<p>With ‘Aati Amavasya’ (New moon between July and August) round the corner, children may use all tactics to escape from consuming ‘Saptaparni juice,’ a bitter concoction. However, people in Tulunadu believe that a sip of it on this particular day may help keep ailments away for an entire year.<br /><br />Saptaparni, botanically known as ‘Alstonia Scholaris’ is also known as Devil tree, Blackboard tree, Milkwood pine, White cheesewood and Ditabark in English language, ‘Halemara’ in Kannada, ‘Palemara’ in Tulu and ‘Sathanacho rook’ in Konkani.<br /><br />The tropical tree usually found in Southeast Asia grows about 50 to 80 feet high, has a furrowed trunk, oblong stalked leaves up to 6 inches long and 4 inches wide, dispersed in whorls round the stem. Usually, each whorl has seven leaves hence the name (Saptaparni). The leaves are glossy and the bark is odorless and very bitter.<br /><br />In Ayurveda, it is used as an astringent herb for treating many health disorders. The juice of Palemara is said to be a very good medicine to ward off stomach ailments and worms. It also helps in treating malaria, epilepsy, skin diseases, asthama, skin disorders, dysentery and ulcers.<br /><br />The collection and preparation of this juice is very unique. In olden days, people used to identify the tree a day earlier and tie it with a rope, so that they can identify the tree easily on the new moon night. They then pray that all the medicines to cure the diseases should occupy the tree. <br /><br />Next day (Aati Amasya day) early morning before the sun rises, the person chips off the tree bark with a sharp stone.<br /><br />Going naked <br /><br />Earlier, the people used to go naked to get the bark with an intention to return home before sunrise. However, this custom is not followed anymore.<br /><br />Speaking to Deccan Herald, Ayurveda practitioner Praveen Sera from Vagga, says that the bitter concoction is prepared from the juice of the bark, garlic, ginger, Oma (Ajwain), black pepper, lime juice which is ground together and put in an earthen pot.A white stone (Benachu Kallu) is then heated in fire and dipped in the medicine to heat the medicine after which it is consumed. The dosage is half ounce for children and one ounce for elders, he says.Praveen also warns that there are trees that look alike Palemara but are not the same. Many of the trees have poisonous barks and people are taken fatally ill for consuming medicine from the wrong tree.<br /><br />It has become a tradition in Tulunadu to drink this medicine, and also to distribute the same to the neighbours on Aati Amavasya day to enhance social harmony.<br />This year Aati Amavasya falls on July 30 (Saturday).<br /></p>
<p>With ‘Aati Amavasya’ (New moon between July and August) round the corner, children may use all tactics to escape from consuming ‘Saptaparni juice,’ a bitter concoction. However, people in Tulunadu believe that a sip of it on this particular day may help keep ailments away for an entire year.<br /><br />Saptaparni, botanically known as ‘Alstonia Scholaris’ is also known as Devil tree, Blackboard tree, Milkwood pine, White cheesewood and Ditabark in English language, ‘Halemara’ in Kannada, ‘Palemara’ in Tulu and ‘Sathanacho rook’ in Konkani.<br /><br />The tropical tree usually found in Southeast Asia grows about 50 to 80 feet high, has a furrowed trunk, oblong stalked leaves up to 6 inches long and 4 inches wide, dispersed in whorls round the stem. Usually, each whorl has seven leaves hence the name (Saptaparni). The leaves are glossy and the bark is odorless and very bitter.<br /><br />In Ayurveda, it is used as an astringent herb for treating many health disorders. The juice of Palemara is said to be a very good medicine to ward off stomach ailments and worms. It also helps in treating malaria, epilepsy, skin diseases, asthama, skin disorders, dysentery and ulcers.<br /><br />The collection and preparation of this juice is very unique. In olden days, people used to identify the tree a day earlier and tie it with a rope, so that they can identify the tree easily on the new moon night. They then pray that all the medicines to cure the diseases should occupy the tree. <br /><br />Next day (Aati Amasya day) early morning before the sun rises, the person chips off the tree bark with a sharp stone.<br /><br />Going naked <br /><br />Earlier, the people used to go naked to get the bark with an intention to return home before sunrise. However, this custom is not followed anymore.<br /><br />Speaking to Deccan Herald, Ayurveda practitioner Praveen Sera from Vagga, says that the bitter concoction is prepared from the juice of the bark, garlic, ginger, Oma (Ajwain), black pepper, lime juice which is ground together and put in an earthen pot.A white stone (Benachu Kallu) is then heated in fire and dipped in the medicine to heat the medicine after which it is consumed. The dosage is half ounce for children and one ounce for elders, he says.Praveen also warns that there are trees that look alike Palemara but are not the same. Many of the trees have poisonous barks and people are taken fatally ill for consuming medicine from the wrong tree.<br /><br />It has become a tradition in Tulunadu to drink this medicine, and also to distribute the same to the neighbours on Aati Amavasya day to enhance social harmony.<br />This year Aati Amavasya falls on July 30 (Saturday).<br /></p>
