Gmelina arborea, commonly known as Gamhar, is a fast-growing, deciduous tree native to South and Southeast Asia. It is a member of the Lamiaceae family. Known for its rapid growth, it's widely planted in large-scale plantations for its valuable timber, which is used for construction, furniture, and paper pulp. The tree also holds significant importance in traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda.
Name in Different Countries The tree is known by many names across its native range and in countries where it has been introduced:
English: Gmelina, White Teak, Coomb Teak, Candahar Tree, Kashmir Tree.
Hindi: Gamhar (गम्हड़), Gambhari (गंभारी), Bhadraparni (भद्रपर्णी).
Sanskrit: Gambhari (गम्भारी), Madhumati (मधुमती), Stulatvacha (स्तूलत्वचा).
Bengali: Gambhari (গাম্ভারি), Gamar (গামার).
Tamil: Kumalaamaram, Kumutai (குமுதை).
Malayalam: Kumbil (കുമ്പിള്), Kumizh (കുമിഴ്).
Telugu: Peddagumudutekku (పెద్ద గుముడు టేకు).
Gujarati: Shevan (શેવન).
Assamese: Gomari.
French: Gmélin arboré.
Finnish: Intianjemane.
Thai: ซ้อ (Sor).
Chinese: 酸树 (Suān shù).
Terminology
The botanical name, Gmelina arborea Roxb. ex Sm., classifies the plant. The name "Gmelina" is in honor of Johann Georg Gmelin, an 18th-century German botanist. The specific name "arborea" is from the Latin word "arbor," meaning "tree-like," referring to its tree form. The tree is a vital ingredient in the "dasamula" (group of ten roots), a cornerstone of many Ayurvedic preparations.
Availability
Gmelina arborea is widely available throughout its native range, from the foothills of the Himalayas to Kerala and the Andaman Islands in India, and extending to Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, and southern China. It thrives in moist, fertile valleys with sandy loam soil but can also grow in a variety of climates. Due to its fast growth and value, it has been introduced and is now cultivated in plantations in other tropical regions of Africa and Latin America, including Nigeria, Gambia, and Brazil.
External Look
The tree is a moderate-to-large-sized deciduous tree that can grow up to 30 meters tall. It has a straight trunk and a wide-spreading crown with numerous branches.
Bark: The bark is smooth and pale ashy-grey or grey to yellow, with black patches and visible lenticels (corky pores).
Leaves: The leaves are simple, opposite, and broadly ovate, with a heart-shaped or broadly wedge-shaped base. They are glandular and glabrous (hairless) on the upper side when mature, but fulvous-tomentose (covered in dense, yellowish-brown hairs) underneath.
Flowers: The flowers are showy and appear in narrow, branching clusters (thyrses) at the end of the branches. They are typically yellow, often tinged with brown, and are trumpet-shaped, about 3-4 cm long, with two distinct lips.
Fruits: The fruits are drupes, which are ellipsoid to obovoid-ellipsoid in shape. When ripe, they are glossy and yellow, turning black when dry. The fruit has an aromatic, succulent pulp.
Healing Properties
Almost every part of the Gmelina arborea tree, from its roots and bark to its leaves, flowers, and fruits, possesses medicinal properties.
Roots: The roots are considered bitter, laxative, and a good tonic. They are used in traditional medicine to purify the blood, improve appetite, and treat fevers, piles, digestive issues, and nervous disorders.
Bark: The bark is used as a bitter tonic and for treating fevers and stomach ailments. A paste made from the inner bark can be applied to scabies.
Leaves: Leaf paste is used for headaches, and the juice is a common wash for foul ulcers. The leaves are also considered a demulcent (soothing agent) and are used for coughs and gonorrhea.
Flowers: The flowers are used in remedies for leprosy and other blood and skin diseases.
Fruits: The fruits are known for their cooling and tonic properties. They are used to promote hair growth and to treat conditions like anemia, leprosy, constipation, and urinary issues.
Advantages
Gmelina arborea offers a wide range of benefits beyond its medicinal uses:
Timber: The wood is lightweight, durable, and dimensionally stable. It seasons well and is considered one of the best and most reliable timbers in India, used for furniture, musical instruments, and construction.
Agroforestry: The tree is fast-growing and can be intercropped with other crops like maize and cassava, which helps increase both wood and food production. It's also an excellent choice for large-scale reforestation programs due to its ability to improve soil quality and prevent erosion.
Ecological Role: Gmelina is a pioneer species that regenerates well in open areas. It provides a habitat for various bird species and is highly effective at carbon sequestration, absorbing up to 20 tons of CO2 per hectare annually.
Other Uses: The wood ash and fruits can be used to produce a persistent yellow dye. The leaves are also used as a good fodder for livestock. The flowers produce abundant nectar, making it a source of high-quality honey.
Uses
The tree's versatility extends to various applications:
In Ayurveda: It is a key ingredient in many Ayurvedic formulations, particularly Dasamula, a remedy for various fevers, nervous disorders, and digestive issues. It is also used in preparations like Chyawanprash for its rejuvenating properties.
Medicine: Different parts of the plant are used in traditional remedies for a wide array of ailments, including digestive disorders, respiratory issues, joint pain, skin conditions, and urinary problems.
Timber Industry: The wood is used for making furniture, plywood, carriages, musical instruments, and agricultural implements.
Environmental: It's planted for soil conservation, reforestation, and as a windbreak. It's also used in agroforestry to create sustainable farming systems.
Using Way
The method of using Gmelina arborea depends on the specific medicinal need.
Decoction: A common method is to make a decoction (a concentrated liquid) by boiling the roots or bark in water. This is often used for fevers, digestive issues, and to increase milk secretion.
Paste: A paste is made by grinding the fresh leaves or inner bark. This is applied topically to treat headaches, ulcers, or skin conditions.
Juice: The juice of the leaves is sometimes extracted and used as a wash for wounds or consumed for coughs and gonorrhea.
Powder: The dried and powdered root or bark is used in various herbal formulations.
Conclusion
Gmelina arborea is a highly versatile and valuable tree. Its rapid growth and durable, lightweight timber make it an economically significant species for forestry and the timber industry. Concurrently, its extensive use in traditional medicine, particularly in Ayurveda, highlights its profound healing properties. From purifying the blood and improving digestion to providing quality wood for craftsmanship and aiding in environmental conservation, Gmelina arborea stands as a testament to the symbiotic relationship between nature and human well-being. Its ecological benefits, coupled with its wide range of practical applications, underscore its importance in both economic development and sustainable living.
