Plasha

Name - Palasa 

Latin name -Butea monosperma

Family - Fabaceae

Synonyms - kimsuka,ksarasrestha,Rakta puspa,

Introduction- It is the most important plants for the Yajña (ritual) according to vedic litera-ture. Its gum (red coloured) is also described in vedic texts (Jai. Bra. 1/3/53) Plāsa is consid-ered as the best among the herbs and is quoted as Medhajanana in Kouśika sūtra, Palāśa paste is applied externally in case of Jalodara (ascites). It is also used in Krimi roga while Kesava

Paddhati described it as panacia (Ke. Pa. 4/25/20).

Classical classification-

Suśruta : Rodhrādi, Muşkakādi, Ambasthādi, Nyagrodhādi

Vägbhata: Rodhrādi, Muşkakādi, Ambasthādi, Nyagrōdhādi

English name- Flame of the forest tree

Morphology - deciduous tree upto 15 m ht

Chem comp- Monaspermin,Butin

Guna-Laghu,snigdha

Rasa-katu,Tikta,kasaya

Virya-usna

Vipaka-katu

Botanical Description-

 A deciduous tree growing upto 15 m. height and 1.5-1.8 m in girth, trunk is crooked. B
ark light-brown or bluish-grey, yielding a ruby-red vitreous gum (Butea gum or 'Bengal keno') Wood-white or yellow-brown, often becoming grey or greefish-brown. Leaves-trifoliolate, large, unequal, 10.2-20.4 cm. Flowers- in racomes, brilliant orange-red, 3.8-5.1 cm. long; lower calyx-teeth deltoid. Fruits-pods, silvery-white, broad, dehiscent (by one suture). seeds-flat, elliptic, reddish-grey, 3.2 cm.

Distribution-Throughout India, upto 1219 m. height (except arid tracts).

Amaika prayoga- slipada krimi,pleha roga,gulma,arsa

Part used-stem bark, flower, seeds,gum

Dose-Bark decoction 50-100ml,seed powder - 3-6g , gum 1-3g 

Important formulation - Krminudgararas, Palasaksara taila