Malay bush-beech
StarGmelina arborea
Synonyms: Gmelina arborea var. canescens, Gmelina arborea var. glaucescens, Gmelina oblongifolia, Gmelina arborea f. dentata, Gmelina rheedei, Premna arborea, Gmelina sinuata
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In Ayurveda, Gmelina arborea (Sanskrit Gambhari, गम्भारी) is a classical drug and one of the four minor roots of the Daśamūla (Laghu-Pañcamūla) decoction; the root is considered bitter, sweet, astringent, and rejuvenative and is used for fevers, debility, dyspepsia, urinary disorders and as a galactagogue, while the bark, leaves, flowers and fruit are also employed in various preparations (Khare, 2007). It also features in regional Indian and Bangladeshi folk medicine for similar indications (Khare, 2007).
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Botanical Description
Gmelina arborea, known as gambhari or beechwood, is a fast-growing deciduous tree of the family Lamiaceae (formerly Verbenaceae), native to South and Southeast Asia and widely planted in plantation forestry. It reaches 20–30 m in height, with a clear cylindrical bole, smooth pale-grey to yellowish bark, and a broad, spreading crown. The leaves are large, opposite, broadly ovate to heart-shaped, entire or sinuate, with the underside densely covered in greyish-yellow stellate tomentum. Inflorescences are terminal panicles of brownish-yellow, two-lipped tubular flowers produced before or with the new leaves. The fruit is a fleshy ovoid drupe, yellow when ripe, with a hard endocarp enclosing 1–4 seeds. It grows in moist deciduous forest and is cultivated for its light, durable, easily worked timber.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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