It is a large evergreen tree, often reaching 60 m in height. It reaches 90 m in places where it is protected from injuries. Branches are horizontal or slightly ascending or descending, not whorled, but arising irregularly. The leaves are 2.5 cm to 5 cm long, dark green, three sided, glaucous or silvery and sharply pointed. It is a monoecious plant, although male and female cones appear on separate branches. Dioecious trees are very rare. Female cones are barrel-shaped and borne singly at the tip of the dwarf shoots. Male cones are solitary at the end of the dwarf shoots. They are cylindrical and 2.5 cm to 4.5 cm in length. Seeds are triangular with a broad wing.
Herb Effects
Antiinflammatory, analgesic and fights pathogenic Epidermophyton, carminative (wood), astringent and febrifuge (bark); expectorant.
Two major sesquiterpenoids a- and b-himachalenes, deodarone, deodardione.
Pharmacology
Medicinal Use
In arthritis, rheumatism, skin diseases, ulcers, to remove the pain,it resolves inflammation, paralysis, stone in the kidney, fevers. in remittent and intermittent fevers, diarrhea and dysentery (bark); in the treatment of ulcers (powder); bilious fevers and inveterate diarrhea arising from atony of the muscular fiber.
Contraindication
Due to the high content of heavy metals like zinc, copper and manganese in pollen it cause allergy.
Reference
Sharma, Classical Uses of Medicinal Plants.
The Himalaya Drug Company. Uniyal et al., Medicinal Flora of Garhwal Himalayas. Shinde UA. Phadke AS. Nair AM. Mungantiwar AA. Dikshit VJ. Saraf MN. Studies on the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity.
Health Remedies 
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