MEDICINAL PLANTS IN KERALA

In the enumeration, first the botanical name, then family, vernacular name (Malayalam ) in brackets, the diseases, preparation of medicine and administration are given  THESE ARE THE LOCAL MEDICINAL PLANTS IN KERALA WITH ITS TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL  USAGE

1. Adhatoda Zeylanica Medic Acanthaceae (Adalotakam)  Bronchitis –leaf powder mixed with one and administered or leaf grind and mix with egg roasted and eaten.  

2. Aeglemarmelos  (L)  Corr.Rutaceae (Koovalam) Diarrhoea-unripe fruits are dried and powdered. 3 to 10g, 2 or 3 times per day. Ear ache-leaf extract mixed wit oil and boiled, 3 to 5 drops applied in the ear. Body pain- the leaves are heated and used for massaging on t affected portion.  

3. Aerva Lanata (L) Juss Amaranthaceae (Cherula)  Renal stone –whole plant used to pre-pare decotion and drink   

4. Biophytum sensitivum (L) DC Oxallidaceae (Mukutty

Dysentry-leaf grind and mixed with butter milk and drink.  

5. Calotropis gigantia R.Br. Asclepiadaceae (Erukku) Swelling –leaf slightly warmed and crushed and apply on the affected portion Rheumatic pain –leaf heated and massaged on the affected portion.  

6. Camellia sinensis (L) Ktze theaceae (Theyila) Dysentry-prepare black tea by suing tea powder and add lemon juice to it, drink twice a day.  

7. Cassia alata l. Cesalpiniaceae (thakara) Skin diseases-leaf grind wit curd milk and apply on the diseases part.  

8. Centella asiatica (L) Urb aplaceae (kudangal) Skin diseases-leaf used to prepare oil and apply on the affected portion or leaf grind with turmeric and apply memory power – 2 to 5 leaves to be eaten a early in the morning ulcer-prepare curry and use.  

9. Coleus amboinicus lour.  Lamiaceae (Panicoorka)  Fever, cough, asthma-leaf extraction is used  10. Cyathula prostrate Blume Amaranthaceae (Cherukatalady) Swelling in joints and sprain-lf grind with curuligo orchioides tubers and applied on the affected portion and massaged  

11. Curuligo orchiodes gaestn Hypoxidaceae (Nilappana) Jaundica-root powder is used with milk sprain and swelling –leaf grind and apply on the affected portion.  

12. Curuma longa L.Zingiberaceae (Manjil) 

Anti poison-rhizome juice 50ml or leaf 3 to 6g grind well ad add water and drink 2 to 3 times a day.  

13.Elepantopus scaber Lasteraceae (Anachuvat) Eye wounds – whole plant grind with cuminum cyminum. Take the juice and mix with breast milk, apply on the eye Dysentery – whole plan mix with porridge and drink.  

14. Emilia sonchifolia(L) DC Asteraceae (Muyal cheviyan) Night blindness-leaf extract drink daily morning   

15  Gmeilna arborea Roxb.  Verbenacea (Kumbil) Gonorhoea and Rheumatism-prepare decotion y using leaf, root and flower, drink 20to 25 ml per day.  

16 Kaempferia galang L.zingeberaceae (Kacholam) cough-rhixome juice mix with stone sugar and drink.  

17.  Lawsonia inermis L.Lytheraceae (Mylanchi)  Hair growth – prepare oil with leaf and flower and use to prevent falling of hair flower grind with water and drink twice a day   

18. Leucas asperal Lamiaceae (Thumba) Worm trouble- prepare whole plant decotion and drink twice a  day 

 19.  Mimosa pudica L. (Mimosaceae) (Thottavaty) Wounds-leaf grind and apply on wounds and cuts. Dysentry-leaf ex-tract with butter milk and drink.   

20. Mimusops elengi L.Sapotaceae (Elengi)  Body scars-bark pulp is applied on scars.

21.  Moringa oleifera lam Moringaceae (Moringa) Swelling-root ad bark pulp is applied on the affected portion sinusitis and head ache-root is crushed and inhaled.  

22. Musa Paradisiaca L.Musaceae (Vahza) Ulcer –juice of the stem is used   

23.  Mussanda glabrata hutch. Rubiaceae (Vellia or ammakarumbi) conjunctivitis-the inner bark of the stem crushed and ground with cuminum cyminum and the juice is applied on the eye.  

24.  Narvelia zeylancia(L) DC Ranunculaceae (Vathakoty) sinusitis-boil the whole plant in water and inhale the vapour Rheumatism-water heated with the plant and use for bathing   

25.  Ocimum tennuifolium 1.Lamiaceae (Tulasi) Cough-leaf extract is used. Wounds leaf and flower ground with turmeric and applied on the wounds and cuts. It is also used for insect poison.  

26.Pyllanthus amarus L. Euphorbiaceae (Kizhukanelli) Jaundice-Plant is ground and mixed with milk and drink early in the morning.  

27.  Pyllanthus maderaspatens L. Euphorbiaceae It is also used for jaundice like phyllanthus amarus.  

28.  Ricinus communis L.Eupho Biaceae (Avanakku) Jaundice-tender leaf and cuminum cyminum is ground and mixed with milk drink early in the morning. 

29.  Scoparia dulsis L.Scorphularaceae (Kallurucky) Renal stone-milk extract of whole plan drink early in the morning  

30.  Sida rhombifolia L.Malvaceae (Kurunthotty) Rheumatism- decotion of whole plant is used Dysentry-whole plat with porridge is used.  

31. Tabernaemontana divaricata (L) R.BR. APOCYANACEAE (Nanthya vattum)  Eye injury –flower is kept in water for 12hours and then flower juice is applied on the  eye. Tooth ace-chewing the root.

32.  Vigna mungo L.FABACEAE (Uzhunnu) Swelling and sprain-leaf is ground with egg and albumin and applied on the affected portion.