പൈന ചുള്ളി / Paina chulli

പൈന ചുള്ളി / Paina chulli 

Acanthus ilicifolius L.

Acanthaceae

Holly-leaved acanthus, sea holly, holy mangrove

പയിങ്ങ ചുള്ളി/ ചുള്ളിക്കണ്ടൽ

Tamil : Kaludaimulli

Kannada : Mulluchulli

Sanskrit: can be a source of नीलासैरेयक/Neela sairyeyaka explained in Raja Nighantu. 

Habitat: It commonly grows on the river banks or tidal canal sides or low swampy areas in the mangrove forests and its vicinity. Seen in both marine and fresh water ecosystem. 

Habit: A mangrove shrub which has spiny leaves. 

The word പയിങ്ങ /paingaa means tender arec anut and ചുള്ളി/chulli means that which is having spines or hollow stem.

Useful part : Whole plant

Uses is Horthus

1. The whole plant is crushed in water and is used for washing the bite site of Indian cobra

Folklore uses

1. The plant decoction is used for seka in Rheumatic arthritis to relieve the pain.

2. Decoction of the plant with sugar candy and cumin is used in dyspepsia with acid eructations. 

4. The leaves are expectorant, employed as an emollient fomentation in rheumatism and neuralgia. 

5. The root is expectorant and used in asthma. This when boiled in milk is used in leucorrhoea and general debility.