- Written By: Vasanth S.
- Edited By: Kathryn Hulick
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2003-2012 Conjecture Corporation
Gmelina arborea is a deciduous tree that is native to India and southern China. It is classified within the Verbenaceae plant family and features a light gray bark and reddish flowers that give way to bittersweet fruits. The roots, leaves, and fruits of Gmelina arborea have been used as ingredients in herbal medicine to treat pain and inflammation. Alkaloids and benzoic acid are found in the root, while the leaves contain luteolin. The fruits have tartaric acid, which is an antioxidant commonly found in wine.
Luteolin is also an antioxidant that is classified as a flavonoid, which is a group of plant molecules that give color to plants. Flavonoids with antioxidant properties protect cells from the damaging effects of reactive oxygen molecules, commonly known as free radicals. Usually, flavonoids increase the effectiveness of other antioxidants, such as vitamin C. Flavonoids also reduce inflammation by interacting with the cells of the immune system.
The leaves of Gmelina arborea can be used externally as a paste. It is typically applied to the forehead to treat headaches. Also, leaf extract may be applied to the body as a massage oil to relieve fevers. Another problem that the leaves of the plant supposedly treat is inflammation of the bladder or urinary tract. Juice extracted from the leaves is usually mixed with milk and sugar and consumed to help treat this ailment.
In the Ayurveda system, several parts of the Gmelina arborea are taken internally to treat ailments. For tuberculosis, the fruits are consumed to hasten the healing of scar tissue in the lungs, while coughing is treated with the roots. The roots are usually ground into a powder and consumed with food.
The roots are described in the Ayurvedic texts as a mild laxative which treats flatulence and increases appetite, but the effectiveness isn't established scientifically. Additionally, the roots are cited as a reliever of menstrual irregularities and a method to increase lactation. The roots are sweet in taste and astringent, which means the chemicals within the root cause tissues to constrict. This causes a dry or puckered feeling in the mouth when consumed.
The fruits are recommended for a host of ailments including excessive thirst, sexual dysfunction, and heart disease. As with all herbal medicines, the effectiveness of the fruit to treat these ailments is not verified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Most of the evidence supporting the uses is found in the scriptures of the Ayurvedic system.
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seag47
Post 6 |
Has anyone here ever actually eaten the fruit of the Gmelina arborea tree? The term “bittersweet” in the article makes me wonder if it is unpleasant.
I suffer from joint inflammation often, and since the fruit is supposed to be good at treating inflammation, I would love to try it. Also, cancer runs in my family, so I need all the antioxidants I can get. I think the fruit would be good for me in several ways.
However, I have an aversion to the taste of some bitter fruit. I cannot stand to eat grapefruit, even though it has wonderful health benefits. Does Gmelina arborea fruit taste anything like grapefruit? |
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cloudel
Post 5 |
@Perdido – It is also used to make boxes to hold those instruments. I have a flute case made from Gmelina arborea, and I love how easy it is to carry around.
I have to carry my flute with me to band practice and to every venue I play, and I had gotten tired of my heavy case. I read about how this lightweight wood was being used to construct instrument cases, and I couldn't wait to get one.
I dropped it once, and I was amazed that it didn't break. I guess it really is quite sturdy, despite being so light. This is good for me, because I tend to drop things a lot, and I would hate to damage my flute. |
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Perdido
Post 4 |
Gmelina arborea has a very wide range of purposes. Aside from the medicinal ones, I have heard of many things being made from its wood.
My cousin has an artificial limb that is made from this timber. Gmelina arborea is ideal for this kind of use, because it is really lightweight, but at the same time, it is very sturdy.
I have also read that the wood is used to make some type of musical instruments. I can see where its lightness and durability would come into play here, as well. It's always good to have instruments that can be lifted and held easily, yet they still hold up to regular use. |
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burcidi
Post 3 |
@ysmina-- I think many people use Ayurveda and homeopathy in the US too. I've taken several treatments from a homeopathic doctor in the past and got really good results with no side effects. It might not be the same for everyone but I don't think of allopathy and homeopathy differently as most of medicines used in allopathy is also made with herbs and elements in nature. I think it's completely safe as long as it's prescribed by a certified practitioner.
I remember hearing about beechwood at the homeopathy center. I think the English names for gmelna arborea is beechwood or Kashmir tree. The homeopathy doctor was prescribing this as part of a herbal tea to reduce cough, fever and improve appetite. I've never used it but I certainly will if my doctor prescribes it at any point. |
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wavy58
Post 2 |
My friend has a few Gmelina arborea trees in her yard, and she uses it to treat many ailments. She has a good, moist soil, and she lives in a valley, so these are ideal growing conditions for the tree. It is pretty cool to watch it flower, because at the time when it blooms, it has almost no leaves on it. I have taken pictures of it in the spring, and it looks so beautiful with its yellow-orange blossoms. The blooms remind me of both irises and daylilies. They are shaped like ruffled irises, but they have the coloring of common daylilies. |
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ysmina
Post 1 |
My grandmother lives in India along with the rest of my extended family and she believes firmly in Ayurveda. Just as we go to the doctor here when we are ill, she goes to her Ayurvedic doctor who prescribes whatever herb that is necessary for her ailment.
I don't know too much about Ayurveda and have never been treated with Ayurvedic methods to say that it works or not. But my grandmother and uncles take it very seriously and feel that it works.
Gmelina arborea is one of the herbs my grandmother uses often. But she calls it gambhari in Gujrati. She takes the powder for high blood pressure and when she has headaches. The amount she uses is pretty small though. I think in Ayurveda, it is believed that the less medicine is used, the more effective it becomes.
I'm glad she doesn't take too much of these herbs. There haven't been much studies done on these in the West so I think their safety is still questionable. |
