Scientifically known as Abies Webbiana, belongs to the family Pinaceae which is acknowledged as the pine family of conifers. The herb is native to northern temperate regions. Indian Silver Fir is a tall and evergreen tree having strong branches that spread horizontally. It could reach a height of 60 meters. The plant has rough and brown bark. Young shoots are covered with small, short, or brown hairs. Leaves are thin, single, linear, flat, and arranged spirally around small branches. It is usually 1-3 inches long and 2 mm broad. The leaves upper part is shining and dark green. An upper surface has a midrib that trajects down the middle with two faint lines found on either side of the midrib beneath. Seeds are winged type. Flowers are monoecious with both sexes. The fruits are round or rectangular in shape measuring 2 to 4 inches and the cones turn dark purple when ripened.
| Name | Indian Silver Fir |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Abies Webbiana |
| Native | Indian Silver Fir, Himalayan Siver, The West-Himalayan High-Level Fir, The East-Himalayan Fir |
| Common/English Name | Ayurveda: Patradhyam, Patradhya, Talisa, Talisapatra (तालीसपत्र), Talisha (तालीस), Dhatriparni, Dhatripatra (धात्रीपत्र); Sanskrit: Thalispatra, Thalees, Dhaatriparni, Shukodara; English: Himalayan Silver Fir, Talispatra (तालीसपतर); Hindi: Thaleesa Patra, Talispatra; Bengali: Talispatra, Tallish Pala; Malayalam: Thaleesapathram; Kannada: Tales Patra, Talisapathra, Shukodara; Assamese: Talish; Unani: Talisapattar; Marathi: Laghu Taleespatra; Telugu: Taleesapatri; Nepali: Gobray Salla; Urdu: Zarnab; Tamil: Talispatra, Taleesapatri; Oriya: Talis; Gujrati: Tallis patra; Bhutia: Dunising; Folk: Badar, Morinda, Raisalla, Talispatra, Chilrow |
| Soil | Moist |
| Bark | Dark grey, deeply grooved |
| Branchlets | Flat, narrow, linear, one to three inches long |
| Leaves | Single, spirally arranged |
| Flowering Season | April-June |
| Flower | Monoecious |
| Fruit shape & size | Cone, erect, cylindrical, 10-20 cm long |
| Fruit color | Dark purple |
| Taste | Sweet, bitter, and pungent |
Traditional uses
- Leaves are used to treat mild headaches and relieve mental stress.
- It is used for treating cough, asthma, chronic bronchitis, common cold, sneezing, allergic rhinitis, and upper respiratory infections.
- Use powdered leaves internally for anemia, cough, colic pain, and digestive disorders.
- For cough, hoarseness of voice, intrinsic hemorrhage, powdered leaves are used with juice of Adhato da vasica or honey.
- In West Bengal, leaves juice is used as a tonic after parturition.
- Apply the resin mixed with roses oil for neuralgia.
How to take Talispatra Powder
Low appetite
- Take 2-3 grams of leaf powder to promote appetite.
Cough, hoarseness of voice, fever, congestion
- Mix 2-3 grams of leaf powder with equal amount of Rock candy or Mishri.
Fever, Headache
- Take the dose of 2-3 grams of leaf powder.
- Apply the leaves topically.
Side effects
- Intake less than 2 grams per day.
- When used in excess, it results side effects such as heartburn, mouth ulcer, stomach irritation, worsen ulcers and vertigo.
- It has hot potency so avoid during breastfeeding and pregnancy.
References
