The use of the Orchid tree (commonly referring to species in the Bauhinia genus, such as Bauhinia variegata or Bauhinia purpurea) for the treatment of malaria is primarily justified by traditional medicine practices. In several regions of Asia and Africa, various parts of the Orchid tree—especially the bark and leaves—have been used in folk remedies for fever and malaria-like symptoms. Ethnobotanical surveys from India, Nepal, and Africa have documented the use of decoctions or infusions of Bauhinia species as part of traditional anti-malarial therapies.

However, the scientific evidence supporting the anti-malarial efficacy of Orchid tree preparations is limited. A small number of in vitro and in vivo studies have assessed the anti-plasmodial activity of extracts from Bauhinia species, with some reporting weak to moderate activity against Plasmodium falciparum. These studies are few and typically preliminary, lacking clinical validation or large-scale trials. No Orchid tree-derived compounds are currently recognized in mainstream medicine as anti-malarial agents. Thus, while the use of the Orchid tree for malaria is well-documented in traditional systems, robust scientific validation is lacking, and the overall evidence is weak.