Witnessed by: Ayurveda
Sacred fig (Ficus religiosa), of the Moraceae family. Large long-lived deciduous fig with a pale trunk and long-tailed heart-shaped leaves that tremble in the least breeze; native range: the Indian subcontinent, planted at temples and crossroads across the tropics. Globally recognized as ashvattha in Sanskrit, pipal, peepal in Hindi, and sacred fig, peepal, bo tree in English. The part used is bark. Smooth grey astringent bark faintly sweet beneath; the leaves papery, the whole tree cooling in feel.
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.
SACRED FIG
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- sacred fig
- Scientific name
- Ficus religiosa L.
- Family
- Moraceae
Form
- Part used
- bark
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Ayurveda
- astringent · sweet (kashaya, madhura)
Temperature
- Ayurveda
- cooling (shita virya)
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Ayurveda
- cools and binds, heals wounds and skin eruptions, checks discharge and bleeding, restrains sugary urine, soothes the reproductive tract
Cautions
- Contraindications
- cooling and binding; use cautiously in cold and constipated states
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