Sarala. Vern. Chir, Saral. Hind.

The aromatic wood of Pinus longifolia is used in Hindu medicine. The tree yields an oleo-resin called sarala drava, srivasa and kshira in Sanskrit. In the vernacular it is called gandha-birozd. Dr. Royle remarked, "The chir exudes or yields to incisions a very fine turpentine. This is chiefly valued by the natives for its resin, and as the latter is only obtained by exposing the turpentine to heat, the oil, the more valuable product is dissipated to procure the resin; but by adopting a very simple still, the resin was obtained as good as ever for the purposes of the natives, while the oil of turpentine which distilled over was pronounced on being sent to the General Hospital of Calcutta, to be of very superior quality." Turpentine is now distilled by the natives in the Panjab but the distilled oil is not mentioned by Sanskrit writers.

The wood of Pinus longifolia is considered stimulant, diaphoretic and useful in burning of the body, cough, fainting, and ulcerations; it is generally used in combination with other medicines.

The oleo-resin or crude turpentine is used in the preparation of plasters, ointments, and pastiles for fumigation. It is applied to buboes and abscesses for promoting absorption. The following is an example of a pastile containing crude turpentine. Take of crude turpentine, bdellium, wood of Aquilaria Agallocha (aguru), and resin of Shorea robusta, and make into pastiles. These are used for fumigating unhealthy and painful ulcers,1