India is considered a treasure trove of medicinal and aromatic plants that have been used since ancient times. This Ilupai is also known as an avocado tree which has many benefits. It is a medium to a large deciduous tree. This tree is an essential feature of Adivasi (Oraon) communities in Chhattisgarh, Chota Nagpur Plateau region of Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
Benefits:
Skin problems
Pure Ilupai oil without chemicals is very helpful for skin care. Because it gives glowing skin when rubbed on the skin. Also, it removes all kinds of acne and blemishes from the skin.
Constipation
Ilupai oil is an excellent laxative. When consumed at night in any form, it absorbs water from the stomach and helps expel digested food through the rectum. Apart from this, the seeds are also used as a laxative. They help reduce stool stiffness.
Hair problem
Add a few drops of camphor oil to Ilupai oil and apply it well on your scalp to get the best benefits of Ilupai oil. Then wash your hair thoroughly after an hour or two. If you do this twice a week, your hair will grow stronger and thicker.
Eye Problems
For people who have eyesight problems, if they boil the oil and rub it on the scalp in warm heat, the heat in the body will subside and the eyesight will become clear. Rubbing Ilupai oil on the scalp once a week can cure eye problems completely.
Dental Problems
Ilupai is very beneficial for maintaining healthy gums and getting rid of sore throats. Traditionally, juice squeezed from the bark of the Ilupai tree and mixed with water was used to relieve bleeding and swollen gums.
Diabetics
Diabetes refers to high sugar levels in the body. If not treated properly, it can affect the functioning of vital organs of the body. Ilupai extracts have anti-diabetic properties. It increases the secretion of pancreatic liquid in the body and dissolves unwanted fat and reduces blood pressure.
Convulsion/Fits
Ilupai leaves cure epilepsy. After extracting the juice of the leaves and drinking them in boiling water, epilepsy is cured.
Stomach Pain
If we have indigestion due to the food we have eaten or if we are allergic or if we have frequent belching, then we can boil this oil with a little tamarind and drink it on an empty stomach to get rid of the problem.
Mosquito repellent
To get rid of mosquito bites and drive them away, it is enough to burn the leaves and sticks with oil and make smoke. Mosquitoes will run away. It is a great alternative to using harmful mosquito repellents.
Insect bites
Ilupai oil is used by many tribal communities in Chhattisgarh. In the dense forests of Chhattisgarh, insect bites are a common occurrence. So, they use this essential oil for instant relief.
It is a matter of pride that the tribes have discovered the multi-purpose oil and provided it to other people. Illupai flowers, which used to cure the diseases of the tribal people of Tamil Nadu, are now on the verge of extinction. According to the 1950 census, there were 30,000 trees in Tamil Nadu. But the last census taken in 2015 showed less than 10,000 trees.
(Note: This article is derived from the book called Ilupai and Tribals)
This article is created as a part of the Adivasi Awaaz project, with the support of Misereor and Prayog Samaj Sevi Sanstha.