Dr R D Gupta
Bahera (Terminalia belerica) or Baheda is a forest tree and is also found outside the forests in other lands. This is the most useful tree of Ayurvedic System of Medicine and constitutes one of the component of “Triphala”. Its leaves are used as fodder and wood as timber for various uses.
MEDICINAL USES
Fruit of the bahera tree is a constitutent of famous Ayurveda formulation “Triphala” and is used in this form in innumerable diseases and body disorders. Fruit kernel possesses narcotic properties and is very effective in dyspepsia, dropsy and piles. Fruit pulp is given in diarrhoea, leprosy and in fever. Half ripe fruit is a purgative. Fruit extract has antibacterial properties. It is applied to hair for hair problems. It is demulcent also and is effective in rheumatism.
The fruit of bahera is quite bitter and pungent. It has been found very good remedy for respiratory disorders and cures cough. When it is kept in the mouth for sufficient times cures breathing problems. It is also laxative and is effective in pile’s troubles. The bark of bahera tree has been found diuretic in properties and is very effective in urinary problems. Its bark is also found useful in anaemia and leucoderma.
The bahera has antimutagenic effects and is used in herbal digestive tonic for ruminants along with harar. As already mentioned, the bahera becomes one of the constituent of “Triphala” which is used as an eye-wash for various eye ailments in addition to for various stomach disorders. Oil of bahera has been proved very effective in children suffering from oozing ears.
OTHER USES
In the leather industry, bahera is used to give flexibility to the leather. Dyeing and ink production units in India use bahera tree as well. The bahera is of great economic importance from timber point of view. The timber is mainly used in house building as rafters, boards and also for packing cases. The timber is also found suitable for the manufacture of plywood and tea-chests.
DESCRIPTION OF PLANT
Although bahera is a forest tree species yet it is also found outside the forests in other lands. Infact, bahera tree is disappearing from the forests as per field studies (Singh, 2006). It is due to its overexploitation for medicinal and timber uses as well as for fodder purpose. On private lands even, it occurs sparsely but on the whole it is found in fairly good quantity all over Kandi belt of Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir), Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. In Jammu Siwalik hills, the fruit is collected for local use only and not exported. Its cultivation is easy from seed, directly sown in the field or from nurseries stock. It is now a common plant of our nurseries.
CULTURAL PRACTICES
Climate and soil : In the natural environment, where the bahera shows its luxuriant growth the absolute maximum shade temperature lies between 36 to 46° Celsius and the minimum temperature varies from -1° to 15° Celsius. And the normal rainfall varies from about 1000 mm to 3000 mm. In Jammu Siwaliks, it grows under subtropical climatic conditions especially in Kandi belt having an elevation between 300 to 800 m.
Bahera is capable of growing in various soils having texture from loamy sand / sandy loam to loam silty loam, provided moisture retention capacity is adequate. The best growth, however, has been noticed in sandy loam soils having good moisture supply and good subsoil drainage. Moderate to deep soils having medium to high organic matter status and high water holding capacity are preferred.
SUGGESTIONS AND IMPROVEMENT
As the population of bahera tree is reducing especially from the Siwaliks, so its overexploitation for various uses must be stopped.
Departments of forests are required to pass suitable acts / laws and thereafter get them enforced to prevent the above said exploitation of the tree.
Although fruit extract of this tree species has been found to possess anti-bacterial properties yet more research in this line needs to be conducted.
Being a local species, bahera must be grown in the nurseries along with harar and aonla. This will enable the farmers to obtain these species easily for growing in their non-arable private land holdings.
It is further suggested that under the principle of Social Forestry, “A nursery for every village” should be established so that the farmers can get medicinal plants like bahera, harar, amla as well as others to grow in their farms.
Supplies of nursery stocks from central nurseries as is being done today, will not work effectively. Carrying plants over long distances will only discourage the farmers.
The trees/shrubs will also serve to improve the wastelands, check soil erosion and prevent further cutting from floods. The lands will, thus, be rehabilitated.
Creation of strong extension and training network, formation of Village Forest Committees and preparation of joint management plans to save the disappearing plant tree species including bahera tree will go a long way in creating public awareness and effective participation of people in afforestation programmes.
In degraded forests, tree species such as amla, bahera, harar, jaman, neem can be grown with ease.
(The author is Ex-Associate Dean Cum Chief Scientist KVK-Jammu)
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