Saptaparni, Dita, Alstonia scholaris – Plant

Description

Alstonia scholaris

The botanical name of this plant is Alstonia scholaris. The generic name came after botanist, Prof. C. Alston of Edinburgh. Species name scholars refer to the fact that the timber of this tree has traditionally been used to make wooden slates for school children.

• Alstonia is an evergreen fast-growing tree, that grows up to 40 m tall.
• The fragrant flowers are greenish-white and occurs in early winter.
• The bark of Alstonia scholaris is used solely for medicinal purposes, ranging from Malaria and epilepsy to skin conditions and asthma.
• In Ayurveda, it is used as a bitter and as an astringent herb for treating skin disorders, malarial fever, urticaria, chronic dysentery, diarrhea, in snake bite and for the upper purification process of Panchakarma.
• The Milky juice of the tree is applied to ulcers.