17) Red Amaranth

Brief Description:

            The red amaranth is an herb that grows in gardens and waste places. It attains a height of about 1meter having alternate leaves which are red in color. The tiny flowers grow in clusters at the top of the stem and in leaf axils. The seeds are very small, black and round. There are two types of amaranth other is just green in color and its seeds are yellowish white in color.

           

 Medicinal Use:

·         Used for treating acute abdominal pain and stomach aches, abnormal stoppage of menses and inflamed mucous membranes of the urethra and vagina.

·         Used for chronic inflation of the skin.

·         Promotes flow of milk in nursing mothers.

·         As a laxative.

·         Softens inflamed parts.

·         Used in treating boils and burns.

How to Use:

• The root of the herb is used for acute abdominal pain, stomach ache, abnormal stoppage of menses and inflamed mucous membrane of urethra and vagina.
• Externally used as a poultice, the paste of the whole plant can be applied over inflamed skin.
• The decoction of the root is also used for promoting the flow of milk in nursing mothers.
• The leaves and the roots are boiled together to make tea which is given to children as a laxative.
• The pounded plant is applied over boils and burns to soften the inflamed parts.

Parts Used:

• The whole plant.

Dose:

• Normal

16) Devil Tree

Brief Description:

            The devil tree grows up to 20 meters high. It has furrowed trunk and whorled leaves. It has abundant milky sap. The leaves are shiny in nature. The flowers are numerous, crowded, greenish, borne in cymes. The fruits are slender and cylindrical. Seeds are about 4mm long, with ciliate hairs, on the ends. The tree rows in thickets and forest.

Medicinal Use:

• Used as tonic. Helps in eliminating worms from the body.
• Increase the secretion of milk in nursing mothers.
• Reduces or eliminates fever.
• Can be used in chronic diarrhea and dysentery, asthma and cardiac problems.
• Medicine for boils, ulcers and muscular pains, and rheumatism swellings.
• Relieves earaches.
• Used for the deficiency of vitamin ‘B1’
• Used for certain skin diseases.

 

How to Use:

• The bark of the tree, in decoction is used take care of first four above medicinal uses.
• Te latex is used as a poultice for boils, ulcers, muscular pains and rheumatic swelling. When mixed with olive oil, one or two drops in the ears relieve earaches
• The decoction of the young leaves is recommended for deficiency of Vitamin ‘B’
• The dried leaves in powder form are used for ulcers and skin diseases.

Parts Used:

• The bark, latex and the leaves.

Dose:

• 30grams in 1 liter of water, 3 to 4 cups a day.

15) Indian Aloe

Brief Description:

Aloe is used for both ornamental as well as medicinal purpose. It is short stemmed and the spiny-toothed leaves are very succulent or juicy. The drooping flowers are yellow in color. When the plant is mature,, from the middle an erect stalk grows which is a meter in height. The fruit is an oval capsule containing numerous seeds. 

Medicinal Use:

• Promotes the menstrual flow.
• Softens swollen parts and relieves pain in muscles.
• Works as a good laxative.
• Kills or expels worms from the body.
• Best for skin problems.
• Heals wounds and fresh cuts.
• Soothes burns, cures eczema and falling hair.
• Useful in eye diseases.
• Checks the growth of tumor, enlargement of the spleen, liver complaints, asthma, leprosy and jaundice.

How to Use:

• The juice of the leaves, applied externally, is soothing in case of burns, wounds and cuts,, eczema, and falling hair.
• The leaf pulp is recommended for first four and last above medicinal uses.
• The cuticle removed from the leaves can be applied as a suppository in cases of hemorrhoids or piles.
• Drinking the aloe juice purifies the blood and cleans the skin.

Parts Used:

• The leaves and the pulp.

Dose:

• As indicated above.

14) Garlic

Brief Description:

            Garlic is a glabrous, bulbous, herb which grows to the height of about 30cms. The leaves are flat, narrow and long. The bulb consists of numerous bulblets known as cloves, enclosed with in a whitish skin. It is a well known herb in the garden. It is grown for culinary and medicinal use.

Medicinal Use:

·        Used to kill or expel worms from the body.

·        Prevents or cures spasms.

·        Stimulates flow of saliva, helps in digestion, and relieves flatulence and griping pains from stomach and bowels.

·        Promotes the flow of urine.

·        Promotes the removal of mucous secretions from the bronchial tubes.

·        Used to reduce or eliminate fevers.

·        Promotes the dissipation of a growth or swelling.

·        Can be used in chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis, pneumonia, asthma, and other respiratory ailments.

·        It is an excellent medicine for colds and can be used in case of sore throat, hoarseness and tonsillitis.

·        Best remedy for hypertension.

·        Acts as natural antibiotics and prevents cancer.

·        Good remedy for earache, deafness and the delay of the graying of the hair.

·        Helps to remove Gastritis from the body.

·        It is also good for various skin problems.

·        Scientific students have proved that the consumption of garlic reduces the cholesterol level in the body.

·        Used to bring down the pressure

How to Use:

• Use of raw garlic in salads is one of the best remedies for hypertension.
• The decoction of garlic mixed with coconut oil is given for worms and in smaller doses it is good for infection of the sciatic nerve, inflammation of the respiratory tract and hysteria.
• The tea of garlic sweetened with honey is recommended as a poultice for ringworms.
• Raw garlic juice is good for whooping cough and pulmonary consumption or tuberculosis. Diluted in water the garlic juice is good for earache, corns, fungal infections of the skin and skin spots, etc.
• A crushed clove of garlic heated in a tiny vessel or tablespoon containing coconut oil or mustard oil can be very effectively used for earaches. Only the mild warm (Luke warm) should be put into the painful ear.
• The water obtained after simmering of the finely chopped garlic can eliminate the gastritis. Remember, the finely chopped garlic should be simmered for more than 12 hours. Drink a glass of the obtained water daily in the morning by mildly heating before you eat or drink anything. Do not drink or eat anything for an hour of drinking the decoction (the obtained water after simmering)

Parts Used:

• The bulbs (as food, the whole plant can be used)

Dose:

• As indicated above

Caution: Those who suffer from hypotension (low blood pressure) should not use garlic.

13) Onion

Brief Description:

            The onion plant is a famous plant known all over the world. It has bulbs underground.

Medicinal Use:

·        Used as a stimulant.

·        Promotes the flow of urine.

·        Promotes the removal of mucous secretions from the bronchial tubes.

·        Promotes the menstrual flow.

·        Soothes and protects the alimentary tract and relieves inflammations.

·        Purifies blood.

·        Used against tuberculosis, infectious venereal disease, typhoid fever, abnormal accumulation of liquid in cellular tissue, diabetes, cough, chest and lungs problems, influenza, rheumatism, inflamed joins, skin diseases, kidney/ gallstones, liver problems, intermittent fever, asthma, nausea and constipation.

·        Good for insect bites, tumors, inflammations, boils containing pus, ulcers, nasal bleeding and arthritis.

·        Raw onion juice promotes growth and prevents baldness.

How to Use:

• Onion, eaten raw, is good for the various disorders and diseases mentioned above.
• Mixed with a little pure honey, the onion is externally used for insect bite, tumors, inflammations, boils containing pus, ulcers, nasal bleeding and arthritis

                                                                                              

Parts Used:

• The bulb

Dose:

• As indicated above.

12) Golden Trumpet.

Brief Description:

            Golden Trumpet or Yellow Bell is a hardy climber with bright yellow prominent bell shaped flowers. The climber is often trained onto trellises, arches or fences in private and public gardens. The smooth and shiny leaves are arranged opposite to each other.

Medicinal Use:

• Used for colic or acute abdominal pain.
• Used as good purgative, this is stronger than a laxative.
• It is suggested as an antidote for poisoning.

How to Use:

• The infusion of the leaves is recommended for acute abdominal pain. It also acts as a purgative.
• The bark in normal or small doses, in decoction, has a cathartic or hydragogue effect i.e., it helps in the evacuation of the bowels.

Parts Used:

            The Bark and the Leaves.

Dose:

            Normal (refer to the introduction page)

11)Rain tree

Brief Description:

            Rain tree is a large tree which grows over 20 meters high. Its branches are widespread and the leaves are bipinnate and hairy underneath. The flowers are borne in peduncles which are axillary, solitary and pink colored. It looks like a powder puff. The fruit is dark, fleshy and has a sweet bulky mesocrap that attracts rodents and birds.

Medicinal Use:

·        Used for dysentery and diarrhoea.

How to Use:

·        The decoction of the bark and the leaves in infusion are used for dysentery and diarrhoea.

Parts Used:

            The bark and the leaves.

Dose:

            Normal ( see the instructional page)

10) Century plant

Brief Description:

Century plant is a fiber-bearing plant which grows in tropical countries. It produces leaves upward from the ground, forming a massive rosette. Both sides of the leaves are smooth, having prickly edges, and at the upper extremely, a thorny end. The plant produces a long and erect stem which bears bulbils that fall to ground and grow into new plants.

Medicinal Use:

• Purifies the blood.
• Prevents the formation of pus.
• Promotes the flow of urine.
• Stimulates the bowel-mild laxative.
• Checks excessive falling of hair.
• Checks internal wounds and swellings.
• Soothes irritated eyes and helps in general eye diseases.
• Used against the tuberculosis of lungs.
• Used for jaundice and infected livers.
• Checks anemia, kidney diseases and liver problems.

How to Use:

·        For cleansing the blood the infusion or decoction of the finely chopped leaves can be used. Use two grams of leaves for a cup of water. One cup a day is enough. Take little by little in your sips.

·        The water in which the leaves are soaked for a day can be used can be used externally as a disinfectant and tonic, incase of falling hair.

·        The sap of the leaves is used internally in case of wounds and inflammations.

·        The infusion of the plant with the addition of a teaspoon of honey can be used to soothe irritated eyes.

·        The decoction of the leaves can be used in the form of lotion for general eye diseases.

·        The sap of the plant can be used at times for pulmonary tuberculosis, diseased liver and jaundice. The powder of the dry leaves of the plant, in water is recommended for anemia, kidney diseases and liver problems. The recommended dose is one teaspoon of powder a day.

Parts Used:

·        The whole plant.

Dose:

            As indicated as above and as outlined in the instructional page.

9) Bael Tree

Brief Description:

            It is a tree that grows up to the height of 3 to 6 meters. The leaves of this tree are oval in shape and the flowers have a pleasant fragrance. The large round shaped fruit is greenish-white in color with a hard but smooth outer surface. The inner contentc of the fruit is mucilaginous and faintly aromatic.

Medicinal use:

• Used as a mild laxative.
• Used to cure inflammations of the mucous membrane having a free discharge.
• Recommended for the use of asthma.
• Reduces or eliminates fever.
• Promotes the removal of mucous secretions from the bronchial tubes.
• For the abnormal accumulation of the liquid in the cellular tissue accompanied with constipation and jaundice.
• For the combination of severe inflammation of the eye or conjunctivitis, acute bronchitis and inflammation of the body.
• For intermittent fevers with melancholia or a depressed unhappy emotional state and heart palpitation.
• For strengthening and giving tone to the stomach, to prevent scurvy and aiding in digestion.
• Used for chronic diarrhoea or dysentery and irritation of the alimentary tract.
• For indigestion, discomfort or pain in the stomach.

How to Use:

• The leaves of the trees are used as a mild laxative, for fever, catarrh or the inflammation of the mucous membrane having a free discharge and for asthma. The dose for this is 10 to 15 grams for one liter of water.
• The decoction of the leaves is febrifuge, or helps in eliminating fever and is an expectorant, or promotes the removal of the mucous secretions from the bronchial tubes.
• The leaf juice is given dropsy or the abnormal accumulation of the liquid in the cellular tissue accompanied with constipation and jaundice.
• A hot poultice of the leaves is applied in ophthmai or severe inflammation of the eye or conjunctivitis with acute bronchitis and inflammation of the body.
• The root bark is used I decoction for intermittent fevers, melancholia or a depressed unhappy emotional state and heart palpitation.
• The unripe fruit can be used as stomachic or for strengthening and giving tone to the stomach.. it prevents scurvy and aids in digestion. It is also used in cases of chronic diarrhoea or dysentery and irritation of the alimentary tract.
•  The ripe fruit is aromatic, cooling and a mild laxative.
• The extract of the ripe fruit with water is given for chronic constipation and dyspepsia or indigestion, discomfort or pain.

Parts Used:

The roots, leaves and fruit.

Dose:

Normal.