08 - Chapter 4 PDF
08 - Chapter 4 PDF
08 - Chapter 4 PDF
Out of the identified plants, the important medicinal plants are short listed . Their
medicinal uses are described mainly on the basis of data obtained local informants
who are Vaidyas, Prists, Sanyasis and natives. The indigenous knowledge includes
local name of the plant sample, part used, and administration. The identification
of the scientific names of the plants was made with the help of flora of different
Local names, vernacular names, habitat, description, flowering period, parts used and
medicinal uses of each and every plant is provided.
Family: Fabaceae
Description: It is much branched and climbing undershrub with woody stem. Leaves
are peripinnate and 16-40 foliate; Inflorescence is racemose, axillaryand short than
The leaves have sweetish taste and are used in leucoderma, itching and other skin
diseases.
The fresh juice of its leaves mixed with bland non irritating oil is applied on
painful swellings.
The fresh juice of its leaves mixed with Plambago zeylanica is used in leucoderma.
The fresh juice of its leaves is also applied to bare skin of alopecia for regrowth of
hairs.
the roots are diuretic and emetic and used in the preparation of gonorrhoea,
The paste of its seeds is applied on skin in leucoderma and other skin diseases.
A decotion of its leaves and roots is widely used for cough and cold.
Various parts of plant are used in inflammation of gums, muscular pain ,mucus in
urine.
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Family: Malvaceae
Hindi: Kanghi.
Habitat: The plant grows as a weed, and is found abundantly in wastelands.
height. Plant covered with minute hairs. Leaves are alternate, cordate and acute.
Leaves vary in size. Flowers are yellowish, solitary found in leaf axils. Fruits arranged
Part / Parts used: Fruits, seeds, bark, flowers, leaves and roots .
Medicinal uses:
The whole plant is uprooted, dried and is powdered. In ancient days, maidens were
day, for 6 months until the day of marriage, for safe and quick pregnancy.
The leaves can also be used to treat ulcers, headaches, gonorrhea & bladder
infection.
The leaves are used as adjunct to medicines used for pile complaints.
The decoction of leaves is give in toothache and tender gums and also given for
The flowers are applied to boils and ulsers and their powder is eaten in ghee for
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The roots are used as wash in eye diseases.
Its seven raw leaves are eaten for seven days to check diabetes.
Leaf –paste mixed with water is taken orally twice a day in stomach-ache
Leaves are used as poultice and their juice is given to children in spleen and liver
enlargement.
Area of collection: Bhota
Description: It is a moderatery sized tree with throny branches. Leaves are pinnate
with a pair of recurved prickles at the base of rachis.and pinnae 40-80 ; leaflets are 60-
100 small and ligulate.Flowers are pale-yellow in axillary cylindrical spikes. The pods
Medicinal uses:
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The katha, obtained from heartwood of 20-30 years old tree is discrived as an
Taking decoction of khair wood 10-15 gm of chhoped wood in five cups of water
boiled down to one cup-twice daily for four weeks , cures fever , cough or allergy
chronic fever.
Vernacular names: English : Arabic Gum, Hindi: Babool, Kikar, Telugu: Nalla
feathery foliage usuall with a hight of 15 m. Leaves are bipinnate with spinescent
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Flowering period: In rainy season.
Medicinal uses:
astringent.
An infusion of its tender leaves is given as an astringent and remedy for dysentery
and diarrhea .
Its gum is descrived as an astringent and syptic and useful in dysentery, diarrhea
The twigs of plant are used as a datun ( natural toothbrush) to strengthen the gums
and teeth.
Area of collection: Jhaniyari ki dhar.
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Habitat :The plant grows in plains & in lower himalayan ranges upto 1000 m above
sea leve.
Description: It is a small evergreen, subherbacious bush. The Leaves are 10 to 16 cms
in length, minutely pubescent and broadly lanceolate. The inflorescence is dense, short
pedunculate, bractate and spike terminal. The corolla is large and white with lower lip
Medicinal uses :
The leaves are rich in vitamin C and carotene and yield an essential oil.
The shrub is the source of the drug, well known in indigenous systems of medicine
for its beneficial effects, particularly in bronchitis.
The leaves, flowers, fruits and roots are extensively used for treating cold, cough,
The roots, leaves and flowers and active principles of the plant possess a number of
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Local name: Fulnu buti
are often opposite, and may be alternate in upper parts of the stem, almost triangular in
shape (obovate) to egg-shaped in outline with broad end at base (ovate). The flowers
Medicinal uses:
Leaf extracts is used against Anopheles stephensi, Aedes aegypti and Culex
It exhibited protection among all skin allergies (Erythema, Edema, Vesicles and
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Vernacular names: English : Siris tree; Hindi : Siris siris; Kannada : Begemara;
in diameter. The leaves are bipinnate, with one to four pairs of pinnae, each pinna with
6–18 leaflets. The flowers are very fragrant. The fruit is a pod, containing six to
twelve seeds.
Flowering period: April – May.
Medicinal uses:
5-6 g Fresh leaves + 4-5 gof refined sugar (misree) are added to the 1 glass of
water and grinded in in clay pot and is taken three times a day to cure T.B
Fresh leaves are chewed in mouth and then extract of leaves from mouth is poured
in eyes after filteration with clean thin piece of cloth is used to cure reddishness of
eyes.
10-15 g Seeds along with their cover are grinded in clay pot with water and and
It has been reported that plant posess, anti-fertility and anti-diarrhoeal properties
It is used to cure Respiratory Tract Conditions like asthma and allergic rhinitis
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The bark is used medicinally to treat inflammation.
leaves are lanceolate, acute or acuminate, and may either be opposite or in whorls of
Medicinal uses:
external application.
The distilled extract of the plant claims cure of malignancy, fungal and bacterial
diseases.
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The leaves, roots and flowers may be used in preparing a powerful cathartic, which
Extract of leaves used for colic and as laxative; in large doses causes diarrhea and
vomiting.
Herbarium no.: 85
9. Botanical name: Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f.
Family: Liliaceae
spreading by offsets and root sprouts. The leaves are lanceolate, thick and fleshy,
green to grey-green, with a serrated margin. The flowers are produced on a spike.
Flowering period: May to June.
Medicinal uses:
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It is used for its healing properties, and both oral intake and topical dressings have
been documented to facilitate healing of any kind of skin wound, burn, or scald -
Situations to try it on include blisters, insect bites, rashes, sores, herpes, urticaria,
athlete's foot, fungus, vaginal infections, conjunctivitis, sties, allergic reactions, and
dry skin. The raw plant is best, but commercial preparations can also be used,
Other uses include acne, sunburn, frostbite (it appears to prevent decreased blood
Internally, aloe is showing real promise in the fight against AIDS, and the virus has
become undetectable in some patients who used it on a regular basis, due to its
Taken orally, aloe also appears to work on heartburn, arthritis and rheumatism pain
and asthma, and studies have shown that it has an effect on lowering blood sugar
levels in diabetics.
liver problems such as cirrhosis and hepatitis, kidney infections, urinary tract
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Many people who take aloe internally report just feeling better overall, which is in
systems.
Description: This is a perennial herb with prostrate stems, rarely ascending. Leaves
obovate to broadly elliptic. Flowers in sessile spikes, bract and bracteoles shiny white.
Medicinal uses:
It is diuretic, tonic and cooling. Juice of this plant, deemed beneficial to eyes, is an
The whole plant is used to treat wounds ,cough, bronchitis and diabetes.
The fresh and immature shoots and leaves are considered useful in relieving
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To cure inflamed wounds the roots are applied externally.
An extract of root is crushed with the bark of Alstonia scholaris,is taken with cow
branches. The leaves, shortly petioled, are roundish, ovate-cordate irregularly toothed
Medicinal uses:
membranes such as the alimentary canal, the urinary and the respiratory organs.
The root counters excess stomach acid, peptic ulceration and gastritis. It is also
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The whole plant, but especially the root, is antitussive, demulcent, diuretic, highly
The leaves are harvested in August when the plant is just coming into flower and
The root can be used in an ointment for treating boils and abscesses.
It is also used for irritation of mouth and throat and associated dry cough/bronchitis
Leaves simple, not lobed or divided, opposite, stalked, ovate, glabrous on bot sides,
margin entire, apex acute, rounded or emarginated, base acute, rounded or truncate,
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Medicinal uses:
The plant is emollient and vermifuge.The root juice is used to treat inflammation
during urination.
Used in mixtures with other medicinal plants, to treat hepatitis, tight chest,
bronchitis, asthma, and lung troubles, to stop bleeding and as a hair tonic.
Herbarium no.:130
height, with somewhat 4-angled stems. The leaves are narrow-oblong, oblance shaped.
The flowers are small, greenish or purplish. The capsules are nearly spherical,
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Flowering period : Through out the year.
Medicinal uses:
The leaves or the ashes of the plant, mixed with oil, are applied to cure herpetic
eruptions.
The fresh, bruised leaves have been used in skin diseases as a rubefacient and as an
Plant dried or fresh is administered in decoction with ginger and Cypers root for
intermittent fever.
existing ones.
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Bhuinimb, Kirata, Mahateet; Malyalam: Nilaveppu, Kiriyatta,; Telugu: Nela Vemu;
Tamil: Nilavempui.
Habitat: Grows well in moist and shaded places, but it prefers sunny situations.
Description: It is an erect and branched annual herb with 4 angled branches, growing
to a height of 30 - 110 cm.Flowers: Small, white, with rose-purple spots on the petals,
Part /parts used : Whole Plant, mainly underground stem and leaves
Medicinal uses:
Liver disorders in children can be treated by giving the juice of the samoolam of
Kalmegh, Kadugurohini and Adathodai are taken in equal quantity and decoction
prepared from this can be given in dose of 10-30 ml in all types of fever.
Kalmegh, Ramacham and Karuka patta are taken in equal amount, made into
decoction and given in dose of 15-30 ml for all fevers, cough and common cold.
It is an ultimate drug for even fevers like chikunguniya. It is also and excellent
Blood purifier. Hence it is advisable to consume the decoction of this plant or the
In the disease like Rhematoid arthritis the fresh or dried powder of this plant is
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The decoction of this plant is used in treatment and prevention of Swine flu.
Kalmegh herb is used as a blood purifier. Hence, it is used for treatment of various
The herb is used to eradicate body heat and remove toxins from the body.
It is also beneficial in fighting against cancer and also used to cure diabetes
mellitus.
It is also used to get relief from sinusitis, flu, cough, bronchitis and upper
Herbarium no.:91
2 m. The leaves are spirally arranged, broadly lanceolate. The flowers are produced on
a tall spike, pink to purple flowers, often with yellow lips. The fruit is an ovoid
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Flowering period: July to September.
Medicinal uses:
haemorrhoids.
Preparations made from leaves and flowers are used to reduce fever.
It is also diuretic.
Area of collection: Toni devi.
almost every part of India. In many parts it is repoorted as crop weed also.
Description: The prickly annual is much branched, about 1 meter in height, with
yellow lates. The leaves are simple, sessile, variegated with white and veins white.
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The flowers are large and bright yellow in color. The fruits, prickly capsules. The
Medicinal uses:
It cures some drastic diseases like lepsory, skin-diseases, inflammations and bilious
fevers etc.
Svarnakshiri churna and tail are very much popular Ayurvedic Formulations.
Use of entire plant in both the forms fresh and dry is beneficial in relieving kidney
pain.
The whole biomass of satyanashi is useful to help expel a torn placenta, and in
The seed-pods secrete a latex substance having berberine and protopine, is used
medicinally as a sedative.
The fresh yellow, milky, acrid sap contains protein-dissolving substances and has
been used in the treatment of warts, cold sores, cutaneous affections, skin diseases,
itches etc.
The root is alterative and has been used in the treatment of chronic skin diseases.
The flowers are expectorant and have been used in the treatment of coughs.
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Area of collection: Kunah khad.
Vernacular names: German : Hafer; Biwen Hindi : Jai, Jayee, Gandal, Ganer ;
Kashmiri: Javi.
Habitat: Oat is native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
Description: Oat is an erect, annual, herbaceous plant. It has a straw-like stem and
very elongated, flat rough leaves. Seeds are gold, elongated and spindle-shaped.
Flowering period: December to April.
Medicinal use:
depression, insomnia.
Herbal tea made from the Oat stalks is beneficial remedy in treatment of
Due to its calming and sedating effect, Oat has been very helpful in cases of
It is said that green oat can help lower the craving for cigarettes. Wild Oat is used
Used externally, Oat can be useful in treatment of eczema, acne and dry skin.
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Area of collection: Dhaneta.
Herbarium no.:42
ettadundig.
Habitat: It is found at medium altitude areas.
Description: It is a leafy stout shrub about 1-2 m in height. Leaves are sinuate-
capsule are ovoide, usually hairy. The seeds are oblong, mottled .
Flowering period : Almost throught the year; chiefly during March- May.
Medicinal uses:
The roots are anthelmintic, alexiteric, diuretic and purgative and these are used in
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The leaves of danti for the treatment of asthma, and in headache.
The roots of the plant are practiced as laxative, in dropsy, jaundice, anasarca, in
Herbarium no.: 41
Koilekha.
Habitat: Widely cultivated ornamental hedge plant.
Leaves are oblong to elliptic, pointed at the tip and somewhat hairy beneath. Flowers
are borne singly or in pairs, and terminal or in the upper axils of the leaves.
Flowering period: Through out the year.
Part / Parts used: Roots, leaves, seeds.
Medicinal uses:
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Infusion of roots and leaves used for coughs.
Vernacular names: English: Indian spinach; Hindi : Poi, Safed bachla; Malayalam :
Vasalacheera.
Habitat: Found in settled areas, in hedges, old cultivated areas, etc.
meters in length. Stems are purplish or green. Leaves are somewhat fleshy, ovate or
heart-shaped stalked, tapering to a pointed tip with a cordate base. Flowers are pink.
Medicinal uses:
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Leaf-juice, mixed with butter, is soothing and cooling when applied to burns and
scalds.
Mucilaginous liquid obtained from the leaves and tender stalks used for habitual
headaches.
It is used for hemorrhages, skin diseases, sexual weakness, ulcers and as laxative in
Vernacular names: English: Camel's foot climber; Assamese: Nak kati lewa ;
Bengali: Chehur lata, Shimool ; Hindi: Malu, Jallaur, Jallur, Mahul; Kannada:
circinate tendrils.Stem may be 30 m long. Leaves are broader than long. Flowers are
white. Pods are pendulous and flat.
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Part / Parts Used: Bark , pods, leaves, gum, seeds and roots .
Medicinal uses:
The leaves of the plant are demulcent and mucilaginous and are used in malaria.
One teaspoonful of its aqueous extract of its roots is given thrice a day orally for
Vernacular names: English: camel's foot; Hindi : gurial, gwiar, kachnar, koliar,
kural, padrian; Malay : akbar tapak ; Nepali: kachnar, koiralo; Spanish : flamboyán
Medicinal uses:
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The flowers and dried buds of the plants are anthelmintic and are used in diarrohea,
with rice water mixed with ginger is used in scrofula and cutanious affections.
The decoction of its root bark is carminative and used in dyspepsia and flatulence.
Administering paste of 4-5 flower buds, once daily, since 5to7 days before
through menstruation and regulizes the flow.This medication benefits both young
woman as well as those approaching menopause. Fresh flower buds as well as
Vernacular names: English : Red hogweed, Tar Vine, Red Spiderling, Wineflower;
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Description: Much- branched spreading prostrate annual herb, often mat-forming.
Medicinal uses:
Decoctions of the roots and leaves are taken in moderate doses to cure asthma, and
in larger doses as an emetic, diuretic and laxative and to cure leprosy and syphilis.
The roots are boiled and applied as a poultice to cure ulcers, including those
resulting from Guinea worm infections, while ground roots are applied to yaws.
The ground roots mixed with ground seeds of Blighia sapida, K.D.Koenig are
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Local name : Gaojaban
Habitat: Mostly on rubbish heaps and near dwellings, and may be regarded as a
garden escape.
Description: The whole plant is rough with white, stiff, prickly hairs. The round
stems, about 1 1/2 feet high, are branched, hollow and succulent; the leaves alternate,
large, wrinkled, deep green, oval and pointed. The flowers, which terminate the cells,
are bright blue and star-shaped. The fruit consists of four brownish-black nutlets.
Flowering period: It generally flowers in rainy season.
Medicinal uses:
It is used for fevers and pulmonary complaints. By virtue of its saline constituents,
it promotes the activity of the kidneys and for this reason is employed to carry off
feverish catarrhs. Its demulcent qualities are due to the mucilage contained in the
whole plant.
For internal use, an infusion is made of 1 OZ of leaves and of boiling water, taken
in wineglassful doses.
The flowers, candied and made into a conserve, were deemed useful for persons
The distilled water was considered as effective and also valuable to cure
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The juice in syrup was thought not only to be good in fevers, but to be a remedy for
Vernacular names: English: Paper Mulberry ; Hindi: Jangli toot ; Kannada: kaagda,
(streams, etc.) .
Description: It is a large shrub or small tree with a mounded appearance, capable of
growth over 30 feet in height. Smaller leaves tend to be simpler, ovate in shape with
pointed tips and serrate margins. Larger leaves tend to be cordate or mitten shaped,
some deeply lobed, with three large or sometimes two smaller lobes near the base of
the leaf.
Flowering period: It flowers during autmn.
Medicinal uses:
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The leaf juice is diaphoretic and laxative - it is also used in the treatment of and is
The stem bark is haemostatic and that the fruit is diuretic, ophthalmic, stimulant,
The bark is decocted for ascites and is used to reduce swelling or oedema and used
The slimy sap of paper mulberry is a mild laxative. Thrush, a mouth disease, is said
to be improved when the ash from the burned beaten sheet made from the bark is
applied to the mouth.
Using the latex, which is said to be useful externally for neurodermatitis, tinea
infection, eczema, bee sting, insect bites, and is also used as a vulnerary.
The leaves are employed for blood in sputum, vomiting blood, uterine bleeding,
The leaves are also said to be astringent in "fluxes" and gonorrhoea and are also
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Habitat: In thickets and recently cleared places at medium altitudes.
pointed tip, and toothed at the margins. Flowers are white. Fruit is a reflexed capsule,
oblong, and about as long as the flower.
Flowering period: It flowers during winter.
Medicinal uses :
Vernacular names: English: Flame of the forest; Sanskrit: Palasha; Assam : Polah ;
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Description: It is a moderate sized deciduous tree ,upto a hight of 15 m. The bark is
fibrous, bluish-grey or light brown and excuding a ruby red vitreous gum.The
leaves are pinnately 3- foliate , large and unequal. The flowers are orange red and are
Part / parts used: The seeds, flowers , bark , leaves and roots .
Medicinal uses:
Its seeds are anthelmintic, acrid,bitter, aperient and rubifacient and are used in
The paste of powerded seeds with lemon juice is applied in herpes and as a cure of
The fine powder of seeds along with Cyperus rotundus rhizome is used as a cure
for delirium.
Flowers are diuretic, astrindent and aphrodisiac and are used emmenagogue and as
A lotion is prepared after distilling its flowers is used for some eye diseases.
The decoction of its bark is cold , cough, fever and menstrual disorders.
Fresh gum is applied on ulcers and septic soar throatand its infusion is used as local
application in leucorrhea.
The leaves of the plant are diuretic and aphrodisiac and are used to cure pimples,
The roots are used in night blindness and cause temporary sterlity in women.
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Its wormed and dried flowers are tied over abdomen and swellings of testicles.
Seeds are used as antidote for snake-bite and with lime juice to remove dhoby’s
itches.
The boiled flowers are tied over abdomen in pain and swelling of kidney and
relieve urine.
Local name: Ak
Vernacular names: English: Gigantic swallow root; Sanskrit : Arkah; Hindi: Madar.
arranged. Flowers are white to purple, rarely light green yellow or white. Flowers not
scented. Fruits are follicles recurved, 2 or 1 follictes, second more often suppressed, 3-
4" long.
Flowering period: It generally flowers through out the year.
Medicinal uses :
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For poisonous snake bites, 2 to 4 leaves of this plant is chewed well by the patient.
Also fresh root of this plant are crushed well and applied well by rubbing firmly
The leaf juice 5ml with equal quantity of honey is given for frequently occuring
For aphthous ulcers the latex of this plant is mixed with honey and applied over the
affected area.
The leaves are used as a very effective remedy as kizhi or ottradam (fomentation)
The leaf juice along with honey is given internally for intestinal worms.
The leaves are dried well and powdered and externally applied for unhealing
ulcers.
The flowers of this plant (one or two part), pepper (one part), clove or
athimathuram (1/2 part ) is ground well and given in the dose of pepper size for
bronchial asthma.
The latex is externally applied over rat bite, swellings, gonococcal arthritis, and
The Arakkashara thylam prepared from the latex is a best medicine for any vatha
complaints.
Area of collection : Man khad.
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Family : Asclepiadaceae
Local name: Ak
Vernacular names: Hindi: Ag, Ak, Akada, Madar, Safed-ak, Safedak, Mudar, Aak,
Description: It is a shrub reaching 3-5 metres in height, with thick twisted branches.
The leaves are large, opposite, spreading, decussate, whitish green in colour. The
flowers are rather large, beautiful lilac or purple tinged, arranged in umbellate
corymbs on erect cylindrical stout peduncles. The fruits are short, stout peduncles.
Flowering period: It generally flowers through out the year.
Medicinal uses:
The latex acts as a purgative, used in treating ascites of kapha type and
hepatosplenomegaly ascites.
The flowers and root bark decoction taken for treating blood impurity, filariasis,
and an expectorant.
The dried and powdered root is chiefly administered for bronchitis, asthma,
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The latex is used in treating vertigo, baldness, hair fall, tooth aches, intermittent
Leaves are heated in the oil which is applied externally in treating joint pain and
swellings.
The pungent latex from the leaves and flowers acts as an eye tonic.
The whole plant alcoholic extract induces spermicidal and anti-microbial activities,
Vernacular names: English: Marijuana, Hemp, Gallow grass ; Hindi: Ganja ; Tamil:
fiber.
Description: It is herbaceous annual plant, can reach up to a height of 4 meters and
has a very stiff and fibrous stem. Each leaf palmate is divided into 5 to 7 toothed
leaflets. The flower parts are not easily detectable to the human eye.
Flowering period: It flowers in summer.
Medicinal uses:
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The seed, either as a paste or as an unguent, is said to be a folk remedy for tumors
The decoction of the root is said help remedy hard tumors and knots in the joints.
Vernacular names: English: Ceylon Caper ; Irula: Kaatu thotti; Tamil : Suduthoratti,
obtuse, acute or retuse; stipular spines hooked. Flowers supra-axillary, solitary or 2-3,
one above the other in a vertical line, the upper the longest. Fruit subglobose.
Flowering period: In March.
Medicinal uses :
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Leaves are used as a counter irritant and as a cataplasm in boils, swellings, piles
andrheumatism.
Decoction of root-bark used for vomiting and for improving the appetite.
opposite, acuminate, entire, wavy margins; flowers small, white or violet colored,
in axillary clusters. Fruits long, ovoid, cylindrical, green, and become red when
Medicinal use:
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It possesses a constituent called Capsaicin and properties such as stomachic,
and antiseptic.
It is also rich in Vitamins A. C. and B complex, and organic calcium and potassium
as minerals.
It is widely suggested as a heart stimulant and for its substantial antigenotoxic and
chemopreventive activity.
It has a strong effect upon the circulatory system, initially acting upon the heart and
large arteries, followed by a stimulatory action upon the arterioles and the
capillaries.
It is also good for entire digestive and other systems of the body and it increases
Capsaicin depletes substance P in afferent type C sensory nerve fibers and treats
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Description: It is a perennial creeper; at its base, the plant’s stem is only
approximately 3 mm thick, but it can reach a height of up to 2 metres. The stem forms
internodes. The oval or lanceate leaves have a deeply serrated or lobated edgeThe
Part/ parts used: Whole plant and its roots and leaves.
Medicinal uses :
The oil prepared from the leaves acts as a very effective external application for
2 to 3 drops of juice of the leaves can be used as a ear drops for ear ache, purulent
The decoction prepared from the roots can be given for haemorrhoids.
The leaves can be crushed well, ground and applied over the lower abdomen of the
delivered woman. This helps in expulsion of waste products out of the uterus.
The decoction prepared from the samoolam or whole plant can be given in the dose
For Anda vatham or (hydrocele) the leaves can be applied as an external paste over
the scrotum.
For any inflammation, the leaves cooked in castor oil is ground and applied over
For dandruff, the leaves are soaked in water and then crushed well. This water is
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The oil prepared from the paste of the leaves and gingilly oil can be used as a hair
Herbarium no.: 84
simple, opposite, ovate, base chordate, with prominent veins. Flowers in axillary
panicles, white and fragrant. Fruits ovoid, single seeded drupes, become black or red
when ripe. Thorns are axillary and sharp.
Medicinal uses:
A concoction pounded with horse wine, lime juice and camphor, used as a remedy
for itches.
Leaves used in diarrhea, earache, soreness of the mouth and throat, and syphilitic
pains.
Root paste used for diabetic ulcers. Used for acidity, flatulence, poor digestion.
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Juice of fresh plant used for wounds that refuse to heal. Used for scabies, intestinal
Stem bark used for obstinate skin diseases; the root for urinary disorders.
Plant parts used for treatment of epilepsy, malaria, fever, dysentery, and diabetes.
Unripe fruit used as astringent; ripe fruit useful for bilious complaints.
Family: Fabaceae
paripinnate compound, very numerous, closely placed, Its flowers are irregular,
bisexual, bright yellow and large. The fruit is a short legume, broad, oblong, obtuse.
Flowering period: Summer
Medicinal uses:
The root is used in decoctions against fevers, diabetes, diseases of urinary system
and constipation.
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The leaves have laxative properties.
The dried flowers and flower buds are used as a substitute for tea in case of
diabetes patients.
The powdered seed is also applied to the eye, in case of chronic purulent
conjunctivitis.
Area of collection : Bakhroon
Herbarium no. : 39
Vernacularnames:Hindi:Amaltas,sonalu;Sanskrit:Aragvadha,Rajvraksha;English:Pur
ging Cassia.
Habitat: It is grown as avenue tree.
Description: It is a moderate sized tree with greenish-grey bark.The leaves are
Part / Parts Used: The pods , leaves , flowers and root bark .
Medicinal uses:
The extract of its pods and stem- bark is hypoglycaemic, antiviral and anticancer.
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The pulp of its fruits is used as a tonic and in chest infection and with sugar is
The paste of leaves is applied on ringworm lesions and after mixing with bark and
rubbed with oil are used efficaciously insect bites, eczema, scabies and psoriasis.
Snuffing juice of and appling its paste on swellings, cures scrofula characterized by
Applying poultice of pasted leaves on cuts and wounds, stops bleeding and cure
them.
boiled down to two cups and decanted-cures wounds connected with syphilis.
A paste of some young leaves is kept inside the genitals of woman once daily to
Taking 5 gm of ‘cassia pulp’ with half cup of hot water and half gm ajwain
Taking ‘Cassia pulp’ dissolved in water or milk along with a bit of sugar, twice
daily for five days, cures bleeding from nose during spring.
Area of collection: Baloh.
Herbarium no.: 15
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Habitat: It is found in grassy grounds.
legume up to 1.5 m high, usually annual. Compound leaves are linear to linear-
oblong, more or less parallel- sided. Flowers are yellow. Pods linear to linear-
oblong,
Flowering period: It mostly flowers in winter.
Medicinal uses:
A powder made from its dried leaves is applied onto burns for treatment.
An extract from its fresh leaf is put into sore eyes for relief.
A paste made from pounding its aerial parts together with the leaves is smeared
onto fractures as a treatment or also from applying a paste made from mixing its
pounded aerial parts together with animal fat which may also be administered
orally, it also cleans the uterus of a pregnant woman and acts an anitbacterial drug
agent.
Juice extract from its leaves is put into ear wounds for treatment.
A moist mass (poultice) made from its leaves is smeared onto swellings for relief.
A juice made from soaking its peeled and pounded roots together with the roots of
the plant species Waltheria indica is drunk at least thrice a day for the treatment of
diarrhea.
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Both its dried young stems and its dried leaves are brewed into a beverage.
reddish purple and glabrous expect short gland-hairy young parts. The leaves are
peri pinnate with foetid smell. Peduncle is small bearing a few yellow flowers having
reddish rings. The pods are laterally compressed, and slightly appressed.
Medicinal uses:
The leaves are pounded and made into paste which is applied to fresh wounds to
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The decoction of the plant is used as good diaphoretic.
Herbarium no.: 12
Charota,Chakvad,Chakavat.
Habitat: It is found scattered on waste land.
leaves, which are about 10 cm long. Each leaf has three pairs of leaflets that are
opposite, ovate, oblong and oblique at the base. The yellow-colored flowers are
bearded in the axel of the leaves.
Medicinal uses:
The leaves and the seeds are used in treating skin diseases like ringworm and
Since the herb acts as a kapha and vata dosha suppressant, it acts as a nerve tonic.
It is consumed in worm infestation and cures the infection occurring in the body.
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It acts as a liver stimulant, mild laxative and heart tonic.
The herb helps the body in maintaining the normal level of cholesterol.
Its paste is used for treating skin ailments and also for getting rid of chronic
diseases.
Its powder proves useful in combating indigestion, toning up heart muscles and
purifying blood.
The juice extracted from its leaves is used in case of skin ailments, rashes and
The leaves ad seeds are useful in leprosy, flatulence, colic, dyspepsia, constipation,
Plant pacifies vitiated tridosha, dandruff, constipation, cough, hepatitis, fever, and
hemorrhoids.
The root powder is mixed with lemon juice to form a poultice which is
Herbarium no.:405
67
Vernacular names: Hindi: Sadabahar ; Malayalam: Shavam Naari ; Marathi:
30 to 50 centimeters high. Leaves are oblong, rounded at tip, pointed at base. Flowers
are white, pink, or red, or variegated white Fruit is a hairy and cylindric follicle.
Flowering period: It flowers through out the year.
Medicinal uses:
The bitter and astringent leaves used as vomitive; roots used as purgative,
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Area of collection: Ghalol
Herbarium no.: 61
Habitat: It has been seen growing along the Himalayan mountainside and in other
terminal panicles. Fruits capsules yellow colored, become bright red when ripe,
Medicinal uses :
The oil of the Celastrus seed was used to treat physical weakness, mental
confusion, alleviate asthma symptoms, reduce headaches, and to cure joint pain and
arthritis.
It is also used to create a potent balm that they believed worked as a sexual
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A tonic of the seed oil is made, which they used to mitigate mental fatigue and
memory loss, as well as to boost memory recall, retention, and other thought
processes.
Anyone suffering from forgetfulness begins adding one seed to their diet daily, and
gradually increase their dosage up to 100 seeds per day. It is this ability to improve
mental function, memory recall and retention that has made this one of the choice
herbal supplements for those working to improve dream recall and to achieve lucid
dreams.
Dietary supplements like these usually combine Celastrus seed oil with other
effective herbal supplements like Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Gotu Kola (Centella
asiatica) and Gingko biloba.
Anticancer drugs like pristimerin, which is derived from the seeds of the Celastrus
plant, may be an effect means of treating certain types of cancers, or inhibiting the
Tibetan: Sin-mnar.
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Habitat: Grows in low wet areas.
leaves, and very small, light purple to red flowers, born in an umbel from the stem
Medicinal use:
It can help reduce swelling, repair connective tissues and improve circulation.
71
Description: It is a prostrate or ascending, slender, leafy herb, somewhat wooly or
nearly smooth, with numerous branches spreading from the root. Leaves are oblong-
obovate to oblanceolate, and with few coarse teeth on the margins. Many floweres are
Medicinal uses :
It is squeezed between the fingers and inhaled, clearing the head by provoking
sneezing.
Used as hot and dry medicine for paralysis, joint pains and worms.
Ointment made dried pulverized material with camphor or Yerba buena (Mentha
arvensis) to make a 10% valenine ointment applied to the nose for rhinitis.
Also, the plant used as a kind of snuff for ophthalmia, causing the eyes to water.
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Area of collection: Dug of tago
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated ground, especially on rich soils and old
manure heaps. It is often one of the first weeds to appear on newly cultivated soils.
Description: It is an annual herb, reaching heights of 10–150 cm . The leaves are
alternate and can be varied in appearance. The first leave, near the base of the plant,
are toothed and roughly diamond-shaped. The leaves on the upper part of the
flowering stems are entire and lanceolate-rhomboid. The small flowers grow in small
cymes.
Flowering period: July to October.
Medicinal uses:
For kidney stone: it is very effective and useful in problem of kidney stone. Take
tender leaves and branches of leaves and grind them to extract its juice and take 10-
15 gm of it daily with or without water. This also reduces the tendency of stone
formation.
For inter swelling: When bathua taken internally it helps to reduce internal
swelling.
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For external swelling: For external swelling cook leaves of bathua in steam and
For jaundice:Take bathua and giloy ras and mix them in equal proportion and take
For irregular period:Take bathua seeds and sonth(dry ginger powder) make powder
15-20n gm boil in 400 gm of water when it reduces to 100 gm drain it and drink
twice a day.
For curing infections after delivery: Take 10 gm of bathua, ajwain, methi and
For anemia:Take 25-50 gm of bathua ras (juice extract from leaves after crushing)
daily.
For Blood purification: When bathua ras taken with 4-5 neem leaves ras it works as
blood purifier.
Area of collection: Sanahi
Herbarium no.: 133
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Description: It is an erect, herbaceous rising from 1 to 3 feet in height. The leaves are
veined, attenuated at both ends, of a yellowish-green color, and marked beneath with
small resinous atoms. The flowers are very numerous, small, of the same color as the
leaves.
Flowering period: July to October.
Medicinal uses:
The dose of the juice is a tablespoonful, repeated night and morning; of the
infusion, prepared by infusing 1 ounce of the recent plant in 1 pint of milk, with the
Essential oil, on which the vermifuge properties depend is the best form, and is
more generally employed. Its dose is from 4 to 8 drops mixed with sugar, or in
emulsion, to be given morning and evening, for 4 or 5 days successively, and then,
Take of oil of wormseed and tansy, of each 1 ounce, spirits of turpentine 1 1/2
ounces, castor oil 1 pound. Mix. Dose, for a child, a teaspoonful every hour, until it
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decoction may be given in tablespoonful doses, on an empty stomach, 4 or 5 times
a day.
Vernacular names: English: Creeping thistle; Hindi: Kandai; Urdu: Leh, Bhurbhur.
Description: It is a tall herbaceous perennial plant, reaching 1-2 m tall. The leaves are
very spiny, lobed. The inflorescence is pink-purple, with all the florets of similar form.
The seeds are with a downy pappus.
Medicinal uses:
A paste of the roots, combined with an equal quantity of the root paste of
The plant contains a volatile alkaloid and a glycoside called cnicin, which has
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The leaves are antiphlogistic. They cause inflammation and have irritating
properties.
Area of collection: Nalti
alternate, pinnately cut, the larger ones with thelobes again toothed or lobed, with
rough, bristly hairs above, thinly white-woolly-hairy to sometimes green and merely
stiff-hairy beneath. Flowerheads, purple or rarely white, showy.
Medicinal uses:
The roots of bull thistle have been used as a poultice and a decoction of the plant
A hot infusion of the whole plant has been used as a herbal steam for treating
rheumatic joints.
Bleeding piles have been treated by a decoction of the whole plant, used both
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Herbarium no. : 207
Family: Menispermaceae
Description: A climber with kidney-shaped, softly hairy leaves. Male flower clusters
are stalked; femal flowers spikes are elongated with large leafy heart-shaped bracts at
their base. The fruit is densely hairy, succulent with a stony centre.
Flowering period: In January.
Medicine uses:
The vine or root is used to prevent a threatened miscarriage and to stop uterine
Used for menstrual cramps and pre- and postnatal pain, excessive menstrual
It is also believed to aid poor digestion, drowsiness after meals, and constipation.
The leaves, bark, and roots are soaked in rum and use it as an aphrodisiac.
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Toast the seeds and then brew them into a tea to treat internal hemorrhages and
external bleeding.
Brew a leaf tea for rheumatism and a vine wood and-bark tea to treat irregular
Herbarium no.: 63
Darboos.
Habitat: cultivated in the temperate and warm regions.
with usually narrowed segments. Flowers are yellow occurring singly in axils of the
leaves. Fruit is very large, smooth, ellipsoid to oblong, light green. Seeds are black.
Flowering period: Summer
Medicinal uses :
79
With cumin and sugar, juice is used as a cooling drink in strangury and affections
of the urinary organs, such as gonorrhea; also used for hepatic congestion and
intestinal catarrh.
Rind of the fruit is powdered after drying and incineration and used for aphthous
mouth sores.
It si also used to relieve scanty urination, excessive thirst, for treating icteric
leaves, flowers small, faintly coloured, fruits lemon brown containing yellow flesh
Medicinal uses:
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It is said to be an appetitiser, stomachic, anthelmintic; cures abdominal complaints.
Herbarium no.: 93
safed hulhul, parhar, safed bagro ; Marathi: Pandhari; Telugu: vaminta, vaaminta ;
high, usually with purplish stems. Leaf has a very long petiole with five leaflets.
Flowers are borne in racemes which terminate the branches, showy and somewhat
Medicinal uses:
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Leaves used externally as the seeds of mustard, and taken internally for certain
bilious disorders.
Whole plant made into an ointment applied to pustular eruptions of the skin;
stiff neck, taking care to withdraw the application before it produces a blister.
Leaf juice used occasionally for earache, otorrhea, and other ear affections.
Decoction of seeds used as wash for piles, rheumatism and malarial disorders.
Leaves are boiled and marinated in sour milk to become a nutritious meal, believed
Also, used in the treatment of bronchitis, boils, earaches and nasal congestion and
as eyewash.
Area of collection: Dhaneta
Herbarium no.: 411
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Vernacular names: Hindi: Keukand, Keu, Kust; Gujrati: Pakarmula; Marathi: Penva,
woody at the base; Leaves are sub sessile, oblong, spirally arranged, silky-pubescent
beneath; sheaths coriaceous; flowers in very dense spikes, many; bracts ovate,
mucronate, bright red. Fruits capsule, globosely trigonus, red; seeds black with white
aril.
Flowering period: August to October.
Medicinal uses:
Rhizome has been used for fevers, asthma, bronchitis, intestinal worms, rashes.
Roots used for catarrhal fevers, coughs, dyspepsia, worms and skin diseases.
rash.
Area of collection: Ghalol
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Herbarium no.: 297
Nirmadalam
Habitat: It is cultivated as ornamental plant.
Description : Small medium sized, much branched deciduous tree with crooked
branched leaves and compound flowers which are white pale and yellowish.
Flowering period: March to May.
Medicinal uses:
Bark is especially useful for urinary complaints such as kidney, bladder stone,
For bruise fresh leaves are grinded well with a little vinegar or lime water or hot
rubefacient effect.
A part of the leaves applied to soles of feet to relive swelling and burning
sensation.
The bark and root are used medicine, as diuretic and lithotriptic. It is also used in
internal inflammations.
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Extract of root-bark mixed with honey: in scrofulous enlargement of glands under
lower jaw.
Leaf-juice: in rheumatism.
Area of collection: Amroh road
Description: A small tree or shrub with a few spreading branches bearing alternate
petiolate leaves which are ovate, acuminate, serrate, smooth.. Flowers in erect
terminal racemes, scarcely as long as the leaf. Seeds resemble castor beans in size and
Medicinal uses:
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For rheumatic pains of the legs and waist: use 3 to 6 gms of dried material in the
form of decoction.
Pounded fresh leaves may be applied as poultice for snakebites or may be used as
insecticide.
For sprains and bone pains: Oiled leaves or bark material are heated and applied to
painful areas.
Seed oil used for treatment of schistosomiasis and other intestinal parasites.
Roots are finely shredded, mixed with water, and drunk by women as abortifacient.
Seeds, while half-roasting over a lamp or candle flame, are inhaled through the
Croton oil is used in dropsy, obstinate constipation, intestinal obstructions, and lead
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55. Botanical name: Cucumis melo Linn.
Family: Cucurbitaceae
it sometimes escapes from cultivation and becomes naturalized in fields and waste
places.
Description: It is a spreading, annual, more or less hairy vine. Leaves are somewhat
rounded, angled, heart-shaped at the base, and shallowly 3- to 7-lobed. Flowers are
Medicinal uses:
Fruit pulp used as a lotion for chronic and acute eczema; also used for removing
Seeds yield sweet, edible oil which is nutritive and diuretic, useful for painful
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Fruit pulp also used as diuretic.
Kernels prescribed for cancer of the stomach and for purulent problems of the
digestive tract.
Kernels used for menorrhagia, after the oil has been extracted.
5 feet and has deep orange roots or tubers. The leaves are long, smooth uniform green
Medicinal uses:
burns.
When combined with cauliflower, it has shown to prevent prostate cancer and stop
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Reduces the risk of childhood leukemia.
Boosts the effects of chemo drug paclitaxel and reduces its side effects.
Has been shown to stop the growth of new blood vessels in tumors.
May help in the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions.
Area of collection: Ghalol
Herbarium no.: 168
Habitat: It is found on Zizyphus jujube and Vitex negundo and has been known to
does not have leaves. Flowes solitary or in clusters of 3-4. Fruits capsules, depressed
globose, with 2-4 black seeds. Branches are greenish or yellowish green.
Flowering period: January-March.
Medicinal use:
The seeds are alterative, anthelmintic and carminative. They are used in the
The whole plant is purgative. It is used internally in treating protracted fevers and
The juice of the plant, mixed with the juice of Saccharum officinarum, is used in
Herbarium no.: 37
90
Family: Poaceae
Vernacular names: English: conch grass; Hindi :doob; Sanskrit :durva; Gujarati
;dhroh.
Habitat: Durva grows wild, throughout India and is commonly cultivated as lawns,
tufts. The leaves, variable in length , tapering towards the apex. The flowers green or
brinjal-coloured, in terminal spikes, 2 to 8 in number. The fruit grains are tiny and
grayish in colour.
Flowering period: Through out year.
Medicinal uses:
Durva being haemostatic, refrigerant, healer and beneficial for skin complexion, it
The paste of leaves or their medicated oil is applied in traumatic wounds and piles,
In catarrhal conditions of the eyes, the fresh fuice of the plants is instilled into eyes.
The same fuice, effectively controls the nasal bleeding , when used as nasal drops
The paste of the plant is applied on forehead in headache due to vitiation of pitta
dosa.
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The burning sensation in the skin disorders like urticaria, erysipelas is effectively
The plant is beneficial in the treatment of epilepsy and hysteria and in conditions
It checks the uterine bleeding, strengthens the uterus, averts the abortion and
The plant juice given along with rice water and rock candy, curbs the vomiting.
Rhizomes or underground stems wiry, bearing black, hard, ovoid tubers about 1 cm in
diameter. Above ground stem solitary, distinctly 3-angled. Leave as long as the stems.
Flowers: inflorescence umbel-type, simple or compound.
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Part /parts used: Rhizome.
Medicinal uses:
Skin diseases: Wash the diseased portion with the hot decoction.
Chest pains caused by deterred blood flow of blood and energy circulation: boil to
decoction.
Sprains and bruises, furuncle infections: Use pounded fresh material as poultice or
cook the pulverized drug material in vinegar and apply as hot poultice.
Indian Rosewood ; Kannada: Beeti,shista baage, agaru, bindi ; Hindi : Shisham, sisam.
93
Habitat: Extensively planted along the road sides.
about 15 cm long. Flowers are whitish to pink, fragrant, nearly sessile. Pods are
oblong, flat, thin and light brown.
Flowering period : During summer.
Part/ parts used: The leaves, bark, wood and roots are used.
Medicinal uses:
The bark is alternative and dried bark is haemostatic and bleeding piles,
The mucilage of its leaves mixed with sweet oil is used in excoriation.
Its leaves are warmed and tied over breast of women in swellings.
Leave juice mixed with sugar and curd is given to cure blood dysentery.
94
Taking decoction of leaves-10 gm of fresh tender leaves in four cup of water
boiled down to one cup and decanted –twice daily for three days , controls,
down to one cup and decanted-once in morning after breakfast reduces excessive
cup of water boiled down to two cups and decanted –cures vaginal wounds and
Description: It is a climbing shrub with stem 2-6 m tall. Leaves are ovate or ovate-
lance shaped, at first sparsely hairy, later hairless, base narrow, blunt, rounded, or
ovate-flat, tip pointed or long-pointed. Flowers arise in racemes in leaf axils. Fruit is
95
Medicinal uses:
Mucous obstruction of the nose is treated by draining the nostrils with an infusion
Leaves are cooked with salt to cure liver disorders like pit.
Herbarium no.: 5
Habitat: It grows in waste lands, along the roadside and railway lines, and in scrub-
jungles.
Description: The plant is an annual herb growing up to 3 ft. high. Oval to broad oval
leaves that are often dark violet as well. The pleasantly-scented flowers are
immensely varied, and can be single or double. Colors range from white to cream,
yellow, red, and violet. The seed capsule is covered with numerous conical humps and
a few spines.
Flowering period: Jun to July.
Medicinal uses :
96
The oil prepared by boiling the leaves, purified copper sulphate and coconut oil is
called Mathan thailam which is very effective external application for ulcers,
The seeds are ground with cows ghee and applied over the external pile mass.
The leaves are dried and given in dose of 30-100 mg for bronchial asthma.
The leaves are fried or heated and used for formentation in case of arthritis,
swellings etc.
The leaves along with rice paste and prepared as kali by baking. This is externally
applied over swellings of bones and joints, painful swellings of body, extenal pile
mass, and condition like neuro-fibromatosis.
The leaf juice, 1-2 drops is externally applied as ear drops for ear ache, and also be
During dysmenorrhoea, the leaves are boiled well in water and this is used to give
The juice of the fruit is applied over head for dandruff and hairfall.
Herbarium no.:402
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Description: It is a annual growing to 1.5, oval leaves which are deeply toothed and
pale-green.Flowers are large and purplish.The fruit is ellipsoid and seeds are
compressed.
Medicinal uses:
The leaves, flowering tops and seeds are anodyne, antiasthmatic, antispasmodic,
The plant is used internally in the treatment of asthma and Parkinson's disease,
The leaves can be used as a very powerful mind-altering drug, they contain
which has been used to calm schizoid patients. Atropine dilates the pupils and is
The leaves have been smoked as an antispasmodic in the treatment for asthma,
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Herbarium no.: 340
length of several meters. Tubers are rounded, not larger than a man's fist. Leaves are
simple, ovate, with a broad and prominently heart-shaped base. Flowers are long.
Medicinal uses :
Powdered tubers used as application for sores, piles and to stop diarrhea.
A folk remedy used to cure wounds, leucoderma and boils. Also, used as tonic,
It is used to treat diseases of the lungs, kidney, spleen and many types of diarrhea.
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Family: Cucurbitaceae
Leaves simple, alternate, 5 lobed, hairy above, pale and smooth beneath, margins
irregularly toothed, with unpleasant odour when crushed. Flowers white to yellowish.
Part /parts used: Whole plant and its leaves and seeds.
Medicinal uses:
It is considered bitter, aperient and tonic and it is commonly used for relieving
bilious attack. The leaves of the plant are applied topically for getting relief from
inflammations.
The women sometimes take the seeds in combination with other plant drugs for
The practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine use the plants fruit as an aphrodisiac and
tonic, while in Siddha; the entire plant is used for getting relief from constipation.
leucorrhoea etc).
100
Area of collection: Piplu ki dhar.
Bandare.
Habitat: Desert, Upland.
height. The leaves are variable in shape, from elongated to spoon- or wedge-shaped,
are sometimes reddish or purplish, The flowers, which grow at the ends of the
branches, are either male or female, and individual plants generally bear one or the
other.
Flowering period: Spring, Summer, Fall.
Medicinal uses:
The leaves and bark are used for fevers and to reduce swelling caused by
The fruit and bark have astringent qualities so are used to treat diarrhoea and to
The leaves are chewed for their stimulant qualities, although as they contain
saponins and the oil in them is cyanogenic, this is not advisable, although the
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The bark is sometimes used in poultices for swellings and headaches and is added
to baths.
qualities as well as being astringent and useful for skin rashes, toothache and sore
throats. A decoction or infusion can be made from them and the liquid applied to
Flowers white or blue or purple .Pods, broadly scimitar shaped, smooth and beaked by
the persistent style.
Flowering period: April and May.
Medicinal uses:
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In Tinea infection 20gm juice collected from leaves is applied twice daily to the
Herbarium no.: 25
Leaves: sessile, somewhat fleshy and clasping Flower: flowering heads are 12-24 cm
in length and long-peduncled, their branches are usually dichotomousFruits: achenes,
Medicinal uses:
The juice of the leaves is used in treating eye inflammations, night blindness, cuts
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The flower heads are chewed and kept in the mouth for about 10 minutes to protect
Herbarium no.:212
Description: It is tall, erect stems, 4 to 8 feet high, densely clothed with long, narrow,
purple.
Flowering period: In late summer.
Medicinal uses :
The roots and leaves have demulcent, tonic and astringent properties and are used
The dose of the herb is 30 to 60 grains. It has been recommended for its
asthma.
In ointment, it has been used locally as a remedy for infantile cutaneous affections.
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High in vitamin A and C, the young spring shoots are a nutritious vegetable.
A tea from the leaves tastes similar to black tea and is used to relieve stomach
aches.
Area of collection: Chabtura.
Herbarium no.:205
Medicinal uses:
Taking four teaspoonful of warm juice of phaleod leaves with a pinch of camphor
Taking four teaspoonful of warm juice of phaleod leaves, cures headache caused
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Occationally, a girl begins menstruating at a tender age, blood discharges
phaleod leaves for three days, during mensturation, cures the problem.
During menopause the excessive flow of blood is cured by taking two teaspoonful
of warm juice of phaleod leaves for three days, for three months.
Feeding 10-15 drops of juice of bark of roots of phaleod, mixed with a little milk,
Taking two teaspoonful of juice of phaleod leaves with 4-5 teaspoonful of milk of
Taking two teaspoonful of warmed juice of phaleod bark with milk twice its
to 1.5 meters high. Leaves are alternate and extremely variable in shape, most often
oblong-ovate. Bracts are leaflike, much smaller than the leaves; the lower part is red
and the upper, green. Involucres are clustered at the ends of the branches.
106
Flowering period : Throught the year.
Medicinal uses:
The aqueous extract showed significant anti-inflammatory activity which was not
dose-dependent.
by atropine (3) oxytocic effect from binding to oxytocic receptors, and (4)
The leaf extracts showed good antimicrobial activity against B subtilis, E. coli, S.
It is used for hay fever and catarrh; latex used for insect bites.
Herbarium no. : 16
107
Vernacular names: English: Common Spurge; Irula : Pasal geda; Tamil : Amman
Description: It is a slender- stemmed, annual hairy plant with many branches from
the base to top, spreading upto 40 cm in height, reddish or purplish in color. Leaves
are opposite, elliptic - oblong to oblong- lanceolate, acute or subacute, dark green
Medicinal uses:
Whole plant is used for the diseases of children in worms, bowel complaints and
cough.
The entire plant is given to nourishing woman when the supply of milk is deficient.
genitary tracts.
It is also used in post natal complaints, failure of lactation, breast pain and skin
eruptions.
Its about 20 leaves are crushed and their extract is given orally with honey once a
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Area of collection: Jhaniyari
Herbarium no.: 64
Description: It is a large cactus-like shrub, up to 5 m tall, with stout trunk and many
thick fleshy branches. Leaves are fleshy, spoon-shaped, 10-15 cm long. Flower-heads
are yellow-green, 3-4 in almost stalkless clusters in leaf axils. Fruit is 3-lobed.
Flowering period : March-May.
Medicinal uses:
The latex of the plant is a valuable source of in-genol esters. Ingol is a macrocyclic
The fresh latex has a rich sweet order. It is acrid and possesses cathartic and anti-
It is antihelmintic.
Its latex is used to cure wounds inside the ear, ear pain, cuts, fever, boils and
cough.
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Its latex is applied on internal wounds and strain.
ammam.
Habitat: It is found on dry and waste land.
longer. The oval-shaped leaves are with finely toothed edges. The inflorescence is a
cyathium less than 2 mm wide, with white petal-like appendages surrounding the
actual flowers.
Medicinal uses:
antigen.
Its extract on topical application significantly reduced the bleeding time. This
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Topical application of its extract has been shown to have significant wound healing
effect.
Apigenin and Luteolin inhibit basophil histamine release and neutrophil beta
Description: It is an erect ascending herb with woody base. Leaves are linear oblong
or wide, elliptic with acute round base. Flowers are blue or rarely white coloured.
The capsules are 4-valvate with usually 4-seeds. Seeds are glabros.
Flowering Period : Throughout the year.
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Medicinal uses:
It is used in leucoderma.
A decotion of the herb with Ocimum sanctum is given in fever associated with
diarrhea.
It is used in epilepsy.
Description: It is an attractive fig tree with a crooked trunk and a spreading crown. It
has red, furry figs in short clusters. The fig is actually a compartment carrying
hundreds of flowers.
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Flowering period: In winter.
Medicinal uses :
Roots are useful in hydrophobia whereas bark is acrid, cooling, galactagogue and
Fruits are astringent to bowels, styptic, tonic and useful in the treatment of
Leaves are astringent to bowels and good in case of bronchitis whereas fruits are
useful in treatment of dry cough, loss of voice, diseases of kidney and spleen.
The tender leaf buds are applied on the skin, in the form of paste, to improve the
complexion.
Herbarium no.: 27
113
Description: It is a large, fast growing deciduous tree. It has a heart shaped leaves.
The fruits of the Peepal are hidden with the figs. Its bark is light gray and peels in
Medicinal uses:
The bark is cooling and astringent and is useful in inflammations and glandular
swellings of neck.
Root bark is good for stomatitis, clean ulcers and it is astringent in leucorrhoea and
promotes granulations.
Ripe fruits are alexipharmic (an antidote or defensive remedy against poison,
venom or infection), are good for foul taste, thirst and heart disease. The powdered
fruit is taken for asthma.
The seeds are cooling, laxative and refrigerant. Seeds are useful in urinary troubles.
The leaves and young shoots together are purgative (strong laxative).
An infusion or decoction of the bark is used with some honey for the treatment of
Its power bark has been used to heal the wounds for years.
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Area of collection:Rangas.
the nodes and trifoliate leaves with ovate toothed leaflets.Bears yellow flowers in
Medicinal uses:
used in decoction or the fresh leaves can be crushed and applied externally as a
poultice.
A decoction of the plant is used as a poultice for abscesses, boils, burns etc.
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A tea made from the leaves can be used internally for diarrhoea, digestive upsets,
A decoction can be used externally (or the fresh leaves and fruit can also be
weeping eczema, ringworm, snake and insect bites and traumatic injuries.
A tea made from the leaves can be used internally for diarrhoea, digestive upsets,
Vernacular names: Garo: Pid-papra, Shahtra ; Hindi: Papara, Pit papra ; Malayalam:
Description: It is an annual herb of height: 10-60 cm. Stem erect. leaves at once
divided in 3 stalked segments cut in narrow leaf segments, one vein not very distinct
beneath. Later leaves alternate, blue-green, 1-4-pinnatisect with filiform segments.
Medicinal uses:
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Leaf powder is used locally as blood purifier.
Hindi. : Bannimbu.
Habitat: In thickets and secondary forests at low and medium altitudes, ascending to
1,100 meters
Description: It is a shrub growing 1 to 5 meters high. Leaves usually have 3 to 5
pinnately arranged leaflets, though these are sometimes reduced to one or two, all
forms being often found on the same plant. Flowers are small, white borne in axillary,
soliltary or paired, interrupted, narrow, cymose panicles which are 5 centimeters long
Medicinal uses:
Bitter juice of leaves used for fevers, liver complaints and intestinal worms,
especially in children.
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Paste of leaves, with a bit of ginger, applied to eczema and other skin diseases;
also, applied over the navel for worms and other bowel disorders.
Stems used as toothbrushes for its fibrous nature and slightly astringent and bitter
quality.
Area of collection: Galod
Herbarium no.: 7
81. Botanical name: Gnaphalium pensylvanicum Willd. Enum. Hort. Berol.
Family:Asteraceae
Description: Annual weed with green leaves whose undersides are covered with
thick, white hairs. Stems are of uniform size and also hairy. Small pink to purple
flowers.
Flowering period: December to May of next year.
Medicinal uses:
The leaf juice is mixed with coconut oil and rubbed on scalp for a month to delay
greying of hair.
Whole Gnaphalium plants can be used to treat cough, sputum and dyspnea.
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Used for dysentery, diarrhea, and coughing due to wind-cold evil. 9-15g.
Herbarium no.: 32
wide.
Flowering period: Feb-June.
Medicinal uses:
It is used as an abortifacient.
The whole plant juice along with three Piper nigrum Linn. and with lemon juice
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It is antihelminthic.
Stem and leaf extract are used for theuraptic purposes against bacteria.
Area of collection: Khas Galod
Herbarium no.: 221
Description: It is a shrub or small tree which can grow upto 12 feet high. Leaves with
serrated margins vary from broadly heart-shaped to obliquely ovate. The flowers are
yellow, and borne in densely crowded (rarely solitary) axillary cymes. The fruit is
Medicinal uses:
120
The fruit juice contains magnesium, iron, potassium, calcium, carbohydrates and
vitamins A and C.
demulcent.
It is astringent and aids digestion, and used as a remedy for stomach upsets and
indigestion.
The leaves are applied to skin to heal wounds, cuts and grazes and to relieve
irritation and painful rashes. They are thought to have an antibiotic effect.
The fruit and the juice have been employed for centuries to treat liver and gall
bladder problems, to purify the blood and regulate blood pressure and cholesterol
The fruit is said to help prevent coughs and colds and to relieve them
For skin problems, you should soak the bark overnight and then pound it and apply
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Habitat: A common weed in waste places and settled areas.
hollow, hairy. Leaves simple, not lobed or divided, alternate, spiral, or sometimes
basal ones opposite, stalked, ovate. Flowers bisexual, grouped together in a many-
flowered, terminal, elongated cyme, blue with a orange throat. Fruit nut-like.
Flowering period: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.
Medicinal uses:
Skin pruritus, scabies: use pounded fresh material (quantity sufficient combine
Concentrated decoction may also be used as external wash over afflicted area.
Decoction of leaves used for washing cuts and sores; also used for the treatment of
cholera.
Poultice of pounded leaves or bruised leaves applied to wounds and boils; also,
inflamed joints.
Juice of leaves used for facial acne, gum-boils, sores and wounds.
Decoction of leaves and flowers used as gargle for sore throats and tonsillitis.
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Flowers in small doses are emmenagogue; in large doses, abortive.
Herbarium no.: 80
leaves. The flowers are single, semi-double or double, and they come in white and
Medicinal uses:
It is also used in the treatment of itch and other skin diseases, dizziness and bloody
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It is used in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery, abdominal pain, leucorrhoea,
Vernacular names: English: Bush Morning Glory, Morning Glory Tree ; Marathi:
with milky juice. Leaves are ovate-triangular with a cordate base. Flowers are purple
coloured in many flowered cymes. Seeds are brown –villous.
Medicinal uses:
The leaves are warmed and tied over affected area in sprains and swellings.
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The milky juice of plant has been used for the treatment of Leucoderma and other
Herbarium no.: 23
Habitat: A weed of waste areas, disturbed sites, rainforest margins, open woodlands,
bushland, gardens.
Description: A vining perennial, twining and herbaceous, up to 4 meters long. Leaf
Medicinal uses:
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Family : Oleaceae
opposite or alternate. They can be simple, trifoliate, or pinnate. The flowers are white,
borne in cymose clusters The fruits of jasmines are berries that turn black when ripe.
Flowering Period : February-April
Medicinal uses :
The flowers are astringent and a tonic for the heart and bowels.
The bark is used as tooth-brush for cleaning and sparkling the teeth and also used
A paste made frm the flowers is considered effective in the treatment of intestinal
problems.
The milky juice of the plant is used for destroying the unhealthy lining walls of
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Herbarium no.: 47
Description: A diffuse, slender herb, with many divaricate branches, rooting at the
lower nodes. Leaves, elliptic or ovate, or lanceolate, usually obtuse. Flowers small,
Medicinal uses:
To treat chest pain, paste of leaves is mixed with butter and rubbed over affected
area.
It strengthens the lungs, the teeth, stops vomiting; good in diseases of the spleen.
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A mixture of powdered roots along with Cassia occidentalis, is given to prevented
rounded, wide, softly hairy on both sides, 5-angled or lobed. Flowers, white,large,
solitary, and monoecious or dioecious. Fruit is green, mottled with gray or white.
Medicinal uses:
Pulp used as purgative adjunct; also used for coughs, asthma, and poison antidote.
Crushed leaves used for baldness; applied to the head for headaches.
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Poultice of seeds used for boils.
Externally the pulp is applied as a poultice and cooling preparation to the shaved
head in cases of delirium and applied to the soles in burning of the feet.
Seed oil used as emollient application to the head and as a means of relieving
Habitat: It may vary from well drained to occasionally flooded but not peat soil.
Medicinal use:
The fruits are used as a local application for aphthae of the mouth.
129
The seeds are narcotic.
All parts of the plant, particularly old leaves and ripe fruits, contain hypoglycaemic
branches 4 angled, usually ending in a sharp point. Leaves opposite, and sharp-
pointed. Flowers small, white or pinkish, fragrant, in terminal large bunches. Fruit
Medicinal use:
The flowers are usually white and have a fragrance which is used in perfumes, and
they are also steeped in vinegar and then applied in a poultice to foreheads to
relieve headaches.
130
Henna is used on feet to relieve the prickly, burning sensation in winter on the
soles of feet.
The roots are used in traditional medicine to treat gonorrhea and to increase a
woman’s fertility, while made into a decoction they are used as a diuretic and for
bronchitis.
The leaves and flowers is used externally for skin problems, rheumatism and taken
The leaves are also used to treat leprosy, jaundice and scurvy (vitamin c
bring on a period.
A decoction of the leaves is given to relieve abdominal pains after childbirth too.
In some countries a tisane of the leaves is given to people who are obese to aid
weight loss.
Area of collection: Chabutra
Deutsch: Schutt-Kresse.
Habitat: Yards, gardens, edges of streets, paths, market squares, fields, waste ground,
occasionally railways.
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Description: Annual herb with height 10–20 cm. Leaves: Alternate, lowest soon
falling, central and upper leaves stalkless. Flower: Corolla regular, very small. Fruit:
Medicinal uses:
An aqueous extract of the herb causes a drop in blood pressure and depresses
respiration.
Area of collection: Jalari
Herbarium no.: 51
Gujarat : kubi.
Habitat: Found as a weed in cultivated fields, wastelands.
Description: An annual, erect stout herb, about 0.6-0.9 m in high . Leaf - Yellowish-
Medicinal uses:
132
It is used fevers and urinary tract infections.
The flowers mixed in honey is used as domestic remedy for cough and colds.
Dronpushpi is valuable homoeopathic drug and as such is used for the treatment of
Shendri.
Habitat: It is found near the cultivated bed at low altitude.
Description: Evergreen tree up to 12 m tall. Trunk is straight, often fluted, bark pale
grey, smooth when young. Leaves simple, alternate and spiral, with minute red
glandular hairs below, elliptic to narrowly ovate, apex acuminate, base acute with 2
Part / Parts used: The leaves, fruits and seed oil are used.
Medicinal uses:
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Fruit is heating, Purgative, anthelmintic, vulnerary, detergent, maturant,
The crushed glandular hairs of its fruit is known as ‘kamela’ powder is used as
anthelmintic, cathartic and styptic.This powder is mixed with sweet oil, is used as
The fruit powder of this plant along with curd is given as wormicide.
are ovate or ovate-elliptic 3-nerved from base. Flowers are yellow. Fruit is about 6
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Parts used: Leaves .
Medicinal uses:
Vernacular names: English: Chinaberry tree, Persian lilac, Pride of India, Bead tree,
feet in height. Leaves are alternate and 2 to 3 times compound. Leaflets have serrated
edges and are 1 to 3 inches long.Flowers are yellow to yellow-green round drupes.
Part /parts used: Fruits, leaves, bark of roots and bark of trunk.
Medicinal uses:
Root bark used as vermifuge; also used for intermittent fevers and dysentery.
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Root bark used for malaria.
Infusion of bark used as febrifuge especially for periodic fevers; also, for thirst and
nausea.
Internally, infusion of fresh leaves used as a bitter vegetable tonic and alterative.
(The stools noticed to become a brilliant yellow after use.) Infusion also used for
infections.
emmenagogue.
Paste of flowers used to destroy headlice and associated scalp eruptions. Also, used
Fruit used as purgative and emollient; useful for intestinal worms, urinary
Fruit is considered both tonic and poisonous, and used for leprosy and scrofula; the
fruit pulp used as anthelmintic. (The pulp of the fruit, mixed with grease, is
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Area of collection:Jamnoti.
Habitat: It is typically seen in the wastelands. It has been most frequently observed to
pinkish. Flowers occur in terminal clusters. Leaves are ovate, rounded or very slightly
Medicinal uses:
The leaves are used to reduce ulcers, abdominal swelling, and headache and chest
pain.
The plants, its roots and leaves can help with snakebites.
A simple decoction of the leaves is used to stop vomiting and as a mixture for
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Area of collection: Dusarka
Habitat: Found growing in waste places, usually in damp soils and sunny positions.
Description : Perennial herb with creeping root system, sends up erect, square stems
to about 2 feet high. The leaves are short-stalked, lance-shaped, wrinkled, and bright
green, with finely serrate edges. The small flowers are arranged in whorls or rings on
Medicinal uses:
Externally the stems are crushed and used as a medicinal poultice on bruises.
The essential oil in the leaves, is a great rub for stiffness, muscle soreness and
rheumatism.
The oil also a powerful antiseptic and should not be taken in large doses.
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Area of collection: Samtana
Herbarium no.: 1
Habitat: It is cultivated.
Description: It is 10 to 20 cm. long, tapering at the ends and covered with blunt
tubercles. The seeds are white in raw fruits and become red when they are ripe.
Flowering period: Summer.
Medicinal uses:
• The bitter gourd is specifically used as a folk medicine for diabetes.
• Juice of the fresh leaves of bitter gourd is valuable in piles.
• It is highly beneficial in the treatment of blood disorders like blood boils, scabies,
times.
• Leaf juice is beneficial in the treatment of alcoholism.
• Fresh juice of leaves of bitter gourd is also an effective medicine in early stages of
Herbarium no.: 2
139
101. Botanical name: Moringa Oleifera Lamk.
Family: Moringaceae
feathery, pale green, compound, tripinnate, with many small leaflets. Flowers fragrant,
parts .
Flowering period: In spring.
Medicinal uses :
The root bark used for poor circulation, to increase appetite and stimulate digestive
Root bark is ground and mixed with salt to form a poultice which is administered
for rheumatism and muscular pains, and the bark is considered as antiscorbic.
and they are rich in Vitamin A, C and D. They are useful in scurvy, wounds,
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The leaf of Moringa is 7 times vitamin C of the orange, 4 times Calcium of the
milk, 4 times vitamin A of the carrots, 3 times potassium of bananas and 2 times
Moringa as tonic for children; prepare a cupful of moringa fresh leaf juice or 5-10
grams of powdered leaves, heat it – water bath temperature. Such glass of juice is
For high acidity of the urine, myxoedema, toxaemia of pregnant women, dropsy
due heart, liver, kidney disorders, hypertension, constipation, excessive thirsty due
to diabetes; make a mixture of leaf powder or fresh leaves, carrot and cucumber
juice, warm it to water bath temperature along with a little amount of water and
drink 2-3 glasses twice a day.
Moringa contracts uterine muscles, eases child bath, prevents sluggishness, and
For poor memory, night blindness, poor hearing, hiccups, vertigo, bleeding piles,
indigestion and morning sickness; prepare the juice out of powdered Moringa
For syncope; Squeezed juice out of fresh leaf is used as a nasal drop.
Area of collection: Gujran da gam
Herbarium no.:123
141
Vernacular names: English: Cowitch Plant (Kuhili); Sanskrit and Hindi: Kavach,
Description: The plant is an annual, climbing shrub with long vines that can reach
over 15 m in length. The leaves are tripinnate, ovate, reverse ovate, rhombus-shaped
or widely ovate. The flowers are white, lavender or purple. Its seed pods are covered
Medicinal uses:
The pods are anthelmintic and considered most active against Taenia caunia and T.
paraphistomum.
The plant and its extracts have been long used in tribal communities as a toxin
Seeds have also been found to have antidepressant properties in cases of depressive
Formulations of the seed powder have shown promise in the management and
The hairs lining the seed pods and the small spicules on the leaves and the calyx
below the flowers is also a source of itchy spicules and the stinging hairs on the
142
The roots are diurectic and nervine tonic and their decoction is beneficial in urinary
problems.
Roots are powdered and made into a paste that is applied to the body in dropsy.
A piece of cloth dipped in decoction of its roots is inserted in vasina as, yoni
The piece of root is also tied over wrist in dropsy and seeds are applied over
scorpion stings.
The hair after prolonged heating are used in form of an infusion in case of gall and
liver disorders.
Area of collection: Piplu ki dhar.
Karivempu, Karuveppilei.
Habitat: Found on pasture lands.
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Description: It is a small tree, growing 4–6 m tall, with a trunk up to 40 cm diameter.
The leaves are pinnate, with leaflets. They are highly aromatic. The flowers are small,
Medicinal uses:
The leaves, the bark and the roots can be used as a tonic and a stomachic.
The bark and the roots are used as a stimulant by the physicians.
They are also used externally to cure eruptions and the bites of poisonous animals.
The green leaves are stated to be eaten raw for curing dysentery, and the infusion
of the washed leaves stops vomiting. Traditional Used:
Gastrointestinal Diseases
Area of collection: Lambloo.
Habitats: Roadsides and near streams. Hedgerows, borders of fields, dry banks and
waste ground.
Description: It is an aromatic perennial herb that grows to 1 metre. The stems are
erect, square and branching. Serrated ovate leaves have a down covered underside
with a hairy upper surface, giving them a grey-green appearance. They are arranged in
144
an opposite fashion. Small flowers ranging from white to pale blue with crimson
Medicinal uses:
A decoction of catnip is sweetened with honey and taken for relieving coughs and
colds, easing gas, spasm, colic, hemorrhoids and allergies, and considered good in
The oil or a poultice of the leaves is administered for treating bruises, scalp
It is also very useful in the treatment of restlessness and nervousness, being very
useful as a mild nervine for children. The infusion is also applied externally to
Herbarium no.: 99
145
Vernacular names: English: Oleander ; Hindi: Kaner ; Manipuri: Kabirei ; Tamil:
A sticky latex is exuded if the stem is cut. Leaves are usually in groups of three and
narrowly lanceolate. The flowers are tubular with five lobes, red or pink in the wild,
Medicinal uses:
Crush leaves, mixed with oil and apply on lesions. Do not apply on raw surface.
Ringworm: Chop a foot long branch and mix with 1 cup chopped fresh young
leaves. Mix the juice with 5 drops of fresh coconut oil. Apply 3 times daily.
Snake bites: Pound 10 leaves and a piece of branch. Apply poultice to the wound.
abortifacient.
Leaves and bark used externally for eczema, snake bites and as insecticide;
146
Dried leaves used as sternutatory.
Vernacular names: Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali : Barbari tulsi; Marathi : Tulasa ; Tamil
slightly hairy stem and ovate, entire to slightly toothed leaves. Leaves vary in color:
from bright green to dark purple. Flowers also vary in color: white, pink or red.
Flowering period: Aug to September.
Medicinal uses:
Basil oil is a good tonic for the treatment of nervous disorders and stress related
It is used to clear the mind and relieve intellectual fatigue, while giving clarity and
mental strength.
It has a beneficial action on the respiratory tract and is often used for asthma,
147
It furthermore is also effective in cases of constipation, nausea, vomiting and
cramp,
Due to the emmenagogue properties, it is often used to relieve scanty periods and
normalizing menses.
It helps to minimize uric acid in the blood, thus relieving gout. It is useful in
arthritis.
Herbarium no.: 59
Vernacular names: English : Holy Basil; Hindi: Kali Tulsi, Manjari, Ram tulsi.
Habitat: warm weather regions and flourishes in areas where the weather is warm for
a much longer time. They also require ample amounts of water to thrive.
148
Description: This annual plant grows to a height of 2 feet. Its leaves are tiny and
fuzzy and and have beautiful violet or white flowers, having a sweet scent resembling
Medicinal uses:
The herb has known antibacterial, anti fungal, and antiviral properties and acts like
The herb can be used to treat colds, fevers, parasitic infestations on the body and
The traditional medicine recognized its value in the treatment of fevers, dysentary
It was used as an insect repellent to counter the insect damages post harvest.
149
Vernacular names: English : Indian sorrel; Hindi : Tinapatiya, Amrulsak; Malayalam
: Puliyaral, Puliyarila.
Habitat: It is commonly found in moist and cultivated places, open land and
branches. Leaves are trifoliate ,long petioled and stipulate;leaflets are obcordate.The
flowers are yellow and borne in 2-8 flowered umbeliform inflorescence.The fruits are
Part /parts used: Whole plant and its leaves are used.
Medicinal uses:
The entire plant is considered antiscorbutic and its fresh juice is used in anaemia
and piles.
An infusion of leaves is used to cure opacity of the cornea and their juice is given
treatment of scurvy.
The leaves are used as an antidote to poisoning by the seeds of Datura spp., arsenic
and mercury.
150
The leaf juice is applied to insect bites, burns and skin eruptions. It has an
antibacterial activity.
Area of collection: Bakhroon.
Herbarium no.: 47
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated land and waste places, avoiding acid soils.
Becoming far less frequent on cultivated land due to modern agricultural practices.
Description: Papaver rhoeas is an annual growing to 0.6 m. The flowers are red, pink,
Medicinal uses:
The flowers of poppy have a long history of medicinal usage, especially for
ailments in the elderly and children. Chiefly employed as a mild pain reliever and
It also helps to reduce nervous over-activity. Unlike the related opium poppy (P.
somniferum) it is non-addictive.
151
treatment of bronchial complaints and coughs, insomnia, poor digestion, nervous
The flowers are also used in the treatment of jaundice. The petals are harvested as
the flowers open and are dried for later use. They should be collected on a dry day
The latex in the seedpods is narcotic and slightly sedative. It can be used in very
The leaves and seeds are tonic. They are useful in the treatment of low fevers.
Medicinal uses:
152
Leaves and roots used in poultices for boils and itches.
Roots, pulverized and mixed with ginger and rice water, used for dropsy.
Roots are aperient and tonic; frequently prescribed in visceral obstructions; along
with ginger and rice water, useful in ascites and renal dropsy. Local fomentation
It is used as diuretic agent and used for visceral obstruction, urinary disease,
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Habitat: Found in central and southern India.It is frequently found on waste land.
Description: The plant, reaching around 2 feet.The leaves are large at the tip and
smaller towards the petiole. Flowers are greenish white, minute and appear at axiles of
the leaves, as well as the seed capsules. Numerous small green-red fruits, round and
smooth, are found along the underside of the stems, which are erect and red.
Flowering period : July to August.
Medicinal uses:
Fruits useful for tubercular ulcers, wounds, sores, scabies and ringworm.
A poultice of the leaves with salt cures scabby affection and without salt applied
Infusions of the leaf are taken for jaundice, gonorrhea and urinary tract infection,
leaf and root are drunk for dyspepsia, colic, cough, indigestion, diabetes and also
made into a poultice with rice water which is used to lessen edema and skin ulcers.
It possesses cooling effects, and alkaloids, essential oil, resins and nitrates.
Root produced good result on body, lepsory and ring worm and hair treatment.
This root extract mix with body massage oil, hair oil and body lotion.
154
Use of Bhuiamla in eliminating renal stones
Herbarium no.:100
Description: An erect, branched, hairy annual herb, growing up to 0.8 meters high.
Leaves are ovate, with pointed tips, rounded or slightly heart-shaped base, nearly
entire or faintly undulately lobed margins. Flowers are solitary and axillary. The fruit
Medicinal uses:
155
Poultice of leaves, oiled and heated, applied to ulcers.
Used for colds and fever, swelling pain of the throat, bronchitis.
Plant paste made with rice water used to restore flaccid breasts.
Dosage: use 15 to 30 gms dried material in decoction. Pounded fresh material may
be used aspoultice or decoction of the same may be used as wash for eczema
infection.
Juice of leaves, mixed with mustard oil and water, used for earaches.
Herbarium no.: 96
kakarsinghi.
Habitat: Shows a preference for dry slopes with shallow soils.
156
Flowering period: March-May.
Medicinal uses:
The galls are aromatic, astringent and expectorant and are valued as a remedy for
The galls, are also used in fever, vomitting, loss of apetite, nose bleeding, snake
Herbarium no.:134
Habitat: Found in many different habitats, most commonly in wet areas like seepages
or bogs.
Description: It is an annual herb that grows to a height of 12 to 18 in. Leaves are
born alternately opposite, linear or linear lanceolate on the stem. A large number of
flowering shoots arise from the base of the plant. Flowers are numerous, small, and
157
Flowering period: Plants flower about 60 days after planting.
Medicinal uses:
Externally, a poultice of the leaves is useful for insect bites, poison-ivy rashes,
Plantain seed husks expand and become mucilaginous when wet, which is used in
Metamucil.
Mucilage is obtained by grinding off the husk. This mucilage, also known as
Description : A pretty perennial shrub with semi woody stems and numerous
branches. Leaves simple alternate, oblong-lanceolate and acute; flower red, in long
158
terminal spikes. Roots are cylindrical irregularly bent having transverse shallow
fissures at bents.
Flowering period: In Winter.
Medicinal uses :
Locally it is vasicant.
Plumbagin stimulates the central nervous system in small doses, while with larger
doses paralysis sets in leading ultimately to death. The blood pressure shows a
slight fall.
In small doses, the drug is a sudorific; large doses cause death from respiratory
failure.
A liniment made from bruised root mixed with a little bland oil is used as a
rubefacient in rheumatism, paralytic affections, in enlarged glands, buboes etc.
This herb cures certain cases of leucoderma. It is also useful for other skin diseases
Scraped root is introduced into the mouth of the womb to procure illegal abortion.
It will expel the fetus from the womb whether dead or alive.
159
Area of collection: Paniyali.
Medicinal uses:
160
Local name: Goddu
Medicinal uses:
The leaves are diuretic, used in dysuria and externally applied in erysipelas.
Plant used in skin diseases and diseases of the kidneys, bladder and lungs.
Seeds and leaves used for asthma, cough, urinary discharges, inflammations and
ulcers.
Leaves and seeds are used to treat infections or bleeding of the genito-urinary
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Vernacular name: Hindi: Dalim, Anar, Bedana; English name: Pomegrante.
Habitat: Himalayas in northern India and has been found in cultivated beds .
cluster.
Flowering period: Jun to September.
Medicinal Uses:
The bark of the stem and root contains several alkaloids including isopelletierine
which is active against tapeworms. Either a decoction of the bark, which is very
Because of their tannin content, extracts of the bark, leaves, immature fruit and
fruit rind have been given as astringents to halt diarrhea, dysentery and
hemorrhages.
Leaves, seeds, roots and bark have displayed hypotensive, antispasmodic and
It is used externally in the treatment of vaginal discharges, mouth sores and throat
infections.
The dried rind of the fruit is used in the treatment of amoebic dysentery, diarrhoea
etc.
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The dried pericarp is decocted with other herbs and used in the treatment of colic,
leucorrhoea.
The fruit is used as a mild astringent and refrigerant in some fevers and especially
in biliousness.
Area of collection: Thapal.
Vernacular name:-
Habitat: It is found on grassy grounds.
approximate.
Flowering period: September-October.
Medicinal uses:
In case of bone fracture the fresh leaf juice with sesamum oil is applied.
In rat and dog bite the plant paste is applied in the area.
163
Stem is used as tooth brush.
The ash of burnt plant is mixed with water and taken for flatulence and applied to
Vernacular names: English: Cypress vine, Star glory, Hummingbird vine, Cardinal
Indian pink.
Habitat: It is cultivated ornamently.
Leaves are ovate, 4 to 7 centimeters long, dark green, and pinnately divided into
numerous, linear, distant segments. Fruit is a capsule, ovoid, with smooth, black seeds.
Flowering period: In winter.
Medicinal uses:
164
Seeds reportedly used as laxative
Powdered roots used as sternutatory; pounded leaves used for hemorrhoids, ulcers -
roots are considered an effective sternutatory and the latex used for coryza.
Leaves used for piles and diabetes; the leaf and stem decoction used for fever.
simple, obovate, wrinkled, shiny and pubescent. Flowers white, fragrant, solitary,
seen on at the end of short branches. Fruits globose, smooth berries with longitudinal
ribs; yellow when ripe. Seeds many, compressed, embedded in the dark fetid pulp.
Flowering period: December- January.
Medicinal uses:
165
The pulp of the fruit act as emetic. It is nausceant, expectorant and act as
antihelminthic.
Herbarium no.: 18
Family: Ranunculaceae
stems are smaller in size. Seeds are kidney-shaped with short beaks.
Flowering period: May to September.
Medicinal uses:
166
The whole plant is acrid, anodyne, antispasmodic, diaphoretic and emmenagogue
and rubefacient. When bruised and applied to the skin it raises a blister and creates
The seed is tonic and is used in the treatment of colds, general debility, rheumatism
and spermatorrhoea.
cm to 1.8 meters in height. They can have red, pink, green and even black skin, and
white or red fleshy part. Leaves are rough, green and lobed, toothed along the
margins. Flowers are cross-shaped varying in color: white, violet, pink or purple.
Flowering period: Jun to August.
Medicinal use:
167
It is considered to be an antiseptic, antirheumatic, appetite stimulant, diuretic,
It has been used in folk medicine in cases where bile stimulation is needed, and
juice made from the root has been used against stomach disorders.
Herbarium no.: 13
Description: Sarpgandha is a climbing evergreen shrub, 1-3 feet tall, with elliptical
leaves, red or whit color flowers placed in bunches. The root is crooked in shape,
Medicinal uses:
Roots powder measuring 0.6 gm to 1.25 gm should taken before going to bed.
gm should be mixed in goat’s milk and taken before going to bed. Before taking
168
the powder, one must ensure to have blood pressure examined. Its consumption is
To counter hysteria, one should take 1 gm powder with milk thrice a day.
Half teaspoon of the powder should be taken each day is effective in relieving
Nerves relaxation-It is mixed with licorice, gotu kola, brahmi and jatamasi to calm
It improves the circulatory system and dilates the blood vessel and allows easy
flow of blood.
inflammations.
169
Description: It is an evergreen herbaceous or semi-woody large shrub or small tree
that reaches 5 meters tall and 4.5 m wide. leaves alternate, orbicular, palmately
Medicinal use:
The leaves have Anti-vatha properties.The leaves can either be given as decoction
or surasam.
The leaves are made into small pieces,then fried in castoroil and used for
The leaves are heated and applied over the breast as a bandage to induce milk
For painful abdomen due to constipation, amenorrhoea etc, castor oil is gently
applied externally over lower abdomen. Also the heated leaves of this plant should
The roots are crushed and prepared as decoction and given for 3-5 days in case of
The oil prepared from seeds is castor oil.This oil is used to induce purgation in case
170
For increased iyam or kapha conditions,cough,bronchial asthma etc, 2 parts of
castor oil and 1 part of honey is mixed well and given internally to induce
Vernacular names: English: Musk Rose ; Hindi: Ban gulab ; Oriya: shatapatri ;
Sanskrit: kubjaka.
Habitat: Found in cultivated beds for ornamental purposes.
scent, emanating from the stamens. The prickles on the stems are straight or slightly
curved and have a broad base. The light- or greyish-green leaves have 5 to 7 ovate
Medicinal uses:
Fresh rose petals are more bitter than dried ones, which tend to be more astringent,
The decoction of red roses made with wine and used, is very good for the headach,
and pains in the eyes, ears, throat, and gums, as also for the fundament, the lower
171
The same decoction with the Roses remaining in it is profitably applyed to the
region of the heart to eas the Inflamation therin; as also St. Anthonies fire, and
Being dried and beaten to powder, and taken in steeled wine or water, it helpeth to
stay womens courses. rose petals astringency has been employed to stop bleeding
Teas or decoctions have been used to treat colds, bronchial infections, gastritis,
Externally, they have been used to treat eye infections (eye wash), sore throats,
laryngitis and stomatitis (gargle) as well as minor injuries and skin problems.
Rosewater was also much used, especially to treat sore and inflamed eyes and also
Rose oil is said to ally emotional pain that arises from insecurity and lack of self-
Herbarium no.: 21
172
Description: It is a herb-50cm tall. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, sheathing.
Medicinal uses:
It is a detoxifying herb, the fresh juice of the leaves having a pronounced diuretic
effect.
It is mildly laxative and holds out potential as a long term treatment for chronic
The whole plant, used in the fresh state, is diaphoretic, diuretic and refrigerant.
A tea made from the leaves is used in the treatment of fevers, inflammation and
scurvy.
The leaf juice is useful in the treatment of urinary and kidney diseases.
A leaf poultice is applied to tumours, cysts etc, and is a folk treatment for cancer.
A tea made from the roots is astringent and is used in the treatment of diarrhoea
173
Habitat: A common roadside weed. It grows in disturbed habitat, often in moist areas,
Medicinal uses:
laxative agents.
The pollutice of roots is applied to skin itch, ulcers and skin diseases.
174
Description: It is Low richly branching shrub. Leaves with petioles of the same
length as the balde; blade hastate, extremely variable in length and breadth, glaucous.
Medicinal uses:
Used in stomachache.
The leaf extract of plant are applied on wounds and cuts to check bleeding.
Root is laxative alternative, tonic, and anti rheumatic and can be used in skin
disease.
The fresh tuber is chewed to relieve aches in the throat.The leaf extract of plant are
applied
Its roots and shoots are used in antiviral and antibacterial activities.
Decoction of its roots and Qurcus leuctrichopra bark cooked with wheat floor
,sugar and ghee is given twice a day for 4-5 days in backache, asthama and
rheumatism.
Area of collection: Baderar.
175
Family: Asteraceae
long cottony stalks in open clusters on stems 2-5.5 ft. Flower-heads are, with bracts
lanceshaped, long-pointed. Upper leaves are oblong, entire or toothed. Lower ones are
Medicinal uses:
It is used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, cough with cold, stomach-ache,
dysmenorrhoeal, and altitude sickness and has been found to have anti-
Herbarium no.: 17
176
Vernacular names: Hindi-Jaint, Jayanti; English- common sesban, Aegyptian Rattle
pod.
Habitat: Grows in a wide range of soils from loose sands to heavy clays.
straw-coloured, often with a brown or reddish-brown blotch over each septum, 10-15
seeded, glabrous .
Flowering period: In rainy season.
Medicinal uses:
Fresh root and poultices of leaves have been used for scorpion stings, boils,
seeds.
tapeworms and roundworms in humans. A mixture of ground seed and flour made
The concoction of leaves, barks and roots called "Mubimba" that they use to treat a
wide range of diseases including sore throat, gonorrhoea, syphilis, yaws, fits and
jaundice.
177
Herbarium no.: 19
flowers yellowish white, solitary, found in leaf axils. Fruits schizocarp, enclosed
Medicinal uses:
Plant pacifies vitiated vata, pitta, pain, arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, burning
rheumatism.
178
Causes a sharp and well marked rise of blood pressure in anaesthetized or
Vernacular names: English: Cuban jute, Jelly leaf, Queensland hemp ; Hindi:
camps or rabbit warrens, but can be competitive in pasture, due to its unpalatability to
livestock.
Description: A summer annual with yellow flowers and very small spines at the base
of each leaf and branch. Leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. The leaves
have toothed or serrated margins while the remainder of the leaves are untoothed.
179
Part /parts used: Roots, leaves.
Medicinal uses:
Plant used for poulticing ulcers, boils, swellings, broken bone, cuts, herpes.
Pulped leaves with Blumea balsifera (dalapot) applied externally for headaches,
Plant parts with coconut oil applied externally for itches and scurf.
The roots when crushed with ginger, held in the mouth, for toothaches.
Fresh leaves are mucilaginous and emollinet and a cataplasm used to promote
maturation of abscesses.
Crushed roots held in mouth for toothaces; also, chewed with ginger.
Kattiri.
cm tall, with large, coarsely lobed leaves. The stem is often spiny. The flower is white
to purple, with a five-lobed corolla and yellow stamens. The fruit is fleshy, has a
meaty texture.
Flowering period: From Jul to September .
Medicinal uses:
The fruit helps to lower blood cholesterol levels and is suitable as part of a diet to
poisonous mushrooms.
It is bruised with vinegar and used as a poultice for cracked nipples, abscesses and
haemorrhoids.
The leaves are narcotic. A decoction is applied to discharging sores and internal
haemorrhages.
A soothing and emollient poultice for the treatment of burns, abscesses, cold sores
181
The ashes of the peduncle are used in the treatment of intestinal haemorrhages,
Herbarium no.: 17
Kakmachi.
Habitat : Grows as a weed all over dry parts of India.
lobed narrowed at both ends; the flowers are white, in drooping umbel-like 3-8
clusters; the berries are red, yellow and black round, the seeds are discoid. smooth,
Medicinal uses :
Taken internally in very small amounts, the leaves strongly promote perspiration
The juice of the fresh herb is sometimes used for fever and to allay pain.
Externally, the juice or an ointment prepared from the leaves can be used for skin
The fruit is used as a cosmetic; rubbing the seeds on the cheeks to remove freckles.
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Children harmlessly and extensively eat the mature fruit. The fruit has been used
for diabetes.
Decoction of stalk, leaves, roots are good for wounds and cancerous sores.
Freshly prepared extract of the plant is effective in the treatment of cirrhosis of the
liver.
Herbarium no.:222
Kantakari.
Habitat: Throughout India, in dry situtations as weed on roadside and wastelands.
Description: Annual, perennial, or tropical herbs or vines with alternate leaves and a
watery sap. The flowers are in cymes or solitary, perfect, showy, 4-5 parted, with thick
Medicinal uses:
The dried fruit powder is used as an internal medicine and the oil extracted is used
183
Useful in cough, asthama, chronic rhinitis, dropsy, acute bronchitis and fever
accompanied with chest affections. It is one of the main ingredients of the drug
A paste of seeds in molasses is applied on the eyes of cows and buffaloes to cure
cataract.
The root and leaf decoction is used in kibe. The plant is reported to possess
Stem, flowers and fruits are bitter and carminative. They are prescribed for relief in
The juice of berries is used in sore-throat. Like roots, seeds are also administered as
The plant is credited with diuretic properties and is used to cure dropsy.
Its juice is mixed with whey, chiretta , and ginger and given in fevers.
The juice of the leaves, mixed with black pepper, is prescribed in rheumatism.
Area of collection: Man khad.
184
Family: Solanaceae
Vernacular names: Bengoli: Tit Begun, Gotha Begun, Hat Begun ; Sanskrit: swet
brihati.
Habitat: It occurs along the streams.
are covered with short, scattered spines, and in most parts with stellate-shaped hairs.
Medicinal uses:
For stomach ache, pain caused by contusion, internal bruise on the belly muscle -
Plant is considered sudorific, diuretic, narcotic and as resolutive, and used for
Leaf juice used to reduce body heat and unripe fruits used to strengthen the body.
185
Area of collection : Suker khad
Herbarium no. : 2
Vernacular names: English: Field Sow-Thistle, Corn Sow Thistle, Dindle, Field
Sow Thistle, Gutweed, Swine Thistle, Tree Sow Thistle ; Bengali: banpalang ; Hindi:
tamaku.
Habitat: In waste places, along trails, in old gardens and on talus slopes.
Description: Perennial herbaceous plant, 2 - 5' tall erect, single stem, branches near
the top into several flower stalks. Broken stems emit a sticky milky bitter juice with a
sour odor.Leaves are Alternate, lower leaves are deeply lobed, upper leaves clasp the
stem; similar to dandelion leaves except with teeth ending in small weak
Medicinal uses :
used for body pain, diarrhea, dysentery, fever, leucorrhea, leprosy, white spots of
the skin, and ringworm.
The leaves are used as a poultice and are said to have anti-inflammatory activity.
An infusion of the leaves has been used in the treatment of caked breasts.
186
A tea made from the roots is used in the treatment of asthma, coughs and other
chest complaints.
Vernacular names: English: Java plum ; Hindi: Jamun ; Manipuri: Jam ; Tamil:
Nagai.
Habitat: It is found in natural habitats in forests.
Description: An evergreen tropical tree 50 to 100 ft. tall, with oblong opposite leaves
that are smooth, glossy; they have a turpentine smell.The bark is scaly gray and the
trunk forks into multiple trunks about 3 - 5' from the ground. Jamun has fragrant white
flowers in branched clusters at stem tips and purplish-black oval edible berries.
Flowering period: In summer.
Medicinal uses:
The bark and seed for diabetes which reduce the blood sugar level quickly,
187
The whole leaves are used by women as a feminine sitz-bath to shrink the vagina
after giving birth and getting rid of mucus and odors. This bath from the Jamun
Marathi : Jhenduphool .
Description: Erect annual herb up to 180 cm tall. Leaves opposite in lower part of
plant, alternate in upper part, pinnately compound with 9–17 leaflets; Inflorescence a
solitary terminal head. Fruit an angular achene ,long, black, glabrous or finely hispid,
with pappus of basally connate scales.
Medicinal uses:
colic, severe constipation, dysentery, cough and fever, and externally to treat sores,
188
Roots are eaten with oysternut (Telfairia pedata) to relieve pain in the sexual
organs.
Herbarium no. : 53
; Urdu: Bathur.
Habitat: It grows in grasslands.
are oblanceolate, oblong, or obovate in shape with the bases gradually narrowing to
the petiole.The flowers are yellow or orange-yellow in color. The fruits with slender
beaks.
Flowering period: From March until October .
Medicinal uses:
The leaves are high in vitamin A, vitamin C and iron, carrying more iron and
189
Flowers are used to make a honey substitute syrup with added lemon. This
The plant is known for its ability to treat jaundice, cholecystitis and cirrhosis.
Also affects the digestive system by acting as a mild laxative, increasing appetite,
Description: It is a small tree having a hight of 4 meters and leaves are opposite,
apex. The base is acute or acuminate and the margins serrate.The flowers born in
Medicinal uses:
190
A grinding of the root and lemon juice is used as a remedy for snake bite, rat bite
Description: A much branched perennial, grows 30-60 cm in height. The leaves are
imparipinnate, leaflets 12-21, lanceolate. The flowers, purple, in racemes. The fruits
Medicinal uses:
In edema, skin disorders, glandular swellings like cervical adenitis and filariasis,
The root powder is salutary for brushing the teeth. It quickly relieves the dental
The seed-oil is applied externally in various skin diseases like scabies, eczema etc.
191
In glandular swelling, the root mashed with rice water is used in the form of nasal
hemorrhoids, worms, liver and spleen disorders. In such conditions, the roots or
The powder of whole plant is given with sugar and water in jaundice. Sarapunkha
market.
The roots are of great help in dysmenorrheal. Sarapunkha renders a diuretic action
infections. Ascites due to splenic pathogenesis responds well, when the root
The pulp of its roots given with buttermilk reduces the enlarged liver and spleen
very effectively.
The decoction of its roots is given with marica powder, as an adjunct in diabetes.
192
144. Botanical name: Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight & Arn.
Family: Combretaceae
Description: It is about 20-25 metres tall; usually has a buttressed trunk, and forms a
wide canopy at the crown, from which branches drop downwards. It has oblong,
conical leaves which are green on the top and brown below; smooth, grey bark; it has
Medicinal uses:
disease.
the heart).
193
Arjun lowers beta-lipoprotein lipids and revives the High Density Lipoprotein
cholesterol levels.
After Heart attack regular use of Arjun decreases the chances of another attack.
milk.
Possesses diuretic properties and has a general tonic outcome in cases of liver
cirrhosis.
It was given in Capsule form for bloodpressure, twice a day to a patient who had a
days of use.
Area of collection: Thapal
194
Herbarium no.: 273
Description: It is a large deciduous tree common on plains and lower hills, where it is
also grown as an avenue tree. The leaves are about 15 cm long and crowded toward
the ends of the branches. The seeds are called bedda nuts.
Flowering period: in May.
Medicinal uses:
Antibacterial activity of leaf gall extracts against some human pathogenic strains.
Area of collection: Paniyali.
Herbarium no.324
195
Description: A large tree, young branchlets, leaf buds, and leaves with long, soft,
shining, rust colored, sometimes silvery hair .Flowers are dull white or yellowish in
color with a strong offensive smell. Fruits are ovoid, wrinkled and ribbed
longitudinally.
Flowering period: Between March and June.
Medicinal uses:
intermittent fever, heart disease, diarrhea, anorexia, cough and excessive secretion
thick greyish tongue coating, abdominal pain and distension, foul feces and breath,
The fresh fruit is dipana and the powdered dried fruit made into a paste and taken
with jaggery is malashodhana, removing impurities and wastes from the body.
Haritaki is an effective purgative when taken as a powder, but when the whole
dried fruit is boiled the resulting decoction is grahi, useful in the treatment of
The fresh or reconstituted fruit taken before meals stimulates digestion, whereas if
taken with meals it increases intelligence, nourishes the senses and purifies the
196
Taken after meals Haritaki treats diseases caused by the aggravation of Vayu, Pitta
Vata, increasing awareness, and has a nourishing, restorative effect on the central
nervous system.
function.
Area of collection: Piplu ki dhar.
Description: It is said to climb over the highest trees, and to throw out aerial roots
which reach the length of 30 feet. It is a perennial deciduous twiner with succulent
stem and papery bark. The flowers are yellow, axillary, long-stalked racemes. The
Medicinal uses:
The plant oil is effective in reducing pain and edema and in gout and skin diseases.
197
The herb accords longevity, enhances memory, improves health, and bestows
infestations, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, excessive thirst, and vomiting and
Fresh juice of guduchi, when mixed with rock candy, speeds up the recovery in
hepatitis patients.
The starch of the plant serves as a household remedy for chronic fever, relieves
The decoction of guduchi, mixed with nimba and vasa, eases the itching and
oozing.
condylomata.
Guduchi helps in getting rid of renal caliculi and reduces blood urea level.
The decoction of guduchi and sunthi is a good combination for treating gout and
rheumatic disorders.
Guduchi juice, when taken with cow’s milk or lodhra, is effective in combating
leucorrhea.
The juice is mixed with cumin seeds and consumed to reduce the burning sensation
198
The root of guduchi is a strong emetic and used for bowel obstruction.
Description: An annual herb with diffused or prostrates stems. The branches are
flexuous covered with silky thread like hairs. The leaves are pari-pinnate having 6 to 7
pairs of leaflets that are narrow-elliptic with round base and apex. The yellow flowers
are borne solitary and axillary. The fruit is weapon-wheel shaped containing five
parts.
Medicinal uses:
The diuretic properties of plant are due to large amount of nitrates and essential oils
present in seeds. Plant and dried spiny fruit is used for spermatorrhea,
199
Terrestris in angina pectoris
It is shown that saponin has the action of dilating coronary artery and improving
coronary circulation, and thus has better effects on improving ECG of myocardial
ischemia. If taken for a long time, it has no adverse reaction on blood system and
hepatic and renal functions. Neither does it have side effects. It is one of the ideal
Undhanphuli .
Habitat: It grows on naturalized land.
height. Leaves are stalkless, opposite, lanceolate, pointed at the tip, and heart-shaped
at the base; the upper surfaces clothed with stiff hairs arising from circular tubercles,
the lower surfaces less densely villous. Flowers occur singly in the axils of the leaves.
Fruit is ellipsoid.
Flowering period: In winter.
Part / Parts used : Roots, leaves, flowers.
Medicinal uses:
Leaves and roots are used as remedy for snake bites; also used as diuretic.
200
Cold infusion of leaves considered depurative.
Roots are crushed and made into a paste, and applied externally to swollen joints,
membranous cordate and thin. Flowers white, unisexua. Fruits long sometimes curved,
pale green with white streaks, containing many hard yellowish brown seeds in it.
Flowering period: In July.
Medicinal uses:
Plant reported to cure quotidian and quartan fevers chiefly by inducing vomiting.
201
Leaf-juice is rubbed over the liver to relieve congestion, or all over the body in
remittent fevers.
Leaves and stems used for bilious disorders and skin diseases; also used as
emmenagogue.
Bitter, unripe fruit capsule are dried, and as sugared decoction or infusion used to
assist digestion.
Marginal flowers pale yellow, long ligules; disc flowers bright yellow.
Flowering period : Through out year.
Medicinal uses:
202
leaves are chewed followed by a drink of water for stomachache and malaria
A decoction of the whole plant in water is taken for persistent low backache.
The crushed leaves are applied to arrest bleeding in bruises and cuts.
Leaves are also used for the treatment of bronchial catarrh, dysentery, diarrhoea
Herbarium no.: 11
Family: Malvaceae
lanceolate, apex acute; base cordate or rounded; margin coarsely serrate. Flowers in
Medicinal uses:
203
The bark and fresh leaf are used for the treatment of diarrhoea, the leaf and flower
Oorpam, Vatoorpam.
Habitat: It is mainly found as a weed.
Description: It grows to 2 meters in height. The lobed leaves are covered in star-
shaped plant hairs which give the leaves a grayish color and raspy feel. The fruit,
Medicinal Uses:
Root deccotition is used in the treatment of fever and urinary tract infection.
204
154. Botanical name: Veronica anagallis-aquatica Linn.
Family: Scrophulariaceae
mostly clasping, sharply saw-toothed to entire. Flowers are many in elongated, long-
Medicinal Uses
The root and the leaves are alterative, appetizer and diuretic.
The leaves are used in the treatment of scurvy, impurity of the blood etc.
The plant is bruised and applied externally as a poultice on burns, ulcers, whitlows,
etc.
Area of collection: Burnar.
205
Vernacular names: English: Sweet Violet; Sanskrit: Neelapushpa; Hindi:
margins. Leaves grow in a rosette at the plant’s base. Depending on the soil, flowers
can vary in color: from deep purple and blue to pinkish and yellow-white.
Flowering period: March to June.
Medicinal use:
The presence of glycoside of salicylic acid in leaves, which explains its efficient
expectorant properties.
206
Vernacular names: Banafshah
blue to white.
Flowering period: March to August.
Medicinal uses:
In cancer of throat.
Habitat: Vitex negundo are commonly found near bodies of water, recently disturbed
quadrangular branches and thin grey bark. The leaves petiolate, smooth, exstipulate,
have a typical pungent odor. The flowers are bluish purple in color, lanceolate. The
207
Flowering period: July to August.
Medicinal uses:
The leaves are astringent, febrifuge, sedative, tonic and vermifuge. They are useful
in dispersing swellings of the joints from acute rheumatism and of the testes from
suppressed gonorrhoea.
The juice of the leaves is used for removing foetid discharges and worms from
ulcers, whilst an oil prepared with the leaf juice is applied to sinuses and scrofulous
sores.
The dried fruit is vermifuge and is also used in the treatment of angina, colds,
The fresh berries are pounded to a pulp and used in the form of a tincture for the
The root is expectorant, febrifuge and tonic. It is used in the treatment of colds and
rheumatic ailments.
The plant is said to be a malarial preventative and is also used in the treatment of
bacterial dysentery - extracts of the leaves have shown bactericidal and antitumor
activity.
The leaves are used to repel insects in grain stores. Extracts of the leaves have
insecticidal activity.
The fresh leaves are burnt with grass as a fumigant against mosquitoes.
208
A decoction of the leaves and the vapours are employed in baths for treatment of
The flowers are astringent and are used in fever, diarrhoea and liver complaints.
Area of collection: Kola
Discription: It is a small evergreen tree, bark reddish brown, branches and branchlets
entire. Flowers are borne in pyramida and broad cluster at the end of branches.
Medicinal uses:
is taken orally from third day of mensural period; once daily for 3 days.
Traditional Chinese herb, this plant has long been employed as an antipyretic,
209
Bark paste is used in furuncle.
Description: A much-branched, beautiful shrub, with fluted stems and long, spreading
branches, 1-3 m. high, rarely up to 7 m. Bark reddish brown, peeling off in thin,
numerous, brilliant red; capsules ellipsoid, membranous; seeds brown, minute, smooth
obviate.
Flowering period : In the month of March to continue upto June.
Medicinal uses:
The flowers are acrid, astringent, styptic, depurative, utreine sadative, constipating,
They are useful in the conditions of kapha and pitta, leprosy, burning sensation,
210
Juice of leaves is used in bilious sickness. They are also valued as a stimulant in
pregnancy.
Dried fruits, flowers, buds and broken pieces of inflorescence are used in bowel
complaints.
hepatoprotective agent
The powder of dried flowers is sprinkled over wounds thrice a day for 4-5 days.
Description: It is an annual herb with a short, stout, hairy stem. Leaves broadly
or green; Fruit obovoid, enclosed in the hardened involucre, with 2 hooked beaks and
hooked bristles.
Flowering period : August-September.
Part /Parts used : The whole plant, specially root and fruit.
Medicinal uses:
211
The leaves and root are anodyne, antirheumatic, appetizer, diaphoretic, diuretic,
An infusion of the plant has been used in the treatment of rheumatism, diseased
They are used internally in the treatment of allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, catarrh,
pruritis.
The root is a bitter tonic and febrifuge. It has historically been used in the treatment
of scrofulous tumours.
A decoction of the root has been used in the treatment of high fevers and to help a
A decoction of the seeds has been used in the treatment of bladder complaints.
A poultice of the powdered seed has been applied as a salve on open sores.
Area of collection: Bhoranj
212
Family: Rutaceae
Habitat: Forest undergrowth and hot valleys to 1800 metres in the Himalayas.
Description: It is a deciduous Shrub growing to 4 m. The leaves are imparipinnate or
greenish-yellow, dioecious, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both
Medicinal uses:
stimulant, tonic.
Prickly Ash is used in many chronic problems such a rheumatism and skin
diseases; chilblains, cramp in the leg, varicose veins and varicose ulcers.
It has a stimulating effect upon the lymphatic system, circulation and mucous.
The seeds and the bark are used as an aromatic tonic in the treatment of fevers,
The fruits, branches and thorns are considered to be carminative and stomachic,
213
The fruit is used to purify water.
Common cold, cough, and fever, as it is believed to give warmth to the body.
Herbarium no.:65
214