Nagkesar Trees

Mesua Ferra is the scientific name of Nagkesar tree. It is popular as Ceylon Ironwood in many areas. Its strong timber made it popular as a commercial crop but the only disadvantage is its slow-growing nature. When compared to several other trees, it is heavy and hard. Though it is native to South Eastern region of Asia, you can observe this tree in many other parts of the world. Evergreen forests and continuously flowing river valleys are perfect spots to find this tree.  In India, one can observe these trees at an altitude of 1500 m whereas in Sri Lanka, it is hard to find these trees above 1000 m altitude.

The Beauty

The first thing that comes into anyone’s mind after hearing the name Nagkesar tree is its beautiful shape. Unlike several other trees, it won’t grow irregularly and looks spectacular in ornamental shape. Some of the varieties of this tree can grow up to 30 meters but the commonly seen varieties are 10-15 meters tall. The trunk can reach up to 2 meters in diameter but you commonly see varieties having trunk diameter 1-1.5 meters in size. Yellowish Red colored young leaves add extra beauty to this tree. Similar to several other plants, the old leaves are in dark green color. The leaves can grow up to 6 inches and the maximum width is close to 1.5inches. The underneath part of the leaves is in white color. White petals and orange stamens of the Nagkesar flowers have to be specially mentioned here. They are bisexual and depending on the variety, their size will be in the range of 2-4 inches. Fruits will have one to two seeds.

South Asian Region

One can find these trees in the regions where Buddhist monasteries are present despite of dry and hilly nature. In India, this tree can be found in Eastern and Western Ghats region. You can find this tree in the river valleys present in the southern parts of Nepal. In some parts of Burma and Thailand also, these trees can be seen. They can also be observed in ever green forests present in the island countries like Philippines and Malaysia. Even in European and African countries also you can observe these trees. It is hard to find these trees in the Australia region. One must note that the nomenclature of this tree changes from one region to other and in all places of the world, this tree is not popular as Nagkesar or Mesua Ferra.

Importance

This tree is known for its medical uses from long back. In Sri Lanka, you can even find Buddish shrines exclusively made of this timber. According to historians, these shrines date back to 14^th century. Geologists are also curious to visit these places as some of the trees present here are more than thousand years old. According to them, the shoots formed by these trees convert into trunks gradually and the original trunk collapse. Thus some of the trunks present in this region can be very old and they are very much helpful for the biologists to know the evolution of these trees.

The wood of this tree is being used in rail road ties because of its unique properties. High density and low moisture content made this one favorite for commercial purposes. Coming to herbal uses, each and every part of this tree is being used in the herbal medicines. Evidences proved that the usage of this tree in Ayurvedic (herbal medical procedure in India) medical practices from long back. The usage of its flowers in incense sticks has also increased considerably these days. Though this oil is being used in the treatment of piles from long back, the importance of it is increased from last two decades as doctors realized its potential to cure piles (hemorrhoid) effectively and quickly.

Nagkesar Oil – Hemorrhoid Treatment

The problems faced by hemorrhoid patients are inexpressible in words. They not only face problems while passing stools but also during their day to day activates. It is hard for them to sit in chair and they can’t sit for long durations.  Apart from the physical problems, hemorrhoid patients also face several mental problems. As they can’t do their daily activates properly, psychological depression symptoms can be seen in most of the hemorrhoid patients. In the advanced stages of piles, anal bleeding also occurs and it can become fatal also if proper care is not taken. Though several medicines are available it is better to opt for natural or herbal methods for the treatment of piles. If one opts for natural treatment, (s)he needs to make some changes in his/her lifestyle for quick and effective results.

Those who are looking for herbal methods to treat piles, you can’t find better solution than Nagkesar Oil. This is being used for the piles treatment from long back. In general, the flowers of this tree are dried in sun shade and then oil is extracted from them. Apart from piles, this oil is very effective in treatment of several skin diseases also. Because of so many advantages, this is considered as a National tree of Sri Lankan region.

Nagkesar Oil – Properties

The first thing that can be observed in the Nagkesar oil is its distinct smell. Many users don’t like it and natural Polyphenols present in this oil causes this pungent smell. This oil is proved to be effective in case of bleeding piles also which is the advanced stage in piles. One must note here that this oil has to be used after the prescription of registered medical practitioner only.

Sores, wounds etc. can also be cured by using this oil. Ancient records prove that it was used in the treatment of Leprosy also. Its anti-bacterial properties made it popular among herbal medicine users and the world is now recognizing the importance of this tree and the oil. Even piles patients from Europe and America are also now coming to Indian and Sri Lankan regions to cure their hemorrhoid problems through herbal treatment.

References

https://www.hemorrhoid.net/medication.php

https://www.webmd.boots.com/digestive-disorders/piles-haemorrhoids

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesua_ferrea