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.