8/3/2019 Tree Sonal

1/5

A banyan () tree, native to India andpart of the Mulberry family, is anenormous tree with many uses and a vasthistory. In Hindu mythology, the banyantree is also called Kalpavriksha meaning'wish fulfilling tree'. It represents eternal

life because of its seemingly ever-expanding branches and people havegreat respect for it.

The banyan tree is also used formedicinal purposes. The sap treatsexternal skin inflammations and bruising.The bark and seeds are used as a tonic tocool the body, as well as to treat patientswith diabetes. The roots and sap are usedto treat skin ulcers, dysentery, andtoothaches.

Banyan trees have a variety of uses.They produce a special type of rubber,

and their sticky milk is used in gardening.The most outstanding characteristic ofthe banyan is the fact that it frequentlygerminates in another tree and drops itsroots down to the ground.

Common NamesLatin : Ficus BenghalensisEnglish : Banyan treeSanskrit : NyagrodhahHindi : Bargad (), Bat ()

VadTamil : AlamaramMalayalam : Peral

Telugu: : Pedda-marriKannada : AlaMarathi : VataBengla :VatagachIndians call it a wish fulfilling tree.

The oldest Banyan tree in KolkataBotanical garden

Stamp on Banyan

Banyan Fruits with leaves

Description Banyan tree is a huge tree with very extensive branches. It is saidthat at one time more than 10, 000 people can sit under its shade atone time. It is a evergreen tree. It branches spread out and send trunklike roots to the ground in order to support itself. It grows to a height ofmore than 21 meters and lives for many years possibly over athousand years. The leaves are 10 -20 cm long and has many aerialroots. The leaves are broad, oval and glossy. White milky fluid oozes

out of leaves, if broken. It can grow in to the giant tree coveringseveral hectares.The leaves of the Banyan Tree are large in size and leathery. Most of

them are oval-shaped and dark, glossy green in colour. They are alsonoticeably pale-veined. The tree also has two large scales that coverthe leaf bud. The scales fall when the leaf develops and leave a ringround the stem at the base of the leaf stalk. The young leaves of thetree have an extraordinarily gorgeous reddish shade. Though theflowers of the Banyan Tree may not visible because they are hidden

8/3/2019 Tree Sonal

2/5

inside the fig. yet it bears some fruits.Banyan Trees have aerial roots - running from branches to the

ground - which enable trees to become very large - up to 200 metresin diameterOther Species : F. aurea, F. benghalensis, F. citrifolia, F. macrophylla,F. microcarpa, F.pertusa, F. rubiginosa are the other related species

of the Banyan tree.Location Found in almost all the parts of India, Banyan tree is the Nationaltree of India. It is grown throughout the sub- Himalayan region and inthe deciduous forests. One can Banyan Tree in the Botanical Gardenof Calcutta. They are widely grown in the Ranthambore National Parkand Corbett National Park in India.

Cultivation Banyan tree is easily propagated by root tip cuttings or the eyecuttings. Cut apiece of the stem about half a inch below and abovethe leaf. Insert the stem piece and a little of the leaf stalk into therooting medium. To reduce evaporation from the leaf surface, you canroll the leaf and secure with a rubber band. In a couple weeks roots

and a new shoot will start developing. It can grow in any type of soil.Medicinal uses

The Banyan tree also has several medicinal properties. Its leaf, bark,seeds and fig are used for the variety of disorders like diarrhea,polyuria, dental, diabetes and urine disorders. It is used in traditionalmedicine for the treatment of several ailments. The bark and leaf budsof the tree are useful in arresting secretion or bleeding. The fruitexercises a soothing effect on the skin and mucous membranes,alleviates swelling and pain, and serve as a' mild purgative. It is alsonutritious.Diarrhoea and Dysentery : The leaf buds of the banyan tree arebeneficial in the treatment of chronic diarrhoea and dysentery. Thebuds should be soaked in water' overnight and taken as infusion in

the treatment of these diseases. The latex is also useful in thetreatment of diarrhoea and dysentery.Piles : A few drops of the latex of the banyan tree mixed In milk andtaken daily helps to cure bleeding piles. With this treatment, the diet ofthe patient should contain liberal quantities of green vegetablesespecially fenugreek and manattakkali or black nightshade leaves.Female SterilityFemale sterility: Tender roots of the banyan tree are consideredbeneficial in the treatment of female sterility. These roots should bedried in the shade and finely powdered. This powder should be mixed5 times its weight, with milk, and taken at night for 3 consecutivenights after menstruation cycle every month till the conception takesplace. No other food should be taken with this.

Leucorrhoea : A regular douching of the genital tract with a decoctionof the bark of the banyan tree and the fig tree. is helpful inleucorrhoea. A tablespoon each of the powders of the bark of the twotrees should be boiled in a lt. of water till it is reduced to abouthalf. Douching with the lukewarm decoction will keep the tissues ofvaginal tract healthy.Teeth Disorders: Cleaning the teeth with the aerial roots of thebanyan is beneficial in preventing teeth and gum disorders. As onechews the stick and brushes, the astringent secretion from the root-stick cleanses and strengthens the teeth and gums-.

8/3/2019 Tree Sonal

3/5

Rheumatism: The latex is commonly used locally for rheumatism,pain and lumbago.Skin Disorders : A hot poultice of the leaves can be applied with

beneficial results to abscesses to promote suppuration and to hastentheir breaking. The milky juice from the fresh green leaves is useful indestroying warts. The latex is commonly used locally for sores, ulcers

and bruises.Other Diseases : An infusion of the bark is a specific medicine fordiabetes. The tender ends of the aerial roots can be taken in obstinatevomiting..

Other usesBanyan trees have a variety of uses. They produce a special type of rubber, and their sticky milk

is used in gardening. In the Nepal region, the milky sap is used for polishing copper and brass.The women in Nepal crush the root of the banyan tree with a paste to create a hair and skinconditioner. The banyan tree is also used to produce shellac, which is widely used as anadhesive and surface-finisher in the industrial world.In India its edible leaves are used as the plates. It is planted for the soil conservation. Wood is

used for well curbs, door panels, boxes, furniture etc. It is suitable for paper pulp. The wood ofthe aerial roots is stronger and is used for the tent poles and cart yokes. The milky latex that

comes from its leaves and stems is used in many Ayurvedic medicines.Banyan trees are a source of shellac and dye. Shellac is an important ingredient in Frenchpolish. Shellac is produced by lac insects which parasitise banyan trees.

Religious importance Banyan tree is respected and is considered as sacred by the people in India. In the sacredHindu Book 'Bhagwad Gita' Lord Krishna has sung praises on the Banyan tree. People in Indiagrow Banyan tree closer to the Peepal tree. As Banyan tree is considered as the male plantclosely related to the Peepal tree. It symbolize Trimurti with Vishnu as the barl, Shiva as thebranches and Brahma as the roots. Indians considered Banyan tree as 'Kalpa Vriksha' the treethat fulfill all your wishes. The mighty Banyan Tree is considered as immortal and has alwaysbeen the focal point for the village communities in India. It is probably the biggest and friendliestof all trees. Banyan tree is the tree of knowledge and tree of life.

Banyan trees are sacred in South Asia, particularly to Hindus and Buddhists. The tree features

in many myths. The tree represents eternal life because it supports its expanding canopy bygrowing special roots from its branches. These roots hang down and act as props over an everwidening circle, reflecting theSanskrit name bahupada, meaning 'one with many feet'.

The banyan tree is considered as sacred by various tribal communities. Banyan is mentioned inthe Buddhist Jataka tales. As Gautam Buddha sat under this tree for seven days it is regardedas holy by the Buddhists. The first Tirthankara of Jainism, Rishabhanath received perfectknowledge under the banyan tree. Thus, it is sacred to the Jains. The tree is also associated withthe life of the 15th century saint Kabir.

Vat-Pournima Vat-Pournima is celebrated on the full moon day of the Jyeshta, symbolizes the worship of thebanyan tree. Jyeshta is the third month of the Hindu calendar. There is a mythological storyassociated with the ceremony of Vat-Pournima which tells that Savitri, by worshipping the

banyan tree on the Jyeshta Pournima, brought back to life her dead husband by the grace ofYama, the god of death.

In Goa, Hindu married women observe a whole day of fasting and perform pooja of the banyantree, urging the tree to grant a long, healthy and happy life to their husbands.

Diabetes Research The main focus for research has been on the use of the banyan tree for the treatment ofdiabetes. So far, some compounds called leucocyanids have been isolated from the tree andthese compounds could be associated with the anti-diabetic activity of the plant. However, moreresearch needs to be completed to understand the medicinal properties of this symbolic tree.

8/3/2019 Tree Sonal

4/5

The Banyan Tree Spas With the emergence of its first spa resort in Phuket, Thailand in 1995 the Banyan Treeintroduced the concept of the Tropical Garden Spa. To destination spa goers worldwide, theBanyan Tree quickly came to symbolize holistic healing and the wisdom of basing spa therapieson ancient Eastern healing techniques. The Banyan Tree also introduced the concept of health-based beauty. With its complementary blend of health and beauty therapies, the Banyan Tree

quickly became a favorite among international guests. With its low-tech, high-touch philosophy,the Banyan Tree represents a return to natural healing.

The success of its first spa led the Banyan Tree Developers to open spa resorts in otherlocations. By 1998, readers of the Conde Nast Traveller recognized the Banyan Tree as theWorld's Best Spa. The Banyan Tree developers have opened other luxury spa resorts inBangkok, Thailand; Bahrain, Arabia; Sanya, Hainan Island, China; the Maldives;Bintan, Indonesia; Shanghai, China and the Seychelle Islands in the Indian Ocean.

The goal of the Banyan Tree is to provide a holistic, sensory experience. Services includeintimate retreats and natural health and beauty treatments based on ancient Eastern restorativeremedies. Guests are offered healing programs on an individual basis depending ontheir particular needs.

Banyan tree and poet Milton Banyan tree inspired the great English poet Milton to give description of the banyan tree in

Paradise Lost in the following lines.The fig-tree at this day to Indians knownIn Malabar or Deccan, spreads her arms,Branching so broad and long, that on the groundThe bended twigs take root, and daughters growAbout the mother tree, a pillard shade,

High over-arched and echoing walks between."

Benefits of Protecting Trees :

As important as trees are, their survival is often threatened by development. Millions of trees areneedlessly destroyed in this way each year, because many communities do not have strong tree

preservation ordinances.

For instance, developers commonly clear-cut building sites to make construction faster and

easier. Tree conservation can have positive environmental, economic and health benefits for all

communities.

Top 10 Reasons Why We Need Trees

1. Trees help purify the air we breathe by absorbing pollutants.

[ carbon trading, carbon credit ]

2. Trees increase property values and improve the tax base in communities.

3. Trees improve neighborhood appeal, attracting business, shoppers, and homeowners.

4. Trees cool our cities and towns by reducing heat generated by buildings and paved surfaces.

5. Tree shade, properly placed, can save an average household up to $250 annually in energy

costs.

8/3/2019 Tree Sonal

5/5

6. Trees reduce the amount of pollutants in sewer systems, saving communities millions of dollars

in water treatment costs.

7. Trees soften harsh building lines and large expanses of pavement, making urban environments

much more pleasant.

8. Trees provide habitat for birds and other wildlife, maintaining a balance with nature even inurban areas.

9. Trees reduce the amount of water-borne pollutants that reach streams and rivers.

10. Trees reduce levels of domestic violence and foster safer, more sociable neighborhood

environments.