow' or `that, which gives no grief'. It is said that one who lives under the tree will not get worried and people who look at the tree when in full bloom will forget their worries and become happy and contented and hence the name. The tree is a symbol of love. Its beautiful, delicately perfumed flowers are used in temple decoration. On `Ashok Shasthi day', in some places, women eat the flower buds to protect their children from grief and sorrow. Planting procedure

Seeds are used for propagation. Seedlings are formed after one month on seedbed. The seedlings are to be replanted before 6 months. The tree is well adapted to a variety of soils. Seedlings are replanted into a 2-foot square pit filled with garden mixture of this composition: 5 parts river sand, 3 parts red soil and 2 parts dried and powdered cow dung. Neem cake, soaked in water for one day (i.e. fermented), can be used at the bottom of the pit as manure and to check the attack of termites and other soil - borne insect pests, before filling the pit with garden mixture. Pruning is done after the tree attains a height of 2 or 3 meters and starts flowering. After the flowering season and before the onset of monsoon rains, flowered branches can be removed. A protective spray of fungicide - Mancozeb (3 grams in 1 litre of water) also can be used after pruning.

Medicinal use

Herbally, the bark of this tree is a household remedy for uterine disorders. The essence of bark also helps in the uterine problems like excessive bleeding, irregular menstrual periods and infertility. The bark of Ashoka contains the estrogenic compound, ketosterol. It has a stimulating effect on the mucous membrane lining of the uterus and ovarian tissue. The bark is useful in abnormal menstrual flow due to uterine fibroids, in painful menstruation and in internal bleeding. The ayurvedic drugs like Ashokaristam, are prepared using the bark of the tree and Ashoka ghrita is a preparation of the decoction of the bark, clarified butter and addition of a number of aromatic substances in the form of a paste.

JACOB KUNTHARA

(jacobkunthara@sancharnet.in)

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