Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/375

Rh paper. Leaves generally approximate at the ends of thick short arrested branchlets, obovate, almost sessile, the tapering base entire, the upper part toothed. On luxuriant shoots the leaves are distant, trifoliate, the lateral leaflets small. Flowers unisexual, subsessile, 2 or 3 together. Petal 4-5, strap-shaped. Stamens 8-10, alternately longer. Drupe red, when ripe.

Part used : — The gum.

Use : — " It is used in Native medicine as a demulcent, aperient, carminative, and alterative ; especially useful in nervous diseases, scrofulous affections, urinary disorders and skin- diseases, and is used in the preparation of an ointment for bad ulcers." (Watt.)

" Applied as a hot paste to incipient abscesses, as an absorbent. Is used as an expectorant. Aphrodisiac according to Sk. Boali-Saina. Applied locally as a paste in hæmorrhoids." (Dr. Emerson.)

" Held in highest repute in the treatment of rheumatism, given internally and applied locally " (Surgn. Robb.) — Watt, i. 367.

Syn. : — Amyris commiphora, Roxb. 323.

Vern. :— Gugala (B.) ; Gugal, mahishabola (Bom.) ; Gugar (Sind.) ; Kookul (Tam.).

Habitat :— Eastern Bengal, Sylhet and Assam.

Spinescent says Brandis. Branches spiny, (says Alfred W. Bennett in Hooker.) Leaves 3-foliate, terminal leaflet very finely serrulate, lateral leaflets very small.

Use: — -The gum resin is also used medicinally like other species of Balsamodendron.

Balsamodendron Roxburghii, which, when broken, or bruised, diffuses a grateful fragrance, like that of the finest myyrh, yet that " the juice never congeals, but is carried off by evaporation, leaving little or nothing behind ; and all that he (Dr. Royle) could ever procure was a very minute portion of gummy matter, which certainly resembles myrrh both in smell and appearance, but has no tendency to be even tenacious or elastic."