Witnessed by: Ayurveda · Unani
Tree of heaven (Ailanthus excelsa), of the Simaroubaceae family. Large deciduous tree with a straight bole and large pinnate leaves; native range: dry deciduous forests and plains of central and peninsular India. Globally recognized as aralu / mahanimba in Sanskrit, aralu / maharukh in Hindi, aralu in Urdu, and Indian tree of heaven, maharukh in English. The part used is stem and root bark; leaves. Greyish corky bark with a very bitter, astringent inner layer and a faint acrid smell.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
TREE OF HEAVEN
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- tree of heaven
- Scientific name
- Ailanthus excelsa Roxb.
- Family
- Simaroubaceae
Form
- Part used
- stem and root bark; leaves
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Ayurveda
- bitter · astringent (tikta, kashaya)
- Unani
- bitter
Temperature
- Ayurveda
- heating (ushna)
- Unani
- hot & dry (2nd degree)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Unani
- stomach · lungs · liver
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Ayurveda
- dipana (kindles digestion), grahi (bowel-binding), shvasahara and kasahara (relieves dyspnoea and cough), jvaraghna (antipyretic), krimighna (anthelmintic)
- Unani
- muqawwi-e-meda (stomach tonic), habis (astringent), munaffis-e-balgham (expectorant), daf-e-bukhar (antipyretic)
Cautions
- Contraindications
- very dry, vata-depleted and emaciated states take it with unctuous vehicles; avoid large doses in pregnancy
- Toxicity
- large doses of the bitter bark may cause nausea and gastric upset
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