Peepal Tree Facts : Medicinal and Health Benefits

Check out some amazing Peepal Tree Facts in this article and know more about this medicinal tree that also holds a religious significance!

Peepal is a very common and venerated tree in India. It thrives easily even in adverse weather conditions, has various medicinal benefits, and huge importance in Ayurveda, earning itself the title “Vriksha Raja”- the king of trees. Let’s have a look at some amazing Peepal Tree Facts!

How to Grow a Peepal Tree?

The easiest way to plant a Peepal tree is by stem cutting method:

1. Get a strong stem/branch of Peepal with 10-15 leaves.
2. Cut the stem with a smooth slope, making a single-sided V.
3. Plant this stem 4-5 inches below ground.

Planting a Peepal tree is simple as that! Since it grows its roots quite easily, the stem should generate its own roots in 2-3 weeks’ time.

Peepal Tree Care

Peepal tree grows in all types of soils, preferably loamy, with pH 7 or below. It grows best as an outdoor plant, but it can also be grown indoors in large containers, if you provide sufficient sunlight. Once established, the plant will take care of its own, especially in the garden.

Peepal Tree Facts

One of the biggest convictions regarding the tree is – Does Peepal tree release oxygen at night?

Most plants largely uptake carbon dioxide and release oxygen during the day, and uptake oxygen and release carbon dioxide at night. However, because of its ability to perform a type of photosynthesis called Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM), the Peepal trees can uptake carbon dioxide during the night as well.

So even though it doesn’t release large amounts of oxygen at night, it surely gives a large amount of oxygen in the day and reduces carbon dioxide at night to increase the ratio of oxygen level.

Medicinal Uses of Peepal Tree

Trees have always been the principal form of medicine in India, and the Peepal plays a major role in it. From its roots to its fruits, every part has a medicinal value.

• Roots: Chewing the roots of Peepal helps with gum diseases and kills bacteria.
• Leaves: Peepal leaves are great for treating cracked skin, bruises, acne, stretch marks, and a number of skin diseases. They act as a laxative upon heating up. An infusion of Peepal leaves with water is also helpful with heart issues. Eating a soft leaf of peepal helps ease stomach pain.
• Stems: A mixture of Peepal stem with equal amounts of coriander and sugar can ease up diarrhea.
• Bark: The bark can be boiled and used as a mouthwash, this helps with a toothache. It also helps with hiccups.
• Fruits: Eating ripe Peepal fruit helps increase appetite, and it can also cure constipation. A powder of this fruit taken with water is good for Asthma patients.

Names of Peepal Tree in the Different States in India

• Peepal Tree in Kannada: Arlo, Ranji, Basri, Ashvatthanara, Ashwatha, Aralimara, Aralegida, Ashvathamara, Basari, and Ashvattha.
• Peepal Tree in Malayalam: Arayal is very sacred to the Malayali people. In 2019 they carried out “Mission Bodhi” where several people came forward to save a single Peepal tree from being cut.
• Peepal Tree in Bengali: Asvattha, Ashud and Ashvattha. They worship it as a form of Vishnu.
• Peepal Tree in Marathi: Pipal, Pimpal, and Pippal. It’s a very noble tree to Marathi people.
• Peepal Tree in Odia: Ashwatha is a name of Shiva and Vishnu; according to Sankara, this name is derived from the terms shva (tomorrow) and stha (that which remains).
• Peepal Tree in Punjabi: Pipal, Pippal in Punjabi. One of the world’s largest Peepal trees is located in Punjab.
• Peepal Tree in Gujarati: Piplo, Jari, Piparo, and Pipalo. The tree has a great religious significance to them.