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Medicinal
Rhododendron arboreum’s nectar is brewed to make wine and
is effective in diarrhoea and dysentery. Its Corolla is
administered in case of fishbone stuck in the gullet.
Snuff made from the bark of the tree is excellent cold
reliever. Young leaves can be processed into paste and
applied on the forehead to alleviate headaches.
Rhdodendron campanulatum is also used as snuff and is
effective in case of cold and hermicrania. Also the
species is used in curing chronic rheumatism, syphilis.
The dried twigs and wood are used by Nepalese against
phthisis and chronic fever. On being burnt its smoke
causes irritation.
Rhododendron cinnabarium is used in making flavoring
agents, jam etc. The fried corolla of the species is liked
by local inhabitants in Sikkim which taste delicacy while
it is poisonous to animals.
Rhododendron setosum is used in making of aromatic oil,
perfumery and cosmetics.
Extract from the Rhododendron thomsonii is used as natural
insecticides as in valley of North Sikkim, while it is
toxic/poisonous to human beings.
Religious:
Rhododendron lepidotum and Rhododendron anthopogum’s
leaves are used as incense in Buddhist Monasteries. The
flowers are used as offerings to pay homage and for
decoration purpose at social occasions.
Other uses:
Rhododendron arboretum’s wood is used to make Khukris’
handle, box and are as well used as common fire wood and
occasionally converted to charcoal for blacksmith
work.Rhododendron falconeri is used in making covers for
fruit packaging, bamboo shoots’ canning etc. for distant
marketing.Rhododendron fulgens’s leaves are used as wick
for lighting fires by the local inhabitants of northern
Sikkim, while Rhododendron hodgsonii’s wood is used to
make spoon and ladles and also handles of khukri. Since
the wood is hard, is a good fire wood and making wooden
rods etc. Also the leaves of R. hodgsonii are used for
packing apples and other temperate fruits.
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