Bryophyllum

Bryophyllum or Sprouting leaf plant is a popular succulent which is often planted in gardens, especially in rockeries depicting xerophytic desert plants. The unique feature of this plant is that from the margins of the leaves, small adventitious buds, sometimes called bulbils are produced. These buds with tiny roots may detach themselves from the leaves of the plant, fall to the ground and grow into new plants.

Herbal use:

1. Bryophyllum is used for curing bruises and boils.
2. It is used curing wounds, sores and insect bites.

Instruction:

1. The slightly roasted leaves are applied over bruises, boils, wounds and insect bites.
2. The plant in well known as an agent for healing wounds and sores.

Major parts used: The leaves

Betel-nut palm

The Betel-nut palm is erect, solitary, grows up t o25 meters high and is marked with annular leaf scars. The leaves are about 4 meters long, with numerous leaf-lets. The male flowers are yellow, about 5 mm long. The female flowers borne at the base of the branch in axils are over on e centimeter long. The fruit is ovoid, smooth, 4 to 6cm long, orange or red in color, the pericarp are fleshy and the mesocarp fibrous.

Herbal use:

1. Betel nut palm is a good laxative.
2. It helps expel tapeworms and other worms from the body.
3. Acts as a good antiseptic.
4. It promotes menstrual flow.

Instruction:

1. The young seeds are laxative.
2. The mature seeds make a good vermifuge.
3. Powdered nuts are used as an anthelmintic and an antiseptic agent.

Major parts used: The seeds.

Mountain Ebony

Mountain Ebony is a medium sized deciduous tree with dark brown bark. The leaves are as broad as they are long with a cleft of about 1/3 the way down from the apex resulting in two obtuse lobes. The petioles are 2.5-3.5 c, long and the white flowers are large and fragrant, appearing when the tree is nearly leafless in short axillary or terminal racemes. The flat pods are about 15-30 cm. long containing 10-15 seeds.

Herbal use:

1. Mountain Ebony used as a carminative or as an agent for expelling gases, flatulence and griping pains from the stomach and bowels.
2. Mountain Ebony is used to prevent obesity.
3. Ebony is used as a tonic or to give tone and vitality to the body.
4. It is used for killing or expelling worms from the body.
5. Is used against tuberculosis and skin ailments.
6. It is used against ulcers and leprosy.
7. It is used as a laxative and for the cure of diarrhoea, dysentery and piles.

Major parts used: Root, bark and leaves.

Bassia latifolia

Bassia latifolia is synonymous to Madhuca indica, popularly known as Mahua in India. It is a large handsome tree which may reach a height of 12 to 15 meters. The trunk of the tree is rather short with many spreading branches which provide excellent shade. The leaves are elliptic-oblong in shape. The cream colored flowers which turn purplish when fully mature and ready to drop are formed in dense fascicles near the ends of the branches. The dry flowers which are brown in color are sweet and can be eaten. In some parts of India, the tribal folk prepare local liquor which has a very strong smell.

Herbal use:

1. Bassia latifolia used for expelling worms from the body.
2. It cures biliousness or congestion of the liver.
3. It cures ulcers and leprosy and is used for fractures.
4. Bassia helps in rheumatism.
5. Bassia helps in curing heart diseases and ear complaints.
6. Cures diseases of the blood, bronchitis and tuberculosis.
7. It promotes the removal of mucous secretions from the bronchial tubes.
8. Helps in increasing the secretion of milk in lactating mothers.
9. Helps in soothing the alimentary tract and relieving inflammation and is also used for coughs.

Instruction:

1. The decoction of the bark is used to take care of nos. 1 to 3 above.
2. The milky latex of the tree is used externally to relieve rheumatic pains.
3. The decoction of the flowers is used to take care of No. 5, 7 and 9 above.
4. The decoction of the fruit takes care of Nos. 5 and 6 above.
5. The decoction of the seeds takes care of No. 8 above.
6. The dried flowers are used as a fomentation to take care of Number 10 above.
7. The flowers fried in ghee are eaten by persons suffering from piles.

Major parts used: The bark, latex, flowers, fruits and seeds.

Indian Red Amaranth

The Red Amaranth is an herb grows in gardens and waste places. It attains a height of about 1 meter having alternate leaves which are red in color. The tiny flowers grow in clusters at the top of the stem and in the leaf axils. The seeds are very small, black and round.

Herbal use:

1. Red Amaranth is used for treating acute abdominal pain and stomach ache, abnormal stoppage of menses and inflamed mucous membranes of the urethra and vagina.
2. Red Amaranth is used for chronic inflammation of the skin.
3. It promotes flow of milk in nursing mothers.
4. It is used as a laxative.
5. It softens inflamed parts.
6. Used in treating boils and burns.

Instructions:

1. The root of the herb is used for acute abdominal pain, stomachache, abnormal stoppage of menses and inflamed mucous membranes of urethra and vagina.
2. Externally used as poultice, the paste of the whole plant is applied over inflamed skin.
3. The decoction of the root is also used for promoting the flow of milk in nursing mothers.
4. The leaves and the root are boiled together to make a tea which is given to children as a laxative.
5. The pounded plant is applied over boils and burns to soften the inflamed parts.

Major parts used: The whole plant.