4) Indian Acalypha (Acalyha indica)

Brief Description:

Indian Acalypha or cat tail Plant is quite a popular herbaceous plant found in gardens. The plant grows to a height of 30 to 75 cms.  The leaf Petioles are long and slender and the oval shaped leaves are about 2.5 to 7.5 cms long and 2 to 4.4cms. broad. The numerous tiny maroon colored flowers are found on several pendulous stalks and hence the common name known as Cat Tail.

Medicinal Use:

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

·                     Promotes the flow of urine.

·                     Used for bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia and rheumatism.

·                     Used as laxative.

·                     Used for scabies and other skin disease.

·                     Used for expel worms from the body.

·                     Used as the agent for causing vomiting.

·                     Used also for earache, syphilitic ulcers and relieving the pain of snake-bite and irritation caused by the bite of a centipede.

How To Use:

·                     The decoction of the leaves is used to take care of the first three above medicinal uses.

·                     The decoction of the leaves mixed with some common salt, works well as a laxative.

·                     The juice of the crushed leaves is applied extremely for the cure of scabies. When it is to be used for another skin disease, a very small quantity of whit lime (calcium Chloride) should be mixed with the juice before the application.

·                     The juice if the leaves are of great repute for causing vomiting, especially in children.

·                     The decoction of the leaves is used for earaches.

·                     A poultice (cataplasm) of leaves is applied externally to syphilitic ulcers and also as a means of relieving pain of snake bite and irritation caused by the bite of centipede.

Parts used:

The leaves

Dose:

Normal. (Refer to the instructional page)