Cassia Fistula

Indian Name:  Amaltas

Botanical Name:  Cassia Fistula

Other Names:  Bandarlauri, Aragvadha, Golden Shower tree,  Chahui tree.

Introduction

Cassia Fistula, a deciduous tree of medium-sized and fast-growing, with a height of around 9 meters can be recognized with its leaves and flowers.  Leaves being compound having 4-8 pairs of leaflets that are opposite; these are quite symbolic by nature. The flowers that are produced by the trees are golden yellow in color that is appeared when the branches go fully bare. This is the special stage and a bit prior to the emergence of the new leaves in the tree thus, becoming the perfect place for bees and butterflies.            

Cassia Fistula is widely found in countries such as India, Sri Lanka and the Amazon; these trees are in fact, cultivated for ornamental decoration giving beautiful and matching appearance through mesmerizing yellow flowers.

Medicinal Uses

There are different types of Cassia species scattered in all over the world that are exclusively used as herbal medicine.  This particular species of plants are very popular and extensively used for their laxative actions. The major uses can be found in effective and safe laxative that can be utilized by the children as well. Canafistula is being used as a remedy for tumors of the abdomen, glandular tumors, cancer, constipation, convulsions, gravel, hematuria, pimples, throat, for burns, glands, liver, stomach, and delirium, epilepsy, followed by diarrhea and dysuria as well. In case of large doses, the bark and leaves may lead to vomiting, cramps, abdominal pain and nausea. In the Ayurveda system, the seeds of the Cassia Fistula are comprised of laxative, carminative, aperitif and antibilious properties. Whereas the root is wonderfully used for diseases such as tubercular glands, skin diseases, syphilis, adenopathy, leprosy and burning sensation as well.
 
Leaves have also great uses in Ayurveda; major uses of leaves are to cure ulcers, rheumatism, erysipelas and malaria. In country like Brazil in their system of medicine the leaves and bark are used for curing inflammation and pain.  Anthraquinones are the compounds that create the laxative actions in Canafistula which is found in all the plants of cassia and senna at varied degrees. During the research, it has been found Canafistula has the properties such as laxative, liver protective, mild estrogenic, inhibitor, antibacterial, antiviral, cholesterol lowering, Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), antioxidant, antitumorous, pain relieving and many other fever reducing actions.