LAWSONIA ALBA; L. Spinosa; L. Inermis.

Sunday, 02 July 2006

Quick remedy for Leprosy, Scalds & Burns . Sans.----Mendhi; Raktagarba; Kuravaka. Eng.----Henna; Samphire. Fr.----Henne. Hind. Guz. Mah. Duk. & Punj.----Mendhi, Ben Mehedi. Cash,----Mohuz. Pers,----Hina. Arab.----Yoranna. Cing.----Meritondi. Burm.----Dambin. Tam.----Maruthonri; Aivanam. Tel,----Goeranta; Kuravamu. Can.----Madarangi. Mal.----Mailanchi. Kon,----Methhi; Padche methi. Malay.----Hinie; Pontaletsche. Habitat----Common all over India, cultivated chiefly as a hedge plant. Parts Used.----Leaves, bark, flowers, and seeds. Constituents.----The leaves yield a coloring matter 12 to 15 p.c. Hanno-tannic acid, a kind of tannin and an olive green resin soluble in ether and alcohol. The seeds yield an oil. The flowers yield a fragrant otto or oil. Action.----The bark is alterative, sedative and astrin-gent. The leaves are astringent, and detergent deodorant. The flowers are soporific. Uses The juice of the plant with sweet oil is an application to the head in headaches. The fresh leaves beaten into a paste with vinegar or lime.juice are applied as a poultice to the soles of the feet to cure the troublesome affection "burning of the feet." Another plan is to use strong friction with the bruised leaves over the parts. Arabic and Persian writers recommend a paste of the leaves with oil and resin added as a valuable application to the head in headaches, and to the soles of the feet in small-pox to prevent the eyes from being affected by the disease. The leaves or the herb ground into a soft paste with water are also similarly applied with benefit in cases of rheumatism. The leaves yield a dye which is exten-sively used for staining hands and finger nails; in conjunction with catechu and indigo they are also used as a hair-dye. Applied to the hair they are said to promote healthy growth. An ointment prepared from the leaves is used to cure wounds and ulcers. Their decoction is useful as an external fomentation in bruises, sprains, inflammations and burns; it is also an astringent gargle in ulcers of the mouth, and is an excellent injection for gonorrhoea. The leaf juice mixed with water and sugar or milk is given in spermatorrhoea and in the condition known as hot and cold fits----(Dymock). The bark in infusion is given in jaundice and enlargement of the liver and spleen, in calculus affections and as an alterative in leprosy, and obstinate skin diseases. In decoction it is applied to burns, scalds, etc. With honey and tragacanth the seeds act as cephalic. The leaves and seeds are useful in menorrhagia, vaginal discharges, and leucorrhoea. In such cases a powder of the seeds and leaves is put into a piece of calico or cotton and kept as a potali (small bag) into the vagina. The fragrant water distilled from the flowers was formerly employed by the Jews in baths and for perfuming the oils and ointments with which they anointed the body, and for embalming. According to Ainslie an extract from the flowers, leaves and tender shoots is a valuable remedy in cases of lepra and other depraved conditions of the body in doses of half a drachm twice a day. The infusion of the flowers or of the seeds cures headache and is a good application to bruises. A pillow stuffed with flowers is said to act as soporific. Ledebouria Hyacinthoides; L. Macula----See Scilla Indica.

Last Updated ( Sunday, 02 July 2006 )

 

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