Sal Tree – Shorea robusta – Ayurveda Details And Health Benefits

Sal Tree is known as Shala in Ayurveda. It is mainly used in treating non healing wounds, diabetes, boils, deafness etc.  Its resin, bark, sap wood, oil etc are used for various therapeutic purposes.

Botanical name : Shorea robusta
Family : Dipterocarpaceae

Vernacular names, Sanskrit synonyms

English name: Sal tree, Common Sal, Indian Dammer, Canon Ball tree
Hindi name: Sakher, Sakhu, Sal, Shal
Bengali name – Skaher, Skahua, Sal
Gujarati name – Ral
Marathi name – Rala, Sajara
Oriya name – Sagua, Salo, Sarjjo
Punjabi name – Sal, Seral
Tamil name – Attam, Kungiliyam, Shalam, Talur
Telugu name – Gugilamu, Sarjamu
Russian – Sal, Salovoe Derevo, Shoreia Moshchnaia
Urdu – Raal
German – Salbaum, Salharzbaum
Nepali – Agrakh, sakhua, sakwa, sal
French – Damar de l’Inde, Arbre à Sal, Balau Jaune
Assamese – Sal
Chinese – Suo Luo Shuang, Suo Luo Shuang Shu
Japanese – Sara Noki, Serangan Batsuu, Shara Noki
Oriya – Sagua, Sal, Salwa, Sekwa

Sanskrit Synonyms
Ashwakarna, Kanakalodhbava, kalyana, Kanta, Rala Niryasa, Vrischikara, Shalaniryasa, Sarjaniryasa, surabhi, Sarjarasa.
Maricha Patraka – leaves resemble those of black pepper.
Sura dhoopa, Yakshadhoopa – the resin is used as incense stick, with good fragrance.
Agnivallabha – resin catches fire easily

Classical categorization

Charaka samhita – Vedanasthapana (pain relieving), Kashaya skanda (astringent group of herbs)
Sushruta Samhita – Salasaradi Gana, Rodhradi Gana
Bhavaprakasha Nighantu – Vatadi Varga
Ashtanga Sangraha – Asanadi, Rodhradi, Vedanasthapana
Ashtanga Krudaya – Asanadi Gana, Rodhradi Gana
Raja Nighantu, Dhanwantari Nighantu  Chandanadi Varga
Kaiyyadeva Nigahtnu – Oshadhi Varga

Morphology

Shorea robusta is a large deciduous tree. Bark is thick, rough with deep verticle furrows and brown in color.  Leaves are simple, shiny, leathery, reddish in color when young and then turn green. They are arranged alternately, oval in shape and tapers at the tip. Flowers are arranged in unilateral panicle, petals are yellowish white, hairy outside, orange inside. Fruits are large, oval in shape, hairy when young and brown in color. Seeds are oval in shape.

Distribution

Shorea robusta is found India, Nepal and Bhutan.

Controversy and varieties

Shala – Shorea robusta
Sarja – Copal tree resin – Vateria indica
Ashwakarna – Dipterocarpus alatus
Ajakarna – Shorea tumbuggaia

All the above yield resins. Overall, Shala , Rala and Shala niryasa refers to resin obtained from Shorea robusta and Sarja, Sarjarasa, Sarja Niryasa refers to – Copal tree resin – Vateria indica

Chemical constituents

Shorea robusta  contain ursolic acid , α-amyrenone,  α  & β-amyrin27,28;  bark  contains ursonic  acid, oleanane, Shoreaphenol; seed  contains  hopeaphenol,  leucoanthocyanidin,  and  3,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone7-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-α-l-rhamnonopyrano-  syl(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranoside31;  while heartwood  contains germacrene-D24.
Trunk of Shorea robusta when incised exudes oleo gum resin.

Sal bark is used for tanning. Resin is composed of chemicals like hydroxyanone, dammarenediol II, Ursolic acid etc.

Part used, Dose

Part used: Bark, sap wood, heartwood, resin, oil, seeds, seed oil
Dose: Bark decoction – 50 – 100 ml, Rala (resin) – 1- 3 grams, in divided dose per day.

Medicinal properties

Taste: Kashaya (astringent), madhura (sweet)
Guna (qualities) – Rooksha (dryness), Ushna (hot)
Vipaka – taste conversion after digestion – pungent
Veerya – Sheeta – Cold potency

Sanskrit Verses

Sal tree benefits

Rala – the resin of Shala herb is sweet, astringent,  hot in nature, has anti-microbial properties,
Bhagnasandhanakrut – useful in fracture healing
Asra-dagdharuk – relieves pain due to wounds and burns.
Vishaha – anti-toxic,
Vranashodhana – cleanses wounds and quickens wound healing
Grahi – absorbent, useful in diarrhea, IBS
Karnarogahara – useful in ear disorders
Svedahara – decreases excessive sweating
Badhiryahara – useful in treating deafness
Sphotahara – useful in boils
Kandunashana – relieves itching, pruritis

External application:
Rala – the resin of sal tree is applied externally in the form of paste to treat painful swellings.
Because of its wound cleansing and healing properties, it is used as an ingredient in herbal ointment such as Shweta malaham

Pharmacological Activity

Sal possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, antibacterial, wound healing, anti-pyretic and analgesic activities.

Research

Phytochemical analysis – A study of ‘Comparative phytochemical analysis of Shorea robusta Gaertn (oleoresin) WSR to its seasonal collection’ have revealed that the oleoresin collected in Spring season contained more tannin, resin, volatile matter, phenolic content as compared to the oleoresin collected in Winter season (Hemantha rutu) .
Wound healing activity – A research study conducted to evaluate wound healing activity have proved significant wound healing activity of ethanolic extract of Shorea robusta resin.

Side effects

There are no known side effects.
It is used in children and lactating mothers. Seek medical advice for use during pregnancy.

Interaction with medicines, supplements

Can this be used while taking Homeopathic medicine?
Yes. This product does not react with homeopathic medicine.

Can this medicine be continued while taking supplements like multivitamin tablets, Omega 3 fatty acids etc?
Yes. Generally, this product goes well with most of the dietary supplements. However, if you are taking more than one product per day, please consult your doctor for an opinion.

With western medicines
Seek your doctor’s advice if you are taking this product along with other western (allopathic / modern) medicines. Some Ayurvedic herbs can interact with modern medicine.
If both Ayurvedic and allopathic medicines are advised together, then it is best to take Allopathic medicine first, wait for 30 minutes and then take the Ayurvedic medicine.

Ayurvedic medicines

Ayurvedic medicines with Sal tree ingredient:
Asanadi Kashayam -used in the treatment of diabetes, skin diseases and obesity etc
Eladi Thaila – used in skin diseases
Ayaskriti – used in anemia, vitiligo
Chandanadi Vati tablet – used in treatment of diabetes and urinary tract disorders
Somanath Ras – used in the treatment of frequent urinary complaints, menorrhagia, leucorrhea.

Scientific classification

Kingdom – Plantae
Order – Malvales 
Family – Dipterocarpaceae 
Genus – Shorea
Species – S. robusta