Silk Cotton Tree

(Silk Cotton Tree)
Sanskrit: शाल्मली • Botanical: Bombax malabaricum DC.

Shalmali (Silk Cotton Tree/Semal) is a large thorny deciduous tree found throughout India. It grows up to 50-200 feet tall and has a buttressed trunk covered with conical prickles when young. The large red flowers appear in February-March when the tree is leafless. The gum (Mochras) is sweet, cooling, astringent and is one of the best Vrishya (aphrodisiac) drugs. The root is also used as Vrishya. The thorns of the tree are used as a poultice. The bark is mucilaginous, demulcent and used in dysentery and diarrhea. The gum is nutritive and used in weakness, seminal debility and leucorrhoea. The flowers are used in skin diseases. The cotton from seed pods is used for stuffing pillows. Chemical composition: The bark contains about 20-25% tannin, mucilage and resin. Dose: Gum (Mochras) 4-5 masha; bark decoction 1-2 tola. Verses: 28.

Ayurvedic Properties

Taste (Rasa)
Sweet (Madhura), Astringent (Kashaya)
Quality (Guna)
Heavy (Guru), Unctuous (Snigdha), Slimy (Picchila)
Potency (Virya)
Cold (Sheeta)
Post-digestive (Vipaka)
Sweet (Madhura)
Key Constituents
Tannins, Mucilage, Gum, Shamimin
Also Known As
English: Silk Cotton Tree, Red Silk Cotton
Sanskrit: शाल्मली, मोचा, पिच्छिला, कण्टकद्रुम, रक्तपुष्प
Hindi: सेमल, सेमर

What is Silk Cotton Tree (Shalmali / शाल्मली)?

Shalmali (Silk Cotton Tree/Semal) is a large thorny deciduous tree found throughout India. It grows up to 50-200 feet tall and has a buttressed trunk covered with conical prickles when young. The large red flowers appear in February-March when the tree is leafless. The gum (Mochras) is sweet, cooling, astringent and is one of the best Vrishya (aphrodisiac) drugs. The root is also used as Vrishya. The thorns of the tree are used as a poultice. The bark is mucilaginous, demulcent and used in dysentery and diarrhea. The gum is nutritive and used in weakness, seminal debility and leucorrhoea. The flowers are used in skin diseases. The cotton from seed pods is used for stuffing pillows. Chemical composition: The bark contains about 20-25% tannin, mucilage and resin. Dose: Gum (Mochras) 4-5 masha; bark decoction 1-2 tola. Verses: 28.

Source: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 5

Therapeutic Actions (Karma)

  • Vrishya (aphrodisiac)
  • Stambhana (astringent/binding)
  • Raktapittahara (alleviates bleeding)
  • Pushtikara (nutritive)

Source: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 5

Silk Cotton Tree by Condition

Explore how Silk Cotton Tree is used for specific health concerns — with dosage, preparation methods, and classical references for each.

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Silk Cotton Tree for Male Sexual Health

Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Ayurvedic treatments should be pursued under the guidance of a qualified practitioner (BAMS/MD Ayurveda). Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment. Content is sourced from classical Ayurvedic texts and may not reflect the latest medical research.