Sacred Fig is called ‘Ashvattha tree’ and in the texts o f Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna said about its importance as “Among all trees, I am Ashvattha tree”. Its scientific name is Ficus religiosa.
In Indian cultural practices, Sacred Fig has got a special place as Gautama Buddha got his enlightenment under this tree, so it is otherwise called ‘Bodhi tree’. Even this tree is also used as a medicinal tree based on Ayurveda that can reduce many health issues.
First of all, when it comes to the medicinal properties of the Sacred Fig, every part can be used as medicine. The juice of the leaves of this tree helps in healing wounds. A study in 2012 found that all parts of this Sacred Fig have anti-cancer properties with its specific chemical compounds that can affect the death of cancer cells.
If the milk from this Sacred Fig is used on the cracks on the feet, the cracks problem will be reduced. If the bark of this tree is boiled in water and gargled, the toothache will be reduced. Eating two grams of Sacred Fig seeds a day will purify the blood. This tree is also used as an antidote to snake bites as it has blood purifying properties. Now you know how much benefits from this tree ..
To give a small example of how sacred this tree is in our tradition. According to Puranas the ‘leaves’ of this Sacred Fig represent ‘Lord Shiva’. Also, if the ‘bark’ of this tree is a reflection of ‘Lord Vishnu’, the ‘roots’ of this tree are a symbol of ‘Brahma’. Since the trinity of gods are in the same tree, it is a tradition to consider Sacred Fig as the most sacred one.
Let’s see how to use this tree as medicine according to Ayurveda,
The dried leaves and dried bark of this tree can be made into powder and can be used. We can use the juice of the green leaves of this tree. Also, the bark of this tree is boiled in water and can be used. Before using it, you need to consult an Ayurvedic doctor for its prescribing methods.
Click here to know about the medicinal herb ‘Neem Tree’.
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Also Read Black Cohosh: Health Benefits
