| Herbal
plants and medicinal properties |
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BABUL
Botanical Name - Acacia arabica
Indian Name - Kikar
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Acacia
properly known as babul, is a large tree up to 14 meters
high, with thorns on its branches. It has darkish greay
bark and yello flowers in the spherical heads. Babul tree
is indigenous to Sind in Pakistan. It occurs wild in India
and tropical Africa. The bark of babul tree contains tannin
and gallic acid. The leaves and fruits of the tree also
contain tannin and gallic acid. The various parts of babul
tree is useful in diarrhoea. The bark of the babul tree
is useful in the treatment of eczema. |
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Properties :- The leaves, the bark the pods and the gum of the
tree have medicinal virtues. The leaves and the bark are useful
in arresting secretion or bleeding. The pods help remove catarrhal
matter and phlegm from the bronchial tubes. The gum allays any
irritation of the skin and soothes the inflamed membranes of
the pharynx, alimentary canal and genito-urinary organs.
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BAMBOO
Botanical Name - Bambusa bambos
Indian Name - Bans
The bamboo is a perennial tree which grows upto a height of
12 meters .Every year between July and October, new shoots sprout
at the base of the tree. Bamboo trees are always found in clusters.
The stem of the tree is round, smooth and hollow. Nodes are
swollen. Bamboo is presumed to have originated in Asia. The
tree grows wild throughout most parts of India, especially in
the hilly forests of western and southern India but it is cultivated
in the lower Himalayas.
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Properties :- The leaves of bamboo tree are stimulant, aromatic
and tonic. They are useful in counteracting spasmodic disorders,
and arrest secretion or bleeding. They are also an effective
aphrodisiac. The leaves do not have any prominent taste.
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BETEL
LEAVES
Botanical Name - Piper betle
Indian Name - Pan
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| The
betel plant is a slender, aromatic creeper, rooting at
the nodes. The branches of the plant are swollen at the
nodes. The plant has alternate, heart-shaped, smooth,
shining and long stalked leaves, with pointed apex. It
has five to seven ribs arising from the base; minute flowers
and one-seeded spherical small berries. Betel is the native
of central and eastern Malaysia. Recent studies have shown
that betel leaves contains tannins, sugar and diastases
and an essential oil. The essential oil is a light yellow
liquid of of aromatic odour and sharp burning in taste. |
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Properties :- Betel leaf has been used from ancient times as
an aromatic stimulant and antiflatulent. It is useful in arresting
secretion or bleeding and is an aphrodisiac. Its leaf is used
in several common household remedies
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BANYAN
Botanical Name :- Ficus bengalensis
Indian Name :- Bar
The banayan tree is well known all over India. The tree has
what is known as the 'aerial roots'; its branches drop to the
ground , take roots again, and send out more twisting and trailing
branches, thus extending the growth of the tree indefinitely.
The name Banyan tree in English seems to have been given by
Europeans in the Persian Gulf to the particular tree of this
species under which Banias or members of the Indian merchant
class used to congregate for worship and business.
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Properties :- The Banyan has many medicinal properties. It is
used in traditional medicine for the treatment of several ailments.
The bark and leaf buds of the tree are useful in arresting secretion
or bleeding.
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Bishop's
weed is a small, erect, annual shrub, with soft fine hairs.
It has many branched leafy; feather-like leaves 2.5 cm.
long and 4 to 12 ray flower heads, each bearing 6 to 16
flowers. the fruits are minute, egg-shaped and greyish.
The trade name of ajuwain is based on the Indian name
which is derived from adarjawa. Ajuwain has been used
as a carminative medicine from the time of Charaka and
Sushruta. |
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Properties :- The seeds are stimulant and are useful in counteracting
spasmodic disorders. the oil of ajuwain is an almost colourless
to brownish liquid with characteristic odour and sharp hot taste
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BLACK
NIGHTSHADE
Botanical Name :- Salanum nigrum
Indian Name :- Makoy or Manathakkali
The black nightshade , also known as sun berry or wonder cherry
, is a small erect and delicate annual herb. It forms a spreading
crown , grows diffusedly with several arching branches upto
one metre in height. The stems and branches are smooth and soft.
The black nightshade is a native in West Africa , but is now
grown all over India as well.
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| Properties
:- The black nightshade is use as an important ingredient in
several Indian medicines. It is a valuable cardiac tonic. It
corrects disordered Process of nutrition by which the organism
ingests, digests, absorbs, transports, utilises and excretes
food substances, and restores the normal function of the system.
It also reduces excitement, irritation and pain. |
BUTEA
Botanical Name :- Butea monosperma
Indian Name :- Palas
Butea, also known as "flame of the forest", is a well
known tree of India. Butea is a medium sized tree with compound
leaves. The leaves fall in winter and flowers bloom in February-March.
This herb is indigenous to India. The trade name butea, is based
on the scientific name of the plant. The tree is found chiefly
in the mixed or dry deciduous forest of central and Western
Asia.
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| Properties
:- The butea gum, the seeds and leaves of the tree have medicinal
properties. The leaves of the tree are tonic and aphrodisiac.
They are useful in arresting secretion or bleeding. The gum
of the tree is useful in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery.
The seeds are administered internally, either in the form of
powder or make into a paste with honey as an anthelmintic to
kill intestinal worms. They are specially useful in the treatment
of roundworms and tapeworms. Butea herb is also useful for the
treatment of Skin disorders, Diabetes, Sore throat and Leucorrhoea.
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