Products derived from the milk flower tree, when used at appropriate concentrations and dosages, can be beneficial for health, but overconsumption may lead to toxicity.
What is the Milk Flower?
The milk flower, also known as Alstonia scholaris, is a tropical evergreen plant belonging to the milk flower genus in the Apocynaceae family.
The milk flower is a medium-sized evergreen tree that can grow up to 50 meters tall.
The milk flower is a medium-sized evergreen tree that can reach heights of up to 50 meters. It has a rhythmic branching growth pattern that forms a canopy. The trunk is straight and round, with a brownish notch at the base, and the bark is cracked longitudinally, yielding a milky white sap with white flesh beneath the bark. The leaves are simple and arranged in clusters at the branch tips, with 3 to 10 leaves per cluster. The leaf blades are inversely ovate, measuring 10 to 25 cm long and 4 to 7 cm wide, with a blunt or slightly concave apex and a wedge-shaped base.
This tree is found in mixed forests and is often planted in villages or as roadside greenery. In the wild, it thrives at altitudes ranging from 200 to 1000 meters above sea level. Globally, it is distributed across East and Southeast Asia and Australia, including regions such as southern China, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Australia (Queensland), and Papua New Guinea.
The tree has also been introduced and cultivated in various tropical and subtropical regions.
Benefits of the Milk Flower
The sap, bark, and leaves of the milk flower are used in medicinal applications, extracting various chemical components, including alkaloids and steroids.
The bark contains alkaloids such as ditamine, echitenine, and echitamine, which are employed as antibacterial agents and for treating malaria as an alternative to quinine.
India widely uses milk flower products for treatment.
An infusion from the bark is effective in treating diarrhea, digestive disorders, reducing fever, and regulating menstrual cycles. The leaf infusion is used to treat beriberi, a disease caused by a deficiency of Vitamin B1.
India is a prominent user of milk flower products in treatment. Numerous animal studies have demonstrated that extracts from the milk flower bark exhibit antibacterial and antimalarial effects.
Additionally, these extracts protect liver cells, inhibit cancer cell growth, alleviate pain, prevent gastrointestinal ulcers, possess antioxidant properties, regulate immunity, relieve asthma, and treat bronchitis. They have bronchodilatory effects, are anti-allergic, soothe skin lesions, and reduce allergy symptoms.
The milk flower also stimulates appetite and increases milk production in breastfeeding women. Due to its antibacterial properties, in India, the milk flower is incorporated into toothpaste formulations.
According to traditional medicine, the bark of the milk flower is bitter and cool, with functions such as heat-clearing, detoxifying, pain relief, combating asthma, quenching thirst, and inducing perspiration (for malaria caused by mosquito transmission). Dried and powdered bark can be brewed into a drink, with a recommended dosage of 1-3 grams per day to clear heat and stimulate digestion. A concentrated infusion of the bark is effective in treating toothaches and skin ulcers.
The leaves, when boiled, can be consumed at a dosage of 20 grams to treat vomiting and anemia due to chemotherapy. Overall, the health benefits of the milk flower are diverse and warrant further research for more clarity.
Harmful Effects of the Milk Flower
The milk flower has a strong odor; excessive inhalation can cause dizziness…
Traditional medicine practitioner Vu Quoc Trung (a member of the Vietnam Traditional Medicine Association) shares that the milk flower poses several health risks. The milk flower tree has over 40 species, characterized by its height, thick bark, and milky sap, hence its name. The flowers emit a strong odor, which can cause dizziness, fatigue, and shortness of breath if inhaled excessively.
The flowers and fruits of the plant are hairy and can disperse in the air, potentially causing allergies, sinusitis, and respiratory diseases. Individuals with allergic predispositions may experience more itching and rash. The pollen from the milk flower can trigger allergic rhinitis and bronchitis in the elderly and children, with exacerbated symptoms for those with a history of asthma or sinusitis.
Trung also expressed that in a small neighborhood, a single milk flower tree may be pleasant, but planting many can have adverse effects. Those suffering from asthma, sinusitis, headaches, or nausea may find their symptoms aggravated by the scent of the milk flower.
Experts also note that while the milk flower is beautiful, its pungent odor can be overwhelming, suggesting that it should not be planted too densely in urban areas.
