Rhododendron Arboreum, the name Rhododendron has derived from the Greek word, Rhod which means ‘Rose like’, and Dendron Means ‘tree’. Since this species is more like a tree, it has the species name ‘Arboreum’ refers to ‘tree-like’. The tree Rhododendron is an evergreen shrub or small tree with a showy display of bright red flowers. In India, it is the state tree of Uttarakhand. It is also found in Neighbour countries like Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Thailand.
Interesting fact, it is the national flower of Nepal, and the state tree of hilly states of Uttarakhand & Himachal Pradesh in India.
Rhododendron (Rhodo) Commonly known as Buransh is Uttarakhand’s State Tree. The flowers and leaves of the tree have been long for medicinal purposes. The Juice made from its flowers is a very popular beverage in the region. It grows at a height of 5 to 7,500 feet and blooms in various colors. The bright scarlet red colors flowers are mostly seen all around the beautiful valleys of the Himalayas.
Uses of Divine Flower
The trees of Buransh start blooming at the end of winter. Locals preserved the flower in various ways to enjoy its divinity throughout the year.
A drink is simply divine, Bright red similar to a rose or strawberry drink with jelly-like texture, tangy and sweet in taste. It is refreshing, an appetizer, and relieves mountain sickness. Treating guests with Buransh flower juice is a traditional practice in Uttarakhand, India. When the flowers bloom, locals consume Burans along with rice or in form of chutney to treat seasonal sickness.
Buransh parathas and Buransh pakoras are some of the popular dishes. The nectar of this flower is used to brew local wine. Flowers are typically stored in form of juice, jelly, or squash. These flowers are considered spiritual and used for religious functions and decoration purposes. In the Hindu religion.
The flower is being used for decorating “Hindoli” meaning “A Swing”, which is made for Shiva-Parvati on the Auspicious Day of Maha Shivaratri.
Wood from the tree is used for various purposes including fuelwood, packaging, and making artifacts. Smoke by burning Burans tree wood is considered purifying in the Eastern Himalayan state of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Leaves are used to get rid of insects and lice.
Health Benefits – It's Good for the Heart
Locals believe its juice is good for the heart, deals with bad cholesterol, helps to reduce high blood pressure, and protects the heart from oxidative stress. Therefore, drinking Buransh juice not only reduces the risk of stroke but is also helpful in treating other heart disorders.
There are many lab studies that have been done on the Buransh flower to know its benefits and researchers find out that the flower has two such chemicals with strong anti-inflammatory properties – Quercetin and Rutin are found in Burans flower. Quercetin is known to relieve inflammation of the prostate, kidney, and urinary bladder.
The paste of its leaves has been traditionally used for relieving headaches, treating wounds, and helping reduce skin inflammation, it’s juice also helps to relieve stomach aches, which shows its Painkilling ability. Buransh flower juice is thus a great antioxidant drink for your heart, liver, kidney, and skin. Local people from Nepal have been using the Buransh flower for treating diabetes. Latest studies have confirmed the anti-diabetic potential of the Burans flower and suggested its uses as a functional food in treating type I and type II diabetes.
Locals believe its juice is good for the heart, deals with bad cholesterol, helps to reduce high blood pressure, and protects the heart from oxidative stress. Therefore, drinking Buransh juice does not only reduces the risk of stroke but is also helpful in treating other heart disorders.
The latest study by the biologists of the Indian Institute of Technology has found the ability of Buransh to cure Covid-19, source TheIndianExpress
So, if you ever visit the Himalayas don’t forget to taste the sweet and tangy juice of Buransh on the way!
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