Saraca asoca (Roxb.) De Wilde syn. S. indica auct. non Linn. Caesalpiniaceae (Fabaceae) Bark. Distribution Area It occurs almost throughout India up to an altitude of 750 m. in the central and the eastern Himalayas and the Khasi, Garo and Lushai hills; it is also found in the Andaman Islands. Common Uses . The bark is bitter , astringent, sweet, refrigerant,anthelmintic, Styptic, Stomachic, constipating, febrigue and demulcent. It is useful in dyspepsia, fever, dipisa, burning sensation, visceromegaly, colic, ulcers menorrhagia, metropathy, leccorrhoea and pimples. The flowers are considered to be uterine tonic and are used in vitiated conditions of pitta, syphilis, cervical adenitis,hyperdipsia, burning sensation, haemorrhoids, dysentery, scabies in children and inflammation. The dried flowers are used in diabetes and haemorrhagic dysentery and seeds are used for treating bone fractures, stangury and vesical calculi. Employed in drug formulations prescribed in uterine affections, especially menorrhagia, leucorrhoea and stone formation in kidney and bladder. The main preparations employing Ashoka are Ashokarishta and Ashokaghrita. Bark is reported to cure biliousness, dyspepsia, dysentery, colic, piles, ulcers and pimples. Leaves posses blood purifying properties and their juice mixed with cumin seeds is used for stomach-ache. Flowers, pounded in water are used in haemorrhagic dysentery and the dried flowers in diabetes. Flowers are considered to be an excellent uterine tonic. They are also considered useful in biliousness and syphilis. In Assam, fruits are chewed as a substitute for area-nuts. Pods are reported to make a very good forage for cattle. Similar crude drugs Stem bark of Polyalthea longifolia Benth. Hook. (Fam. Annonaceae) commonly planted in parks and gardens and also known as asoka tree is the most common adulterant of the drug.