Wonderful herb.....................
When we talk about Snake bite, the plants come to our mind immediately are Andrographis lineata
(பெ ரி யா ந ங் கை ) and Andrographis paniculata (சி றி யா ந ங் கை ). They are the most bitter herb which I have tasted next to the Neem- Azardirachta indica ( வே ப் ப ம ர ம் ). But they are wonderful herbs used as Medicinal plants from time immemorial.
Both plants have identical characters except the size. Most of the properties and uses are the same. When I have visited Palladam on 06-08-2014 I have noticed the Andrographis paniculata (சி றி யா ந ங் கை ) in the backyard of my brother's house.
This plant belongs to the Family: Acanthaceae
Distribution: This is an annual herb found through India, specially in dense forests.It is under cultivation in many states of India.
Botany: It is an erect branched annual, 0.3-0.9 meters high, branches sharply quadrangular winged in the upper part; leave - lanceolate, acute, undulate, pale beneath; Flowers small, solitary distant, in axillary or terminal racemes or panicles, bracts lanceolate; Corolla - 2 lipped, upper lip 2-toothed, lower 2 lobed, rose coloured; Flowers - Capsule, linear - oblong, acute at both ends; Seeds many, rugosely pitted, yellowish brown. Flowering time in India is November - December.
Useful parts: Whole plant.
Medicinal Properties: According to Ayurveda the plant is bitter, acrid, cooling, laxative, vulnerary, antipyretic, antiperiodic, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, depurative, soporific, anthelmintic, digestive and useful in hyperdispsia, buring sensation, wounds, ulcers, chronic fever, malarial and intermittent fevers, inflammations, cough, bronchitis, skin diseases, leprosy, colic, flatulence, diarrhoea, dysentery, haemorrhoids etc. Kalmegh is also a reputed Homoeopathic drug. In Bengal (India), household medicine known as "Alui" is prepared from fresh leaves and is given to children suffering from stomach complaints. Recent experimental finding indicated that Kalmegh is having antityphoid and antibiotic properties. It has been proved to be hepatopratective drug.
Chemical Constituents: Andrographis paniculata (சி றி யா ந ங் கை ) contains bitter principles andrographolide, a bicyclic diterpenoid lactone and Kalmeghin (upto 2.5%). The leaves contain the maximum active principle content while in the stem it is in lesser amount.
The plant is useful for the following treatements:
1. Decoction of the leaves (50 ml) is taken with hot water orally twice a day in snake bite.
2. Paste of leaves is applied on the place of snake bite, scorpion sting and insecticide.
3. Decoction of the leaves (50 ml) is taken with hot water thrice a day for 4 to 6 days in malarial fever
4. Leaves are ground and made into paste and applied externally to cure skin diseases. Decoction of the plant is used in skin disorders.
5. Fresh leaf juice (50 ml) is taken with hot water internally twice a day for four to six days in diabetes. It is also used in case of anti-diabetic and fever.
6. The leaf powder mixed with sugar and drink to cure jaundice.
7. The juice of the leaves is applied externally in action of swellings, wounds and skin eruptions.
8. The decoction of the leaves is used the treatment of constipation and astringent.
9. The whole plant is pounded and the paste is used for dog bite.
10. The leaf paste is given for stomach pain, two times a day for two days.
11. Fresh leaf juice is given orally thrice a day for one week to treat diuretic.
12. The whole plant is used in bronchitis and biliousness.
13. Leaf juice (50 ml) mixed with hot water is given internally thrice a day 3 days in antipyretic.
14. Ethno veterinary uses
15. Decoction of leaves is used in malarial fever in cow, sheep, goats, buffalo and dog.
When we talk about Snake bite, the plants come to our mind immediately are Andrographis lineata
(பெ ரி யா ந ங் கை ) and Andrographis paniculata (சி றி யா ந ங் கை ). They are the most bitter herb which I have tasted next to the Neem- Azardirachta indica ( வே ப் ப ம ர ம் ). But they are wonderful herbs used as Medicinal plants from time immemorial.
Both plants have identical characters except the size. Most of the properties and uses are the same. When I have visited Palladam on 06-08-2014 I have noticed the Andrographis paniculata (சி றி யா ந ங் கை ) in the backyard of my brother's house.
This plant belongs to the Family: Acanthaceae
Botany: It is an erect branched annual, 0.3-0.9 meters high, branches sharply quadrangular winged in the upper part; leave - lanceolate, acute, undulate, pale beneath; Flowers small, solitary distant, in axillary or terminal racemes or panicles, bracts lanceolate; Corolla - 2 lipped, upper lip 2-toothed, lower 2 lobed, rose coloured; Flowers - Capsule, linear - oblong, acute at both ends; Seeds many, rugosely pitted, yellowish brown. Flowering time in India is November - December.
Medicinal Properties: According to Ayurveda the plant is bitter, acrid, cooling, laxative, vulnerary, antipyretic, antiperiodic, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, depurative, soporific, anthelmintic, digestive and useful in hyperdispsia, buring sensation, wounds, ulcers, chronic fever, malarial and intermittent fevers, inflammations, cough, bronchitis, skin diseases, leprosy, colic, flatulence, diarrhoea, dysentery, haemorrhoids etc. Kalmegh is also a reputed Homoeopathic drug. In Bengal (India), household medicine known as "Alui" is prepared from fresh leaves and is given to children suffering from stomach complaints. Recent experimental finding indicated that Kalmegh is having antityphoid and antibiotic properties. It has been proved to be hepatopratective drug.
Chemical Constituents: Andrographis paniculata (சி றி யா ந ங் கை ) contains bitter principles andrographolide, a bicyclic diterpenoid lactone and Kalmeghin (upto 2.5%). The leaves contain the maximum active principle content while in the stem it is in lesser amount.
The plant is useful for the following treatements:
1. Decoction of the leaves (50 ml) is taken with hot water orally twice a day in snake bite.
2. Paste of leaves is applied on the place of snake bite, scorpion sting and insecticide.
3. Decoction of the leaves (50 ml) is taken with hot water thrice a day for 4 to 6 days in malarial fever
4. Leaves are ground and made into paste and applied externally to cure skin diseases. Decoction of the plant is used in skin disorders.
5. Fresh leaf juice (50 ml) is taken with hot water internally twice a day for four to six days in diabetes. It is also used in case of anti-diabetic and fever.
6. The leaf powder mixed with sugar and drink to cure jaundice.
7. The juice of the leaves is applied externally in action of swellings, wounds and skin eruptions.
8. The decoction of the leaves is used the treatment of constipation and astringent.
9. The whole plant is pounded and the paste is used for dog bite.
10. The leaf paste is given for stomach pain, two times a day for two days.
11. Fresh leaf juice is given orally thrice a day for one week to treat diuretic.
12. The whole plant is used in bronchitis and biliousness.
13. Leaf juice (50 ml) mixed with hot water is given internally thrice a day 3 days in antipyretic.
14. Ethno veterinary uses
15. Decoction of leaves is used in malarial fever in cow, sheep, goats, buffalo and dog.
16. Leaves is used of diuretic in cattle, sheep and goats.
17. Paste of leaves is applied to interdigital space in animals suffering from foot and mouth disorders.
18. Decoction of leaves is applied to wounds and inflammed zones.
19. Paste of leaves is used to treat itch and skin diseases in cow, buffalo, goat and sheep.
20. The fresh roots are powdered and the poultice is applied to wound effected by snake bite or
scorpion sting.
(Courtesy International Journal of Recent Scientific ResearchVol. 3, Issue, 2, pp.71 - 74, February, 2012-Alagesaboopathi, C).
When there was an outbreak of Dengue Fever in Tamilnadu, the Kasyam made from the root of this plant was recommended as treatment.
These herbs should be grown in every house.
