Palash

Palash gets its common English name, Flame of the Forest, from the vivid orange-red blossoms that cover the tree each spring, and it is known in Ayurvedic literature under the Sanskrit name Palasha. Botanically classified as Butea monosperma, it is a medium-sized, hardy deciduous tree of the Fabaceae (pea) family, native to the Indian subcontinent, that flourishes even in dry, arid conditions.

In Ayurveda, Palash is regarded as a therapeutically important plant, and different parts of the tree, including its flowers, seeds, bark and gum, are used for different traditional purposes.

Ayurvedic sources describe Palasha's flower as having a Kashaya (astringent) and Tikta (bitter) Rasa (taste), a Laghu (light) and Ruksha (dry) Guna (quality), an Ushna (heating) Virya (potency), and a Katu (pungent) Vipaka (post-digestive effect); it is traditionally described as pacifying Kapha and Pitta while potentially aggravating Vata in excess.

Palash is known by several regional names across India:

• Botanical name: Butea monosperma
• Sanskrit/Ayurvedic: Palasha, Kimshuka
• English/trade name: Flame of the Forest, Bastard Teak, Parrot Tree
• Hindi: Dhak, Tesu, Chachra
• Bengali: Palash
• Telugu: Moduga
• Kannada: Muttuga
• Marathi: Palas
• Gujarati: Khakhro, Kesudo
• Punjabi: Dhak, Palas

Palash contains the following identified compounds, which differ by plant part:

• Flowers: butrin, isobutrin, butein and isocoreopsin, a group of flavonoid and chalcone compounds
• Seeds: palasonin, along with fixed oil and small amounts of resins
• Bark: lupeol and medicarpin
• Gum: tannins and anthocyanins
• Leaves: oleic, linoleic, lignoceric and palmitic acids

These constituents have been reported in published phytochemical reviews of the plant (Hiremath et al., 2024).

Based on its traditional use and studied compounds, Palash is understood to have the following actions on the body:

• Anti-inflammatory, traditionally used for joint discomfort and swelling
• Anthelmintic, its seeds are traditionally used to help expel intestinal worms
• Antimicrobial, laboratory research has shown activity against a range of bacteria and fungi
• Antioxidant, its flower compounds have shown free-radical-scavenging activity in laboratory studies
• Astringent, its bark and seeds are traditionally used to help reduce loose stools

These properties are drawn mainly from traditional Ayurvedic use and from laboratory and animal research; robust human clinical evidence is limited (Hiremath et al., 2024). Palash is best regarded as a traditional herbal remedy rather than a treatment for any diagnosed medical condition.

Palash is traditionally used to support digestive, liver and skin health, as well as wound care. Early laboratory and animal research has also explored its potential effects on blood sugar and antimicrobial activity. These benefits are not established treatments for medical conditions, and persistent or serious symptoms require appropriate medical care.

Traditional Support for Digestive Health

Palash's astringent seeds and bark are traditionally used to help ease loose motions and general bowel irregularity. Its seeds are also traditionally used to help expel intestinal worms. It provides traditional, symptomatic support only, and persistent or bloody diarrhoea, or ongoing digestive symptoms, need medical assessment rather than home treatment alone.

Traditional Liver Support

Palash flowers are traditionally used in Ayurveda as part of liver-supportive preparations and are believed to help with general liver health. Jaundice and hepatitis are conditions that always need proper medical diagnosis and treatment, and Palash should never be used as a substitute for that care.

Traditional Skin Support

Palash flowers and seeds are traditionally applied to the skin to help soothe irritation, based on their traditional astringent use and reported antimicrobial activity in laboratory studies (Sahu & Padhy, 2013). It offers cosmetic, traditional support only, and persistent skin conditions such as eczema need assessment by a dermatologist rather than home treatment alone.

Traditional Support for Healthy Blood Sugar

Laboratory and animal research suggests Palash flower extracts may help support healthy blood sugar levels (Hiremath et al., 2024). It is not a treatment for diabetes, and anyone with diabetes or on blood-sugar-lowering medicine should monitor their blood sugar closely and speak to their doctor before regular use, rather than using Palash in place of prescribed treatment.

Traditional Use for Wound Healing

Palash extracts are traditionally applied to minor wounds and burns in the belief that they support the skin's natural healing process. It is not a substitute for proper wound care, and any wound that is deep, infected or not healing needs medical attention.

Palash has several traditional non-medicinal uses beyond Ayurveda. Its flowers are used as a natural textile dye and in religious and cultural practices, while its leaves may be used as cattle feed. The tree also produces a gum resin traditionally used for crafting and as an adhesive.

Natural Textile Dye

Palash flowers are traditionally used to make a natural dye for cloth during festivals such as Holi, valued as an alternative to synthetic colours.

Summer Cattle Feed

Palash leaves are traditionally used as cattle feed, particularly in the summer months when other fodder is scarce in dry regions.

Traditional Crafting Resin

Butea gum, also called Bengal Kino, is a gum resin obtained from the Palash tree and is traditionally used in crafting and as an adhesive.

Religious and Cultural Offerings

Palash flowers are used in religious ceremonies and cultural rituals across parts of India, where they are considered sacred and may be offered during worship.

• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: this audit could not verify that Palash is established as safe throughout pregnancy. Speak to a doctor before using Palash if pregnant or breastfeeding.
• People with pre-existing heart, kidney or liver disease should consult their doctor before using Palash internally, since it may pose risks in these conditions.
• People with diabetes, or on blood-sugar-lowering medicine, should monitor their blood sugar closely, since Palash may lower blood glucose.
• People on blood-thinning medicine should speak to their doctor before using Palash, since it may increase the risk of bleeding.
• Allergic reactions are uncommon but possible. Do a patch test on a small area of skin before wider topical use, and stop use if a rash, itching or irritation develops.
• Avoid taking Palash with alcohol, as this may increase the risk of side effects such as vomiting or dizziness.

Palash is prepared differently depending on the form and the purpose:

As a Flavouring in Food and Drinks

Dried, powdered Palash flower has a mildly sweet taste and is sometimes added in small amounts to tea, warm milk, or desserts for flavour, as a traditional alternative to refined sugar.

As a Traditional Decoction for Throat Comfort

Palash flowers can be boiled in water to make a decoction, taken with honey, as a traditional home remedy for soothing a mild, short-lived sore throat. A persistent or worsening sore throat, cough, or any breathing difficulty needs medical assessment rather than a home remedy.

As a Topical Face Mask

Palash flower powder can be mixed with milk or turmeric to make a paste, applied to the face for 15 to 20 minutes, then rinsed off with lukewarm water. Do a patch test on a small area of skin before applying it to the face.

Herbs Traditionally Used With Palash

Palash is traditionally combined with a small number of other herbs in Ayurvedic preparations:

Dosage varies by plant part and by age group. The figures below are general Ayurvedic guidance, not a substitute for advice from a doctor or qualified Ayurvedic practitioner:

Palash has not been well studied for safety in humans, so its side effects are not fully established. Excessive use may cause digestive symptoms, skin irritation or allergic reactions, headache, or dizziness. Because safety information is limited, Palash should be used cautiously and stopped if adverse symptoms occur.

Gastrointestinal Effects

Taking too much Palash may cause abdominal pain, nausea or diarrhoea. Stop use and speak to a doctor if these symptoms are severe or do not settle.

Allergic Reactions

Some people may develop a rash or skin irritation when using Palash topically. Do a patch test before wider use, and stop use immediately if irritation occurs. Seek emergency medical care if there is swelling of the face or throat, or difficulty breathing.

[H3] Headache and Dizziness

Excessive amounts of Palash may cause headache or dizziness. Stop use if this happens, and seek medical advice if symptoms persist.

Palash may interact with the following types of medicine. This is not a complete list, and a doctor or pharmacist should always be told about regular Palash use:

Diabetes Medicine

Palash may lower blood sugar. Combining it with insulin or other diabetes medicine could increase the risk of hypoglycaemia, so anyone taking diabetes medicine should monitor their blood sugar closely and speak to their doctor before regular use (Samad et al., 2014).

Blood Pressure Medicine

Palash may have a blood-pressure-lowering effect. Combined with antihypertensive medicine, this could cause blood pressure to fall too low, so anyone taking blood pressure medicine should speak to their doctor before regular use.

Blood-Thinning Medicine (Anticoagulants)

Palash may increase the risk of bleeding in people on anticoagulant therapy. Anyone taking blood-thinning medicine should speak to their doctor before using Palash and should not stop or change their prescribed medicine without medical advice.

Storage of Palash

• Store dried flower or seed powder in an airtight container, in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and moisture.
• Palash gum should be kept in a sealed, airtight container to prevent it from hardening or absorbing moisture.
• Freshly made decoctions do not keep well; prepare only what is needed and use them within the same day.
• Check for any change in colour, smell or the presence of mould before use, and discard if any of these changes are present.

• Palash (Butea monosperma), also known as the Flame of the Forest, is a tree whose flowers, seeds, bark and gum are traditionally used in Ayurveda to support digestion, skin health and liver function.
• Its astringent, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties are supported mainly by traditional use and laboratory or animal research; robust human clinical evidence is limited.
• It is not a treatment for diabetes, liver disease or fertility problems, and one published study found Palash flower extract had an antifertility, not a fertility-boosting, effect in male rats, so the traditional aphrodisiac reputation should be treated with particular caution.
• Palash may interact with diabetes, blood pressure and blood-thinning medicine, and people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have heart, kidney or liver disease should speak to a doctor before regular use.
• This content is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.