Oroxylum indicum is a deciduous tree native to India. The bark, flowers, root bark, fruit, and seeds contain medicinal properties used to treat various afflictions. Commonly known as the Indian trumpet tree, Oroxylum indicum is used in Ayurvedic medicine, a system of healing that has been practiced for several thousand years in India and the surrounding area. Oroxylum indicum is prescribed for many ailments, including fevers, arthritis, edema, parasites, and various digestive and respiratory disorders. It is believed to contain antitumor constituents, and is often used for its antibiotic, antifungal, astringent, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory properties.
This tree has been harvested so heavily for medicinal purposes that its survival is in jeopardy. Its fruit is used to treat a wide variety of ailments, including hemorrhoids, bronchitis, cholera, smallpox, and colic. The root bark of Oroxylum indicum can be taken internally or applied topically, depending on the disease being treated. It can be mixed into a paste and applied to wounds to help prevent infection and speed the healing process. Fresh root bark is also used topically to treat dermatitis.
A decoction, or broth, is taken to relieve the pain and inflammation of rheumatism and osteoarthritis, and it can be applied topically to reduce swelling. The root bark is also used as a tonic to help strengthen the immune system. It has traditionally been used to treat diarrhea and dysentery. The bark from the root is also a diaphoretic used to induce sweating that can help break a fever.
Oroxylum indicum seeds have their own unique healing properties. Women who want to become pregnant use the powdered seeds to increase their chances of conception. The seeds also contain a purgative agent that makes the seeds an effective remedy for constipation. This action also hastens the elimination of substances that may be causing gastrointestinal distress. Oroxylum indicum seeds can also be used to treat bronchitis, sore throat, and mouth ulcers.
The leaves of Oroxylum indicum can be made into a poultice that is placed on the cheek to ease a toothache or applied to the head to relieve a headache. An enlarged spleen is treated in Ayurvedic medicine by applying hot Oroxylum indicum leaves directly to the skin. A decoction of the leaves can be used internally to increase appetite. The leaves can also be used to treat some of the same ailments that the root bark is employed to relieve. For example, they can be used topically to treat arthritis and promote the healing of wounds.