(a) Shodala
1. In gridhrasi (sciatica, a neuritis of the great sciatic nerve that passes down the back of the thigh) or, rheumatism affecting the loins.
A kalka or paste prepared out of mahanimba and jata (i.e. jatamansi Nardostachys jatamansi DC) destroys this ailment.
b) Sharngadhara:
1. In prameha (urinary disorders of profuse urination).
Take the fruit of mahanimba, add four tolas of rice water and pound them together. Mix with this two tolas of ghee and pound again.
A drinking of this medicine will destroy even chronic dysfunctions of urinary flow.
2. In netra roga (diseases of the eye).
Prepare a lump (pindi) from the seeds of mahanimba and apply this over the eyes.
This measure will cure the troubles of the eye, specially the type of running of the eyes (abhishyanda) that is caused by vitiation of pitta
3. In gridrhasi (sciatica) or, rheumatism of the loins.
A kalka or paste prepared out of mahanimba and jatmansi is the best medicine available for destroying the disease of gridhrasi.
Sushruta brings mahanimba under a class of famous plants called pippalyadi varga Neither Charaka or Sushruta mention a plant called parvata nimba, the hill neem, a term which is often meant for kaidarya referred above. Sometimes however this term is used to refer mahanimba Itself. Charaka groups kaidarya under two of his famous Ten drugs, the dashemani—these are kanthya (those which are wholesome to throat troubles) and samjnasthapana (those that arrest consciousness).
Rarely do we come across in our ancient medical nature clear-cut descriptive accounts for the numerous plants they mention in abundance. For malvanimba however a reputed author called Sri Kantha adds a clear descriptive note: “Mahapichumanda (which is mahnimba itself) is similar to neem but has leaves that are bigger; and, it is a tree which is called in the general public as bakayana.
Some however consider that it is just the neem that occurs near about the villages but becomes called mountain neem as it occurs in the mountainous regions”. This note’however does not fully clarify the situation. Botanical identity of what is called kaidarya is still a very much disputed issue.
Actually however the term mahanimba is not entirely suited to bakayan, for its tree is not that much bigger than the neem; its leaves are also not always bigger—infact, they are some times slightly smaller even. There is a tree called aralu in Hindi or Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. botanically, which fits very well with the term mahanimba for it very much resembles neem in appearance but is definitely very much bigger.
Moreover, the term mahanimba is also applied to this plant occasionally. But this plant belongs to an entirely different botanical family altogether viz. Simaroubaceae and not Meliaceae to which both neem and bakayan belong.
There is an interesting point here. One of the terms used for mahanimba is madodreka i.e. that which causes an excitement of intoxication and its taste is mentioned as astringent or kashaya. This is exactly what is seen in bakayan. If we chew the leaves of bakayan, it appears astringent (kashaya] to start and then becomes slightly bitter (katu). And, if these leaves are eaten in a large quantity, a poisonous reaction sets in, along with a bit of an intoxication. This does not happen with the leaves of neem.
Moreover, neem is considered hinguntryasa viz where, there occurs an exudation of a substance similar to hingu or asafoetida; bakayan is described as akshiri-not producing any milk like exudation. These two names therefore do aid in differentiating the two plants in clearly practical terms.
Furthermore, some lexicographers or the writers of nighantus give drekka as being one of the names of maiianimba. Even now, bakayan is called as drek in Kashmir while in Punjab the name is dharek which is clearly its corrupt form. It is very much likely that both of these terms, drek of Kashmiri and dharek of Punjabi are finally traceable to madodreka where the first part of the term viz. mado is just dropped down!
Vagbhata, one of the three elderly classical authors on Ayurveda stresses the utility of the fruit of bakayan in piles: “If you desire to get rid of the growth of piles, drink the liquid, that is churned well and blended fully and consisting of good salt, asafoetida, kalingayava (seeds of Holarrhena antidysenterica wall – karchi or Kura in Hindi), chirabilwa (Holoptelia integrifolia planch – chilbil in Hindi) and mahanimba. Drink this for the duration of seven days”.
Even now the fruits of bakayan are utilised by Ayurvedic physicians to treat piles. None use aralu or Ailanthes excelsa Roxb. in this manner.
It is quite clear therefore that by the term mahanimba what the classical authors on Ayurveda implied was bakayan and not aralu. The fact that the tree of aralu very well fits in with the name mahanimba is a factor of secondary importance; medically and pharmacologically as well, there is no dispute that mahanimba is bakayan. This is what the reputed ayurvedic physicians of modern times also conclude.
The bark of bakayan tree is bitter and nourishing, astringent and healing and a counter active drug to fever and worms in general. It is very well used in round worm infection to children. For the adults, the plant gets employed in several diseases: fever, fever due to indigestion, indigestion, general weakness, jaundice, worm infection, goitre, boils and eruptions, skin diseases, kushta and the like.
For diseases of the head caused by vitiation of vata, a hot poultice of the fruits and leaves is found very useful. A poultice of its flowers when applied to the head is capable of removing the boils and eruptions on the head as well as headlice. A kalka or paste of the leaves applied over vitiated wounds is quite beneficial.
But, it is very important to note that if the juice of the leaf is given in a large dose, the result is quite harmful. For, a poisonous reaction starts up then. An inertness, a distortion of mind, extraordinary enlargement of the pupils of the eye, dullness of vision, gurgling sounds in the throat, and a stupor-these are some of the manifestations of this leaf effect. Excessive vomiting as well as diarrhoea may also result.
In general it is not incorrect to say that ayurvedic authors do not shower that much of praise on bakayan as they clearly display as regards neem. It is the Arabs and Iranians that have brought this plant to India and it is the yunani physicians that employ bakayan quite extensively. The tree is significantly called in English as Persian Lilac while neem is Indian lilac.
They consider the bark of its root, fruit, flower and leaf as hot. Its flowers are tied around the head in headaches that are due to vata dosha. A drinking of its leaf juice will destroy worms and urinary stones; it is diuretic (i.e. causes profuse urination) and menstruation-inducing. It may also result in morbid swellings of the body.
An important observation of the medical science which the ancient workers in this field had made use of in some ways and modern scientists have confirmed it experimentally is that, generally speaking, it is the toxic or the poisondus plants that also have varied and specific medicinally advantageous actions in the body.
Only we should know more and more about the details and the specificities of these actions and also determine the minuteness of the dosage of the drug in which alone they are medicinal. Beyond this level, the plant will prove harmful and its administration is accompanied with many attendant and minor complaints.
The general run of the present day research in medicinal plants is as follows: The ayurvedists and their copious literature as well as the folk lore and the tribal medicine furnish prospective hints of potential value. Modern researchers are engaged in assessing these hints to greater and yet greater fineness. In this way, in the interest of the advance of medical’ science as a whole, ayurveda and allopathy are complimentary.
For instance, in the United States of America, the decoction of the leaf of bakayan is used as a curative in hysteria. Fruits of this plant are particularly poisonous! This is tied at the throat in folk lore medicine in India as a cure against goitre; this specially prevents the spread of the disease. In Maharashtra, bunches of the leaves of bakayan are tied at the doors and windows during the outbreak of any epidemic as a prophylactic measure. Its oil is rather similar in its medicinal properties to that of neem oil.
This tree is an officially certified or the pharmaceutical drug in USA. Its root-bark is particularly acclaimed for its worm destructive capacity, though in this regard, neem is decidedly much better. In fact there are many pharmaceutical forms in which this plant is used in USA. Dried fruits of it are soaked in liquor and this is used in destroying many types of insects. In baldness of the head, the pulp of this fruit along with the lard of pig is applied.
The bark of the tree is utilised in making an extract and shurbet or a cool drink that is slightly Intoxicating. It has been however well recognised there that a heavy use of leaf, bark or fruit is injurious as it leads to poisoning. Even death has been reported when the fruit was consumed. It is said that eating six to eight seeds of bakayan will result in upset speech, convulsions and cholera like manifestations.