Semal tree

*Botanical name:- Bombax ceiba

*Local name:-  Silk Cotton Tree, शाल्मली, काटेसांवर, Cotton Tree, Bombax, Red Silk Cotton Tree, Kapok, Sumbal, Shimalo.

*Family -   Malvaceae

* Medicinal used -

Seminal disorders ( वीर्य विकार )-

Take tender roots of semal, clean and dry in shade. Grind to make powder. Take this powder to cure seminal disorders.

Nocturnal emission, semen problems ( निशाचर उत्सर्जन, वीर्य की समस्या )-

Take semal root powder and add vidari (Ipomoea digitata) root, shatawar and misri. Take twice a day with milk.

Blood purification ( रक्त शोधन )-

Take leaves of semal and grind with water. Filter and drink.

Leucorrhoea ( प्रदर )-

Take semal root powder twice a day with water.

Acne, skin blemish and pigmentation ( मुँहासा, त्वचा दोष और पिग्मेंटेशन )- 

Take thorny part from stem of semal tree. Make paste of root of thorn with water. Apply on the affected area. This also lightens scar marks due to boils, freckles, acne vulgarise and burns.

Wounds ( घाव )-

Apply paste of its bark on wound.

Weakness ( दुर्बलता )-

From the semal flower take green base part, clean and dry in shade. Grind to make powder. Mix one spoon powder, honey (2 tbsp) desi ghee (1 tbsp) in milk and drink.

Improve breast milk ( मां के दूध में सुधार ) - 

Take bark of semal root, clean and dry and grind to make powder. Take twice to improve breast milk.

Cold and cough ( सर्दी जुकाम )-

Mix semal root powder with black pepper and dry ginger powder. Take in small amount to cure cold and cough.

Semal Tree Uses- The bark of the Semal tree is a softwood, used in the match sticks. Since the bark lasts long even when submerged in water, fishermen use it as the float. Its seed produces edible oil, used in making soaps.

Fabric- In rural areas, It is for this fiber that villagers gather the Semal fruit. Kopak is used for filling low priced pillows and quilts, which is commonly used in rural areas in India.

*Environmental benefits - (Red Silk Cotton Tree) commonly known as Semal tree- is a multipurpose tree species of tropical forests; providing food, fodder, fibre, fuel and medicine besides many ecological benefits.

-Agroforestry

-Erosion control or dune stabilization

-Revegetation