Characteristics of the Medicinal Amaltas or Cassia Fistula Plant
About Amaltas or Cassia fistula Tree
Latin name : Cassia fistula.
Indian name : Amaltas, Aragvadha (meaning, remover of disease).
Common names : Indian Laburnum tree, golden shower tree, pudding pipe tree, purging cassia, lantern tree(in Thailand).
Amaltas is native to India and Pakistan and the tropical countries of Southeast Asia. It is the national tree of Thailand and its flower is the national flower of Thailand.
Amaltas is a tree of religious significance in the Kerala state of India and its flower is the state flower of Kerala state. The flowers of Amaltas are used for rituals during the Vishu festival, the Kerala new year.
Amaltas Tree And Flowers
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeAmaltas Tree and Flowers
The Amaltas medium-sized tree is a show stopper when in bloom. It grows to about 30-40 feet tall. Counted among the most beautiful of the tropical ornamental trees, it drops almost all its leaves and bursts forth with grape-like bunches of bright yellow flowers.
The 12-18 inches long showy flower racemes give the tree a very elegant look as they sway majestically in the spring breeze. The colorful and fragrant flowers are very attractive to bees and butterflies that frequent it for its nectar and aid in its pollination.
The tree grows best in full sun and a well-drained soil. It blooms well where there is a marked temperature difference in summer and winter. It blooms in late spring.
The fruits are green when immature and turn dark brown when mature. They are about 2 feet long, flat, and about an inch broad, carrying between 40-100 seeds, each. The seeds are held in a sticky brown pulp in compartments in the pods, a seed to each cell. The fruits have a pungent odor. The seeds are poisonous.
Amaltas Fruits And Seeds
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeUses of the Amaltas Tree
The wood is hard, durable, and heavy. It is used for making cabinets, inlay work, temple drums, fence posts, agricultural implements and also in the construction of houses, bridges etc.
The pulp from the fruit pods is used to flavor tobacco. The flowers are used to decorate hair. All parts of the tree are used in traditional medicine and also in Ayurvedic medicine.
Nutrients in Amaltas
- The fruit is low in sodium.
- 100 grams of fresh fruit provides 100% of the daily Vitamin K requirement.
- 100 grams of dried fruit provides 800 mg calcium which is almost 100% of the daily need.
- It is a good source of the minerals iron and manganese. The concentration of these minerals are much higher than is present in apples, pears, oranges, peaches or apricots on a weight to weight basis.
- It is high in energy.
Always consult with a medical professional such as a licensed doctor or Ayurvedic specialist before ingesting any natural nutritional supplement for proper dosing and potential side effects.
Health Benefits of Cassia Fistula or Amaltas
The various parts of the tree like the bark, root, flowers, leaves, fruit pulp are used medicinally and have several health benefits.
The tree has the following properties and potential uses: antidiabetic, antifertility, antitumor, hepato-protective, cholesterol lowering, astringent, febrifugal, purgative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, analgesic, tonic, and antidysenteric properties.
According to Ayurveda, Amaltas pacifies the 3 doshas of vaat, pitta, and kapha. It expels the pitta and kapha from the body.
Some additional health benefits are given below:
- Amaltas reduces fever, cold, swelling of the throat, asthma symptoms.
- It benefits in constipation where there is drying of the fluids in the intestine due to the high pitta on the intestine. It has a gentle laxative action and can be used in children and elderly alike.
- Amaltas subsides gas, flatulence, acidity. It reduces colic pain. It eases the discomfort of piles, stops bleeding from different parts of the body and benefits in heart disease.
- It cleanses the blood and eradicates skin problems like itching, inflammation, and suppuration.
- It also alleviates symptoms and pain of arthritis, gout, nervous system diseases, eczema, ringworm, leucoderma, leprosy etc.
Some Ayurvedic Remedies With Amaltas
Consult a specialist for proper dosing and usage before attempting a remedy on your own.
- For acidity or gas, massage a slightly warmed up fruit pulp around the navel area in a circular motion in multiples of seven for about 10 minutes. doing this daily for a month cures.
- For skin eruptions due to impure blood, soak Aamaltas fruit pulp and some tamarind in a cup of water overnight. Next morning mash them well, strain out the pulp and drink the water. Do it for a month to get complete relief. It also makes the skin glow.
- For constipation, soak 10 to 20 grams of fruit pulp in a glass of water overnight. Filter the water in the morning and drink it. This is a very gentle laxative.
- For alopecia areata or baldness, apply a paste made by mixing ash of Amaltas leaves with some goat's milk. This is very effective for loss of hairs from the scalp, eyebrows, and beard.
- To treat piles, boil 10 grams each of Aamaltas fruit pulp, harad, and munakka and drink this decoction at bedtime for some days.
- In rheumatoid arthritis, a decoction of the pulp is taken with 2 grams each of dry ginger, harad, and giloy powders.
- A paste of the leaves is used for treating amenorrhea while a plaster of leaves is used for treating chilblain.
- Leaf poultices are also used for facial massage in afflictions of the brain and applied externally in paralysis, rheumatism, and gout.
Precautions
Self-medication with Amaltas is not advised in Ayurvedic texts. It should be used with caution if you are pregnant or nursing.
References
Medicinal importance of Amaltas/ (Cassia fistula)
Cassia fistula - Golden Shower, Yellow Shower,Indian Laburnum
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and does not substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, and/or dietary advice from a licensed health professional. Drugs, supplements, and natural remedies may have dangerous side effects. If pregnant or nursing, consult with a qualified provider on an individual basis. Seek immediate help if you are experiencing a medical emergency.
Questions & Answers
© 2013 Rajan Singh Jolly
Comments
Please let me know the exact first time flowering age of amaltas tree
Is amaltas fruit is helpful in reducing weight?
Does amaltas pulp help to cure stammering
What is the use of the seeds? Are they of any use in curing any ailment?
Where can I get bark of amaltas tree in mumbai i heard by soaking d bark in water overnightn drinking d same water brinngs down d sugar level for diabetics.
Rajan. Hw cn we extract pulp from dried fruit
Rajan, you always produce some worthwhile, informative and interesting articles. This was a great article on the Indian medicinal plant - Amaltas (Cassia fistula). Thank you for sharing. (Voted Up). -Rose
Hi Rajan,
Thanks for introducing me to this most beautiful Amaltas or Cassia fistula Tree. It is stunning when it is in bloom. It was nice learning about all the different ways parts of the tree are utilized. Gave this a 5 star rating, up votes and will share and pin.
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You're an angel in disquise! WOW! I didn't know its Amaltas tree until now. You see I have it here in my own yard, and it is really amazing how every summer I'm waiting for that amaltas tree to bloom cause it add so much beauty in our little garden. You gave me the answer. I didn't even know all its healthy benefits. I was just thinking before to write an article about gardening and put the picture of my amaltas up front. Really thank you for this great article and all the info, sir rajan.
you are right .amaltas herbs pulp is very good for constipation in kids sa well as elders .Be alert ,DON'T USE ITS SEEDS IT IS VERY POISONOUS,
very useful article. thanks for sharing..
When I was kid this tree laden with yellow flowers was all around my village but now with rise in population and use of every possible inch of land, they do not seem anywhere. Very informative hub. Voted it up, awesome and shared.
I would love to live in a climate where these beautiful trees grow. The yellow flowers would totally brighten up my yard. Your hubs really bring attention to the importance of taking care of the earth because there are so many medicinal benefits of plants.
It is astounding the many bounties Mother Nature provides. The heath benefits abound.
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Rajan, another beauty; I have a Laburnum in the garden, probably a distance cousin of the Indian Laburnum, it produces large long clusters of gorgeous yellow flowers, no fruit so far :). I also remember larger trees in the Caribbean with the large bean-like fruits but I did not know the pulp were edible.
Thank you for this great info.
Great hub about the Amaltas tree, it seems to have great health benefits. Thanks for sharing.
The tree is beautiful and as always you provide an indepth hub about whatever you write. Enjoyed reading about this. Voting up and pinning.
Rajan Jolly, my good friend!
Recently, I wrote a brilliant article by billybuc about givers and takers here on HubPages. You, my friend, are definitely a giver, and the beautiful ironic result is that you receive so many blessings as a result of your generous giving. I commend you on yet another in a long line of wonderful and informative hubs. Thank you so much for your positive contributions to our literary community. Have a memorable weekend, my friend! Aloha!
Joe
Hey rajan. Never heard of the Amaltas Tree? It's beautiful in bloom with those yellow flowers. You continue to amaze me with your hubs on interesting trees, fruits, etc... Great job. Voted up, shared , etc..
Thank you for this wonderful education. That is a beautiful tree.
It is a big world out there, Rajan. I learn so much from your hubs about fruits, nuts, vegetables, trees that I have never heard of before. Thank you for this wonderful education.
Be well my friend and enjoy your weekend.
Amaltas Or Cassia fistula, brilliantly approached and an informative hub about a unique title and most beneficial to any reader.
Good one, again:)
Nature has a solution to almost everything, isn't it?
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