Cedrus Deodara

Indian Name:  Deodar

Botanical Name:  Cedrus Deodara

Other Names:  Himalayan Cedar, True Cedar, Devadaru, Mastadaru

Introduction

Cedrus Deodara belongs to the cedar family and is usually found in western part of Himalayan mountain range, Nepal, Afghanistan, Northern part of Pakistan. These are large evergreen coniferous trees and are found in higher altitudes i.e. 1500 to 3200 meters. These are tall and ranges from 40 to 50 meters. This is characterized by needle like leaves and they vary from being bright green to bluish green in color.

In the Indian Hindu mythology, it is worshipped and it termed to be a divine tree. The forest full of forests of cedar trees were the favorite spots of sages where they used to wander, live, and meditate to get salvation in the early period. The mention of this tree is found in many ancient Hindu texts like Valmiki Ramayan and Shaivite texts.

This is an ornamental tree which is usually grown in parks, lawns, and gardens. IN the ancient times it was used to construct religious temples and places and also to cover the area around those religious places. It has a very varied use and contains a lot of benefits in the different spheres of usages which is briefly explained in the below precept.

It has been widely used as a construction material and has found place in the making of furniture, fences, barracks, public buildings, bridges, and canals. Its rot resistant and durability features makes it all the more desirable in terms of the construction.

The uses of this tree have also been clearly depicted in herbal ayurveda and adrenal gland disorders are treated by using Cedrus Deodara. The inner wood of Cedrus Deodara is very   aromatic and is used to make incense sticks. The inner wood is also distilled to make essential oil out of it. It has been seen that insects have the tendency to avoid this tree which states that this tree and its extract can be used as a insect repellant and hence the oil thus extracted from it is used as insect repellent for the feet of horses, cattle and camels. It also has proper of being anti-fungal. The outer bark and stem of this tree can be used as astringent as well.

We have been hearing time and again of aromatherapy and its gaining popularity and the cedar oil thus extracted from this tree which has extreme fragrance, is widely used in the process of aromatherapy. It is used in soap perfumes and acts as floor polishes, sprays, and insecticides.

Thus with the above brief it is clear that Cedrus Deodara has always remained as one of the favorite choice when it comes to construction material, building small fences, as a decorative piece in the gardens, in making aromatic oils, insect repellant and as ayurvedic medicine and will always remain to be one of the first preferences in the same arenas as has been discusses above. The immense benefits are far outweighs the difficulty in getting it and the care also which has to be taken to raise these trees are minimal which empathizes the advantages more and more. One must definitely look forward to using it in one or the other way.