Medicinal jewel among trees- Peepul

Ayurveda calls peepul a magical tree for everything about it is useful. If its bark heals wounds, inflammation and glandular swelling, its juice is used as ear drop.  Its root bark is also useful for stopping blood loss, nose bleeds, burning sensation, cures night blindness, asthama, stomatitis, cleans ulcers, promotes granulations etc. Similarly, its leaves serve as an excellent tonic, laxative, anti-convulsant Properties and much more. WTN gets you closer to know the goodness of this tree better…

Treats heart problems: Soak the leaves overnight and strain it in the morning. Fill the water in bottles and administer it thrice daily in little quantity. This is effective in palpitation and cardiac weakness. You can add honey to it. Secondly, application of peepul tree ash on chest region helps suppress hiccups.

Manages blood sugar level: The fruit of peepul or its extract when consumed along with haritaki or harad is beneficial for diabetics. It lowers blood sugar level and though it can be helpful for those with high sugar levels, it can be harmful for others.

Clears constipation: Dry peepul leaves or fruits and make a powder of it. Along with it, grind a few anise seeds and jaggery (in equal amounts preferably). Every night take a spoonful of this mixture in a glass of water and drink. As jaggery works as a good binder, you can make small balls of it and store in an airtight container and have it with milk.

Eases dysentery: Make a paste of its tender leaves along with coriander leaves and sugar. Take a spoonful and mix with half cup of water. Also, you can make a paste of it and turn it into small balls or chew it slowly to calm the digestive tract

Speeds up healing process: The juice or the extracts of the leaves and fruit of the tree have properties that speed up the healing process in case of bruises and wounds. Skin ailments like boils, incisions and excisions, bumps, etc., can be treated effectively. For this, coat the leaf with butter and warm it. Apply this leaf on inflammations and wounds. Similarly, the leaf coated with warm ghee can be applied on the boil and even mumps. If the boil is in the primary stage the growth subsides else it bursts.

Effective on snake bite: Drinking two teaspoons of leave’s juice will help reduce the poison’s effect. Also, the juice or the leaf can be applied on the bite for 3-4 minutes or till the arrival of the doctor.

Helpful in Jaundice: Drinking the juice 3-4 times works best for those suffering from jaundice. In order to better the flavour, add mishri or sweetener.

Reduces pain: Peepul leaves are laden with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that relieves all sorts of pain. Its leaf extracts also calms rheumatic pain and arthritis.

Combats ear, teeth infections: Collect the juice by holding it near the flame and allow it to cool. A drop or two into the ear can help relieve the pain. Similarly, the new root of the tree when chewed regularly does not allow tooth or mouth infection to set in.

Cures sexual disorders: A spoonful of dried and powered peepul fruit helps deal with spermatorrhoea, nocturnal emissions, and premature ejaculations. It is an ideal drug for infertility and helps stabilise fetus.

Helpful in fever, cold and asthma: Boil few leaves of peepul tree in milk and sugar and drink it twice a day in case of fever, cold and asthma.  Also, its bark powder and dried fruit provides relief to asthmatics and those with urinary problems.

 Some more benefits:

• Leaves improves complexion
• A paste of ghee and the bark helps edema
• Topical application of powdered peepul tree bark gives relief in fistula, while its leaves are helpful in treating piles
• Peepul tree milk gives crack-free feet
• Peepul tree ash is useful in breast abscess
• Decoction of peepul tree bark is relieves menstrual pain