Rhododendron (Buransh)

Common Names:

• Tree Rhododendron

• Burans / Lal Buransh (Hindi)

• Lali Gurans (Nepali)

• Billi (Tamil)

• Kattupoo Varasu (Malayalam)

• Pu (Kannada)

Family: Ericaceae

About the Plant:

The name Rhododendron comes from Greek words:

• ‘Rhoden’ means rose

• ‘Dendron’ means tree

It’s a beautiful flowering plant that grows in mountainous areas and has great importance in Nepal and India:

• National flower of Nepal

• State flower of Himachal Pradesh, India

Apart from being loved for its pretty flowers, it’s also planted in gardens, parks, and roadsides because of its beauty.

Some Rhododendrons can grow like trees up to 20 meters tall (about 65 feet), but most commonly grow up to 12 meters (36 feet).

Fun Fact:
The tallest Rhododendron in the world was found in 1993 in Nagaland, India, which was 108 feet tall at the time!

Flowers:

• Bloom in spring (early to mid)

• Each bunch has 15-20 bell-shaped flowers

• Flower colors: red, pink, or white

• Flowers have black nectar pouches and black spots inside

Minerals in Rhododendron:

This plant is rich in important minerals like:

• Manganese, Iron, Zinc, Copper, Sodium

• Chromium, Cobalt, Molybdenum

• Small amounts of Nickel, Lead, Arsenic

These minerals help maintain body processes, balance fluids, and support the work of important enzymes in our body.

Medicinal Uses:

Rhododendron has been used in traditional medicine for generations, especially in mountain villages.

Common uses:

• Flowers are made into pickles, juices, jams, syrups, honey, and squash.

• Used to treat:

  • Diarrhea

  • Headaches

  • Body inflammation (swelling, redness, pain)

  • Bacterial and fungal infections

  • Joint pains and muscle aches

  • Diabetes

  • Rheumatism (pain in muscles, joints)

Special Benefits:

• It has anti-HIV, anti-inflammatory, and pain-relieving properties.

• Used in Far-West Nepal as a natural medicine for many common illnesses.

• Has a low chance of side effects when used traditionally.

Extra Use:
In traditional medicine systems like Electropathy (E.H.), it’s used for gout, orchitis (swelling of testicles), joint pains, and other inflammatory conditions.

Note:

While Rhododendron has many health benefits, it should be used carefully, and it’s best to consult a health expert or traditional healer before using it for treatment.