Ever heard about the Dela tree? It is also known as Lasora, Bhokar, Lisodaa and Gondi.
This tree has a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine. From the bark of the tree to its fruit, all parts are used extensively to make internal and external Ayurvedic medications. It is most commonly used to treat common conditions like fever, dyspepsia, ulcers, lung diseases and spleen disorders. However, there are more uses and benefits of the Dela tree than just these traditional ones.
Let’s take a deeper look at its therapeutic properties and see how incorporating this tree can benefit us.
Therapeutic Potential of Dela Tree
Ayurvedic medicine has traditionally used various parts of the tree, including the leaves, seeds, fruits and bark to create herbal medications. All of these components of the Dela tree have been studied for their therapeutic potential and they are found to be rich in phyto-components such as pyrrolizidine alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, terpenes, coumarins and sterols. These phytoconstituents are thought to be the source of the many health benefits of the Dela tree. Some of the properties that have been noted include anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antidiabetic and immunomodulatory effects.
Therapeutic and Health Benefits of Dela Tree
Anti-diabetic Effects
Dela tree may not be as well known as Moringa when it comes to the treatment of diabetes with natural ingredients, but it has proven benefits for diabetes management. The ingredient is frequently used in some of the most effective Ayurvedic medicines for diabetes. Research shows that supplementation with Dela tree extract can help to lower levels of blood sugar, while also reducing levels of bad cholesterol or LDL and triglycerides and raising levels of good cholesterol or HDL . Through this mechanism, Dela tree health benefits are not limited to diabetes treatment or prevention, but can also lower the risk of heart disease, which is a common diabetes complication.
Anti-tumor Effects
With the growing threat of cancer and malignant tumors, Dela tree supplementation may have a protective role to play owing to its powerful antioxidant activity. Studies have shown that the fruit pulp extract of the Dela tree exhibits strong antioxidant capacity, reducing free radical damage. They found that supplementation led to a reduction in the weight of tumours and improved all haematological or blood parameters. This combined action of antioxidant and anti-tumor activities significantly improves survival rates, as well as life span. The anti-tumor action of Dela tree is mainly linked to the presence of phenols, flavonoids, tannins and glucouronic acids in the herb.
Gastrointestinal Protection
The Dela tree fruit has been used in Ayurvedic medicine as a natural remedy to treat a wide range of gastrointestinal disorders, strengthening the digestive tract and relieving problems. It was even recommended in the management of conditions like peptic ulcers. This traditional use of the herb is now also supported by modern studies that found supplementation with dried bark powder could offer protection even against chronic inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis – a condition in which there is severe inflammation of the colon, including ulceration. These health benefits are linked to the high phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the herb.
Other Health Benefits of Dela
In addition to the therapeutic properties of the Dela tree listed above, it also has several other medicinal uses in Ayurveda. Some of these include:
- Decoction made from the bark for wound cleansing and treatment of insect bites
- Paste made from the root can be applied to treat skin infections like ringworm as well as eczema
- Fruit juice may be used to treat upper respiratory tract infections and chronic conditions like asthma
- Decoction of the bark may be consumed to treat fatigue and boost energy levels
The rich pharmaceutical profile of Dela tree is no mystery to Ayurveda, but it is only now being recognized by modern science . To reap more benefits from mother nature, keep exploring the traditions of Ayurveda and the many medicinal herbs that it has to offer.
