Sal is believed to be the “House of Tribal Goddess” and is valued as a holy tree. It has religious, medicinal as well as commercial significance and its wood is used in the furniture industry.
Sal is generally used to prevent diarrhea and dysentery due to its astringent property. It also reduces swelling and controls bleeding due to its analgesic and astringent properties.
According to Ayurveda, taking Sal tree powder along with honey helps in managing female disorders like metrorrhagia (bleeding at irregular intervals) and leucorrhoea (white discharge from the vagina) due to its Sita (cold) and Kashaya (astringent) properties. It also helps in managing joint pain and arthritis by reducing the pain and inflammation due to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Sal tree resin promotes wound healing and skin problems like excessive oiliness, itching, rashes etc. due to its astringent and antimicrobial properties. Sal leaves paste along with honey can be applied on the skin to reduce marks and scars. Treating wounds with a paste of Sal resin powder and honey helps to speed up wound healing.
Some people may show sensitivity towards Sal tree resin and may develop rashes. So it is advisable to use it with any carrier oil like coconut or sesame oil[2-5].

What are the synonyms of Sal Tree?

Shorea robusta, Shaalgaach, Shaal tree, Shaalvriksh, Saal, Sakhuaa, Saakhu, Kabba, Saalvriksham, Mulappumarutu, Raalechaavriksha, Salva, Shaaluaagachha, Shala, Saalam, Guggilam, Awashkarn, Sarj, Shalasaar, Ral, Sagua, Salwa, Asina, Guggula, Kabba, Raala, Jalari chettu, Sarjamu, Gugal, Shalam, Kungiliyam, Attam, Sakhu, Shalgach, Talura, Sakab, Sakwa, Seral, Guggilu, Sajara, Rala, Ralacha vriksha, Maramaram, Common Shal, Indian dammer, Kaikahr, Lalemoabbari, Lalemohari, Saal

What is the source of Sal Tree?

Plant Based

Benefits of Sal Tree

1. Diarrhea and Dysentery
Sal tree resin helps to improve weak digestion and control dysentery and diarrhea due to its Kashaya (astringent) and Sita (cold) properties.

2. Bleeding
Sal tree resin helps to reduce swelling and control bleeding when taken orally due to its Ropan (healing) and Kashaya (astringent) properties.

3. Metrorrhagia and Leucorrhoea
Sal tree bark powder gíves excellent result in female disorders like metrorrhagia and leucorrhoea due to its Sita (cold) and Kashaya (astringent) properties.

4. Urinary tract infection
Sal tree resin helps to treat urinary tract infection and excessive urination due to its Kashaya (astringent) and Sita (cold) properties.

Precautions when using Sal Tree

Advice from Experts

Ayurvedic View

Sal tree powder may cause constipation and hardening of stools in some people.

Patients with diabetes

Modern Science View

Sal tree may lower the blood glucose level. So it is generally advised to monitor your blood sugar level while taking Sal tree products along with anti-diabetic drugs[6].

Recommended Dosage of Sal Tree

Sal Tree Powder - ¼-½ teaspoon twice a day.

How to use Sal Tree

1. Sal tree (resin) Powder
a. Take ¼ to ½ teaspoon of Sal tree Powder.
b. Mix it with honey or take it with water after lunch and dinner.

2. Sal tree Kwath
a. Take 8 - 10 teaspoons of Sal Tree Kwath(decoction).
b. Add same quantity of water to it and drink 1-2 times a day after meals.

Frequently asked questions

Q. What is the chemical constituent of Sal tree?

Modern Science View

The chemical constituents which give Sal its therapeutic benefits are steroids, terpenoids bergenin, shoreaphenol, chalcone, ursolic acid, α-amyrenone, hopeaphenol and friedelin[4][5].

Q. What are the other uses of Sal tree wood?

Modern Science View

Sal tree wood is mainly used in construction and furniture industry. It is used for making door frames, windows, furniture items etc.

References

1
Balkrishnan A.Shaal.Ayurved Jadi Buti Rehsya. Danik Bhaskar.2017
2
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia Of India.Part 1 Volume 1.
3
Pradhan R, Ghosh P, Rana S, et al.Shorea robusta (Dipterocarpaceae) seed and its oil as food. Int J Food Sci Nutr.2015;4(4):228-233.
4
Marandi RR, Britto SJ, Soreng PK.Phytochemical profiling, antibacterial screening and antioxidant properties of the sacred tree (Shorea Robusta Gaertn) of Jharkhand. Int J Pharm Sci Res 2015;7(7):2874-88.
5
Soni RK, Dixit V, Irchhaiya R, et al.A review update on shorea robusta gaertn f. (sal). Journal of Drug Delivery & Therapeutics.2013;3(6):127-132.
6
Supriya KSK, Swamy VBM, Archana Swamy P, et al.Anti-obesity activity of Shorea robusta G. leaves extract on monosodium glutamate induced obesity in Albino rats. Res J Pharm Biol Chem Sci.2012;3(3):555-565.
7
MZH Gazi , P Sharkar , MA Nayeem.et.al.Medicinal plants used by kabiraj of Forteen villages in jhenaidah district, Bangladesh.Global J Res. Med. Plants & Indigen. Med.2013;2(1):10-22.
8
Soni RK, Dixit V, Irchhaiya R et al. A review update on Shorea robusta gaertn F. (Sal). Journal of Drug Delivery & Therapeutics.2013;3(6):127-132.
9
Kon K, Rai M.Antibiotic Resistance Mechanisms and New Antimicrobial Approaches.Elsevier.2016.
10
Sharma J, Gairola S, Sharma YP, et al. Ethnomedicinal plants used to treat skin diseases by Tharu community of district Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand, India. Journal of Ethnopharmacology.2014:140–206.
11
Wani TA, Kumar D, Prasad R, et al. Analgesic activity of the ethanolic extract of Shorea robusta resin in experimental animals. Indian J Pharmacol.2012;44(4):493–499.
12
Soni RK, Dixit V, Irchhaiya R et al. A review update on Shorea robusta gaertn F. (Sal). Journal of Drug Delivery & Therapeutics.2013;3(6):127-132.
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/7e4d/8678ab350b4bbe017402517a99ade25fb3d3.pdf
13
.Adlakha MK, Bhargava AK, Kapoor, R., Sharma, L. N., & Singh, C. (2014). Ayurvedic medicinal plant-SHALA (SHOREA ROBUSTA) (A BIRDâ€™S EYE VIEW). Innovare Journal of Ayurvedic Sciences, 2(4), 18-21.
https://innovareacademics.in/journals/index.php/ijas/article/view/3078
14
Jyothi G, Carey WM*, Ravi Kumar B, et al. Antinociceptive and Antiinflammatory Activity of Methanolic Extract of Leaves of Shorea Robusta. Pharmacologyonline.2008; 1(1): 9-19.
https://pharmacologyonline.silae.it/files/archives/2008/vol1/02_Carey.pdf
15
Gupta RB, Ahuja A, Sharma N, et al. Indigenous Herbal Plants used by tribes of Rajasthan; Improving Sexual Performance and Problem of Sexuality.Int. J. Drug Dev. & Res.2013,5(2):40-46.
http://www.ijddr.in/drug-development/indigenous-herbal-plants-used-by-tribes-of-rajasthan-improvingsexual-performance-and-problem-of-sexuality.pdf
16
16. Singh R ,Singh S, Jeyabalan G, et al. An Overview on Traditional Medicinal Plants as Aphrodisiac Agent.Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry.2012;1(4):43-56.
http://www.phytojournal.com/vol1Issue4/Issue_nov_2012/6.1.pdf

Disclaimer

The content is purely informative and educational in nature and should not be construed as medical advice. Please use the content only in consultation with an appropriate certified medical or healthcare professional.