BANYAN TREE ……THE NATIONAL TREE
Religious Importance • Banyan Tree is considered as sacred by the people in India. • It symbolises “Trimurti” with Vishnu as the Bark, Shiva as the Branches and Brahma as the Roots. • It is called as “Kalpa Vriksha”, the tree that fulfill all your wishes. • The mighty immortal.
Banyan
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• Rig Veda and Atharva Veda stipulate that trees should be worshipped, for their inevitable role in human life. • The banyan tree symbolizes eternal life. • Married Hindu women worship the banyan tree to lead a long and happy married life.
FEATURES • Banyan tree is characterized by a tangle of branches, roots and trunks. • The tree is deeply rooted, which may spread across several acres. It is huge in size, thereby giving protection from hot sun. • An old banyan tree can reach more than 656 feet in diameter and can be as tall as 98 feet. • The rubber, produced from the sticky milk of banyan tree, is used for gardening.
BENEFITS OF BANYAN TREE
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The bark and seeds can be used as a tonic to maintain body temperature and treat diabetes.
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The roots can be used to strengthen your teeth and gums by brushing with them. The sap treats external skin bruising and inflammation.
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Skin disease treatment is also possible with some properties of Banyan tree.
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Women from the Indo-Nepal region crush the prop root to paste and apply it to their hair. This keeps hair healthy and shiny
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Even the leaves are useful and are used as natural biodegradable plates to serve food on.
Trivia • The name 'banyan' is derived from Banias, who rested under the trees to discuss their strategies regarding business. • The widest tree in the world - the Great Banyan - is located in Kolkata. The tree is about 250 years old. • Historical records say that Alexander the Great camped under a banyan tree that was large enough to provide shelter to his army of 7000 men. • In many parts of the world, the wood and bark of the banyan tree are used for making paper.
• People even make use of the roots of the tree to make ropes, in order to secure wood bundles. • Banyan tree is well known for its medicinal uses. • Its sap is a medicine for treating external skin inflammations and bruising, dysentery, toothaches and ulcers. • Its bark and seeds are used to produce a herbal tonic that can cool the body. Diabetic patients are also treated by the tonic made from banyan tree.
Banyan Leaves Remedies •Painful joints, swelling
Apply sesame oil on fresh leaves of Banyan. Warm this and apply on affected areas.
•Rashes
Apply leaves paste on affected area.
•Freckles
Make paste of tender leaves of Banyan and coconut pulp. Apply on freckles. Similarly, leaf-bud of Banyan and masur ki dal paste removes freckles and gives glow.
Banyan Milky Latex Remedies •Bad breath, Gum infections, loose teeth
Break leaves or branch of Banyan tree. Collect the milky exude. Mix this with honey and apply on the gums. Keep this for ten minutes then rinse the mouth.
•Bleeding piles
Take few drops of sap and add in a glass of milk. Drink this regularly.
•Conjunctivitis, ophthalmic
Make fine paste of one clove and Banyan latex. Apply this in eye.
•Cracked heels
Fill the cracks with latex of Banyan tree .
•Rheumatism, Lumbago, joint pain Massage joints with latex of tree.
Banyan Aerial roots remedies •Diarrhoea
Take aerial roots of tree and pound them. Take this with buttermilk. Soak tender leaf buds in water at night. Next morning drink the infusion.
•Pimple
Apply paste of aerial roots.
•Hair problems
Make Powder of equal quantities of the aerial roots of banyan and the lemon peel. Boil this powder in coconut oil and apply. In case of baldness, powder the aerial roots of banyan tree and lotus roots and use the same way.
•Tooth care
Chew Tender aerial roots and use as toothbrushes.
Banyan Bark Remedies • Mouth ulcers, bad breath
Boil bark of Banyan tree in one cup water. Gargle with this frequently
• Excessive urination
Boil 2 teaspoon bark powder in glass of water till volume reduces to ½ glass. Drink this prepared decoction throughout the day.
• Skin diseases
Boil 5 grams bark powder in 2 glass of water and cook till water reduces to 1/4th. Drink this 2-3 times a week.
OTHER USES • In India its edible leaves are used as the plates. • It is planted for the soil conservation. • Wood is used for well curbs, door panels, boxes, furniture etc. It is suitable for paper pulp. • The wood of the aerial roots is stronger and is used for the tent poles and cart yokes.
Growing a Banyan Tree Outdoors • On average, these trees have high moisture needs; however, established trees are drought tolerant. They enjoy sun to partial shade as well. Banyan trees are easily damaged by frost and are, therefore, best grown in warmer climates. • Growing a banyan tree requires a lot of space, as mature trees become quite large. This tree should not be planted near foundations, driveways, streets or even your home, as its canopy alone can spread quite far. • In fact, a banyan tree can get up to about 100 feet tall and spread over several acres. The leaves of banyan trees can reach anywhere from 5-10 inches in size.
Banyan tree houseplant It’s a good idea to repot this plant at least every two to three years. As a houseplant, banyan trees prefer well-drained but moderately moist soil. However, caution should be taken to ensure that it doesn’t sit in water; otherwise, leaves may yellow and drop. Provide the banyan tree with moderately bright light and maintain indoor temperatures around 70 F. (21 C.) during summer and at least 55-65 F. (10-18 C.) throughout winter.
...LET US ALSO DO SOMETHING AMAZING …LET US ALSO CREATE A BANYAN FOREST
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