Home Medicine - Dasavala ( Hibiscus rosa-sinensis )

Dasavala ( Hibiscus rosa-sinensis )
    

    Shoe-flower, Chinese Rose (ENG)
    Jasund (HIN)
    Dasavala (KAN)
    Chemparuthi (MAL)
    Jaasvand (MAR)
    Japa, Japapuspa (SAN)
    Semparuthi (TAM)


It is a beautiful shrub that grows up to 3 m tall. Leaves are broadly egg-shaped and are toothed along margins. The plant bears long-stalked, large, showy, red or white flowers. The plant bears flowers almost through the year and is widely cultivated in gardens and households as an ornamental plant.
How to Grow: t is recommended to grow two plants - one each with red and white flowers - in home herbal garden. These can be planted either directly in the ground or in pots of size of 25 to 30 cms.

Care regime: When planted in ground, watering twice a week is adequate. However, plants in the pots require more frequent watering.


Parts Used: Flower petals

Collection :Fresh flowers can be collected in the morning by plucking.

Home Medicine - Garike hullu ( Cynodon dactylon )

 Garike hullu ( Cynodon dactylon )
    

    Bermuda grass (ENG)
    Dub (HIN)
    Garike hullu (KAN)
    Karuka (MAL)
    Durva (MAR)
    Durva (SAN)
    Arugampul (TAM)


It is the common grass with creeping stems bearing roots at the nodes. Leaves of durva grass are linear and slightly rough on the upper surface and margins. This grass bears minute flowers in 3-6 green spikes of 2-4 cm long.
How to Grow: This grass is found wild almost all though the country. However, it is recommended to grow it in the homestead because of its great religious and medicinal value and for firm identification. This grass spreads quickly and it needs only a little planting stock (about five rushes) in the beginning to fill in the alloted space. A bed size of approximately 50x30 cms is enough for the home herbal garden. It also comes up very nicely in shallow rectangular pots of the size 50x30cms or shallow circular pots of 40-50cms diameter.

Care regime: This grass is very hardy and grows well even with little moisture. Watering twice a week is adequate. The spread of this grass needs to be kept under control by cutting the leading shoots.


Parts Used: Whole plant

Collection :The above ground parts can be cut with the help of knife or carefully plucked with hand from near the ground. This grass spreads quickly and if maintained properly can continue to yield harvest for long.

Home Medicine - Basale ( Basella alba )

Basale ( Basella alba )
    

    Indian spinach (ENG)
    Poi, Lalbaclu (HIN)
    Basale (KAN)
    Basalaccira (MAL)
    Mayalu (MAR)
    Whamichi bhaji (MAR)
    Upodika, Potaki (SAN)
    Venpacalikkoti (TAM)


It is a delicate climber with shining purplish-red branches. Stem and leaves are fleshy. The plant bears small white or red flowers. The fruits are of the size of pea and turn white or black on ripening. Fleshy leaves are also used as vegetable.
 How to Grow: One or two plants of this important pot-herb are adequate per household from primary health care point of view. Being weak-stemmed, it needs to be provided support for climbing. It can be planted in the ground or in pots of the size 20-25 cm. It can also be planted in hanging baskets and its purplish dropping branches add a pleasant hue to the surroundings.

Care regime: This plant needs only little care for its maintenance. Watering two-three times a week is adequate for its optimum growth. Excessive watering may result in decay of this plant. The plant can sustain partial shade for a few days and needs to be periodically provided direct sunlight for its good growth.


Parts Used: Aerial parts

Collection :Use a sharp knife to cut the required quantity of aerial parts from a well established plant. New shoots keep on sprouting all through the year.

Home Medicine - Adusoge ( Adathoda vasica )

 

Adusoge ( Adathoda vasica )
    

    Adusa (HIN)
    Adusoge (KAN)
    Adalodagam (MAL)
    Aadulasa (MAR)
    Vasaka, Vaasa (SAN)
    Adhatodai (TAM)


A branched, evergreen shrub with broad leaves tapering at both ends. Flowers are white, bi-lipped, arranged in dense and short spikes. It is found growing wild throughout the tropical and subtropical parts of the country. It is also grown as hedge.
How to Grow: Due to its evergreen dense foliage, makes a good potted plant and can be maintained in pots of 25 to 30 cms size. It can also be grown in the ground where a mature plant needs about 1.5 sq m space. The plant also makes a nice hedge that can be maintained at heights varying from 3/4 metre to 2 metres. It likes sunlight but can also withstand partial shade and, therefore, can be kept in verandah or under some tree.

Care regime: It is a hardy plant and when planted in the ground needs only occasional watering. When grown in pots, watering twice a week is adequate. The plant needs periodic pruning to maintain its shape and size.


Parts Used: Leaves and roots

Home Medicine - Lolesara ( Aloe vera )

Lolesara ( Aloe vera )

• Indian Aloe (ENG)
• Lolesara (KAN)
• Kattarvazha (MAL)
• Korfad (MAR)
• Kumari (SAN)
• Soththu kathalai (TAM)

It is a cactus like plant having thick and fleshy leaves with spiny margins. Leaves contain a gel, which is bitter in taste. These are closely arranged near the plant base in whorls. Bright orange coloured tubular flowers appear in spikes during late winter on old plants.
 
How to Grow: 'Lolesara' has got beautiful shining green foliage and forms an attractive pot plant. For the purpose of use in primary health care, one plant in a pot size of 25 to 30 cms is sufficient per household. It can also be planted on the ground, where it grows up to a metre tall. It needs well-drained soil for optimum growth, therefore, pot mixture of soil: sand: manure (1:2:1) may be used for growing this plant

Care regime: It needs only occasional watering and can even thrive under moisture stress conditions. Excessive watering may result in decay of the plant. The plant likes direct sunlight.

Parts Used: Leaf-pulp

Collection :The plant becomes ready for yielding leaves from about three months after planting. Leaf collection can be started with the lower leaves that can be cut by a sharp knife from near the base.