INTRODUCTION
I still remember walking home from school with the air thick with summer heat while the whole road was strung with yellow gold lanterns from every branch of the golden shower/ Amaltas/ Cassia Fistula tree. This tree is not just considered as beauty but also packed with healing properties and has been widely used in traditional medicine dating back centuries.
Amaltas (Golden shower flower), a beautiful yellow flower, seemingly looks like they are showering the earth. This flower is not only used as an ornamental plant, but is best suited to treating many skin problems like dermatitis, eczema, pigmentation, rashes, burns and many more. The paste of the flowers is medicinally used for ointment for pimples.
India is one of the richest countries in the world to find medicinal plants. In Ayurveda medicine, the golden shower tree is known as “Aragvadha”, which means disease killer. It is also known as Vishnu tree in Kerala.
Medicinal Properties
Recent reviews list that the golden shower flower has biochemical properties like antimicrobial, antioxidant, and wound healing properties, while its dried seed pulp possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, the seeds have been explored for their potential antitumor and anti-cancerous properties. Similarly, leaf juice is known for its bioactive compounds that help to treat skin diseases. With this we can say that this tree contributes to public health benefits.
Let’s dive-in to find out the cause of skin pigmentation.
- The first and foremost reason is to get exposed to sunlight without covering your face and exposing yourself directly to the sun may cause skin damage, resulting in discoloration/ pigmentation.
2. Stress is another cause of pigmentation. Stress not only damages skin but also overall health.
3. Constipation is another leading cause, along with indigestion, lack of blood, sleeplessness also causes damage to the skin.
So, along with good health, if we practice some of the remedies, you can grow up like an actress.
Home remedies for Skin problems
The leaves, flowers and fruit pulp of golden shower tree are known to have the best biochemical properties, which help to calm skin problems. This special herb helps with itching, psoriasis, vitiligo like white patches, boils, burn marks, allergies etc.
1. Eczema/ Rashes
Take golden shower leaves, dry them in the sunlight and make a fine powder and store them in a clean glass jar. To apply on the affected area, you just make a paste using butter milk and apply it on inflamed patches for 2 times daily. In 7–10 days, you can see remarkable changes in your hounds.
2. Itching/ ringworms, fungal infection/ dandruff:
Prepare a paste of freash or dried golden shower leaf with coconut oil or buttermilk and apply it to ringworm once or twice. Use it for 10–14 days, as it has got antifungal activity it easily clears the infection.
3. Acne/ Pimple
Loaded with antioxidant properties, however golden shower flowers are a blessing to achieve a spotless radiant glow of the skin. Use its flower water/ decoction as a facial wash.
Mix its flower powder with gram flour and rice flour each in equal proportion and make a light mask and apply it on skin, then leave it for 15–20 minutes and wash it with lukewarm water. Continue this procedure 2–3 times per week and you can see the difference of disappearing pimples on the skin.
4. Vitiligo/ White patches
Dr. Samayk Dhawan, a famous dermatologist, suggested that external application of Amaltas flower paste around the white patches will reduce the infection. The active bioactive compounds like flavonoids and anthraquinone helps to suppress infection. For this, mix Amaltas flower powder with coconut oil or ghee and apply around or on white patches.
Important precaution for skin use
1. Always do patch test:
Apply a small amount of golden shower leaf paste or flower powder behind the ear or on the inner forearm and leave it for 15–30 minutes. If you get rashes, redness, burning sensation or swelling, stop using.
2. Avoid broken or infected skin without medical advice
Golden shower plant parts has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity, but it is not replacement for antiseptic or antibiotic on open wounds. If you have allergic dermatitis or skin issues, dilute preparation with honey, oil or moisturizer and monitor closely then use it.
3. Pregnancy/Breastfeeding:
Amaltas is generally not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, because the plant contain anthraquinones, like sennosides and rhein that can absorbed into body and cause stimulation of uterine activity if used internally, and even topical use on broken skin is not well studies in pregnancy.
Conclusion:
The golden shower flower can be useful natural support for many skin problems, thanks to its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties that help calm eczema, acne, rashes and fungal type infections. Mild flower water wash, leaf paste or prepared gel will soothe irritation, reduce itching and support wound healing, but it should always be treated as supportive therapy not a standalone cure and used after a patch test and under medical guidance if any severe skin disease.