Okra - Ladies finger

Okra is an annual, erect, stout-stemmed, bristly herb, growing up to 2 meters. The leaves are angular, long-stalked, and coarsely toothed. The single flower located in the axiles of the leaves is pale yellow on color. The fruit is an elongated pod. It is slimy when cut for cooking. It is grown in tropical and subtropical countries.

Herbal use:

1. It Soothes and protects the alimentary tract.
2. It acts as a softener of inflamed parts.
3. Relieves flatulence and griping pains from the stomach and bowels.
4. Prevents or cures spasms.
5. Used as a laxative.
6. Used in the case of pneumonia, bronchitis, urinary problems, heart diseases and tuberculosis of the lungs.

Instructions:

1. The leaves are recommended as hot poultice, also in decoction, in cases of pneumonia and bronchitis. For the same disease, a tea of the flowers and the fruit is prepared by decoction which is taken with a little honey.
2. The root in decoction is recommended for inflamed mucous membrane of the urethra and vagina, infectious venereal disease and genital problems.
3. The seeds are used for heart diseases. They are roasted and prepared as a tea; four to five glasses are to be taken per day.
4. The unripe fruit is used for pulmonary tuberculosis.

Major parts used: The whole plant.

Sage

Sage is an erect perennial plant, 60 cm high, somewhat white and wooly. The root is strong and branched. The stem is square and finely haired. The leaves are oblong.

The floral leaves are ovate, or ovate-lanceolate. The flowers are red, purple, blue or white, in whorls, forming terminal racemes.

Medicinal use:

1. Used for stomach problems, vomiting, gastric flatulence and headache resulting from indigestion etc.
2. Used to whiten and strengthen the teeth.
3. Relives inflammation of the gums, mouth ulcers, eczema, sores, varicose veins and ulcers.
4. Used against scurvy.
5. Used for sore throat and tonsillitis.
6. Can be used for insect bites or stings-such as from bees, wasp and mosquito bites.
7. Used for nervous conditions, trembling, depression, and giddiness.
8. Helps in the case of whitish, discharge from the vagina and uterus and other related problems.
9. Can be used for treatment of diarrhoea, inflamed stomach and small intestine.

How to use:

1. The hot tea of the herb is a good medicine for stomach problems, vomiting, gastric flatulence and headache resulting from indigestion. The dose is 10 grams for litre of water. Use 4 to 5 cups a day.
2. The fresh leaves are used to rub the teeth to whiten them. It also refreshes the mouth, strengthens the teeth and gums.
3. The flowers in decoction are a good wash for mouth ulcers. Thirty grams for 1 litre of water can be used.
4. The decoction of the whole plant is used as a lotion for eczema or chronic inflammation of the skin, sores, distended or varicose veins and ulcers.
5. As a gargle, the same tea is recommended for sore throat and tonsillitis.
6. Externally applied, the pounded leaves can be used for bee and wasp sting, mosquito and other insect bites.
7. The tea is also prescribed for nervous conditions, trembling, depression, and giddiness.
8. In the case if diarrhoea, inflamed stomach and small intestine, discharges from the uterus and vagina, the infusion of the leaves and flowers are used in doses of 10 grams for 1 litre of water. The dose for this is: 1 cup a day, taken by tablespoon.

Parts used: The leaves and flowers.

Purslane

Purslane is a prostrate, widely branched, glabrous, succulent annual herb. The stem is often purplish; the leaves are fleshy, oblong and obtuse. The five petalled flowers are very small, growing in clysters and is yellow in color. They open in sunlight. It is found in gardens and in open waste lands.

Herbal use:

1. Purslane is used for liver, kidney and bladder problems.
2. It is used against scurvy.
3. Purslane is used to increase milk flow in nursing mothers.
4. It is good for painful or difficult urination.
5. Relieves dry coughs, shortness of breath, and immoderate thirst.
6. Cures in flamed eyes, mouth sores and swollen gums.
7. Fastens loose teeth.
8. Relives pain from burns.
9. Hastens healing of wounds.
10. Promotes flow of urine, menstrual flow, and expulsion of intestinal worms.
11. Helps in digestion.

Instructions:

1. The fresh juice of the plant is said to be good for treating painful of difficult urination; relieves dry coughs, shortness of breath, and immoderate thirst.
2. Drops in the eye cure inflammation; in gargles mixed with water in the proportion of 50%, it cures mouth sores, and swollen gums and fastens loose teeth.
3. Externally used, the leaves and the stem are applied topically over burns, relieve pains, and hasten healing of wounds.

4. Seeds promote flow of urine, menstrual flow and expulsion of intestinal worms.
5. The leave are eaten as salad or stewed as a digestive.

Parts used: The whole plant.

Sugarcane

The sugarcane is a well-known plant. It is a large perennial grass. The stems are provided with rings. The leaves are sword-like and sharp at the edges. The beautiful silky white flowers are feather-like and found at the terminal ends of the stems. The stem is juicy and very sweet. Sugarcane juice is freshly pressed out of the stems and sold in some countries. It grows in tropical and subtropical countries.

Herbal use:

1. Sugarcane soothes and protects the alimentary tract and relieves inflammation.
2. Sugarcane promotes flow of urine.
3. Sugarcane is used as a laxative.
4. Sugarcane strengthens the gums.
5. Has a cooling effect.

Instructions:

1. The decoction of the root is used to soothe and protect the alimentary tract and relieve inflammation.
2. The juice extracted from the stem is laxative, promotes flow of urine, and has a cooling effect. It also strengthens the gums.

Major parts: The root and stem.

Breadfruit

The breadfruit tree is a very attractive tree with large deeply incised leaf margins which are about 25 to 30 cm. long. The seedless fruit makes a wonderful Indian fry or curry. It grows well in coastal areas.

Herbal use:

1. Bread Fruit is used as a laxative.
2. It is used to cure boils with pus.
3. Used for rheumatism.
4. Used for hernia.

Instructions:

1. Consumption of large quantities of the cooked fruit, works as a laxative.
2. The heated slices of the fruit applied over boils containing pus will take care of the problem.
3. For very good results, boiled water containing the leaves should be used for baths by those suffering from rheumatism.
4. The latex of the plant is applied externally in cases of hernia in children.

Major Parts used: The fruit, leaves and latex.

Hyacinth bean

Hyacinth bean is a climbing vine, wild, and universally cultivated, with a long, smooth stem. The leaves are long-stalked, non-equilateral. The flowers are purple or white in clusters. The pods are purple-margined, and are eaten as vegetables. The fruit is picked before it ripens.

Herbal use:

1. Hyacinth bean is used to reduce or eliminate fever.
2. This bean strengthens and gives tone to the stomach.
3. Hyacinth bean is used as an antiseptic.
4. For the cure of acute abdominal pain, inflamed mucous membranes of the urethra and vagina, and abnormal bleeding during menstruation.
5. It is used in the case of snakebite.
6. Gives relief for inflamed ears.

Instructions:

1. The consumption of the cooked seeds will take care of Nos. 1 to 3 above.
2. The infusion of the leaves is used to check excessive bleeding during menstruation, acute abdominal pains and inflammation of the urethra and vagina, and applied as a poultice for snakebite.
3. The juice extracted from the pods is used for inflammation of the ear.

Major Parts used: The whole plant, except the roots.

Jackfruit

The jackfruit tree is well-known for its very large fruit which sometimes weighs over 30 kilos. It grows well in the tropics and is loved by most of the local inhabitants. The tree grows to a height of 10 meters or more with many heavy branches and foliage which provide a beautiful shady picnic or resting spot. The edible pulp inside the fruit is fleshy and yellow when ripe. The unripe fruit is also eaten as a vegetable.

Herbal use:

1. Jack fruit is used for diarrhoea, fever and asthma.
2. Jack fruit is used for ulcers, wounds, glandular swellings and insect bites.
3. It is also used as a laxative, for giving tone and vitality to the body and for acute abdominal pain.

Instructions:

1. The decoction of the root is a good remedy for diarrhoea, fever and asthma.
2. The milky latex of the tree is applied externally for the cure of ulcers, wounds, glandular swellings and insect bites.
3. Excessive consumption of the ripe fruit works on the bowels as a laxative.
4. The consumption of roasted or boiled seeds gives tone and vitality to the body and helps in checking abdominal pain.

Thorn apple

The thorn apple is a shrub which reaches a height of 1.5 meters. The leaves are ovate, with a few teeth. The bell-shaped solitary flowers are large, white or nearly purple. The fruit is rounded, green, covered with short spines. The seeds are numerous, nearly smooth and pale brown. It grows mostly in waste lands.

Herbal use:

1. Thorn apple is used for treatment of piles.
2. Thorn apple relives rheumatic pains and is used for swellings.
3. Thorn apple is used for eye diseases and earache.

Instructions:

1. The boiled leaves of this plant, added in water or coconut oil, are used externally for piles.
2. The local application of the leaves relives rheumatic pains and is also used for swellings.
3. The juice of the leaves is good for earaches. The extract is good for eye diseases.

Indian spinach

The Indian spinach is a succulent or fleshy, soft stemmed, branched vine which grows to over a meter long. Like the stems, the heart-shaped leaves are also fleshy. There are two common types seen in the gardens: one is totally green in color and the other is purplish on color. The fruits are oval in shape and contain seeds.

Herbal use:

1. Spinach has the property that soothes and protects the alimentary tract and relieves inflammation.
2. Indian Spinach promotes the flow of urine.
3. It helps in curing gonorrhea.
4. Helps in curing Urticaria, an allergic reaction of the skin producing red, itching weals.
5. Helps in softening inflamed parts anf flowers the body heat.
6. Used for constipation.

Instructions:

1. The consumption of the cooked leaves of the plant has the property of soothing and protecting the alimentary tract and relieving it of inflammation. The leaves also promote the flow of urine and helps in curing gonorrhoea.
2. The juice of the leaves is used externally for urticaria.
3. The leaves are used internally for constipation in children and pregnant women.

Major Parts used: The roots and leaves.