Utilization of Local Flora in Clinical Practice

Dr. P. Y. Ansary, M D (Ay)ProfessorDept of DravyagunavijnanamGovt. Ayurveda CollegeTripunithura

Plants in health care practices – Indian scenario

In India, 65% of the population in the rural areas uses available Medicinal plants to meet their primary health care needs

According to WHO about 7500 plants are being used in Indian Systems of Medicine itself for various diseases

Importance of Local flora in health care practices

► Out of 7500 medicinal plants found used in India, only less than 1000 plants have been referred in the classical treatises – Samhitas

► Apart from this less than 500 other plants can be seen in the drug lexicons - Nighantus

Advantages of utilization of local Plants

Easily Available

Economically Viable

Offers Genuineness

Scientifically Employable

Uses of Local flora

As potent Single Drug Remedies

As substitute for non available/costly drugs in simple/complex classical formulations

To replace ingredients in formulations to get desired therapeutic effect

To increase the therapeutic efficacy of formulations

To develop local plant based formulations

Clinical application of Local flora

Emergency management

Acute conditions and diseases

Chronic conditions and diseases

Infectitious diseases

Communicable diseases

Emergency management

Cuts and Wounds

Murikootti, Muriyan pacha – Hemigraphis colorata (Blume) H. G. Hallier.Fam - Acanthaceae

Leaf paste is applied externally in clinical practice

Murikoottipacha – Blepharis boerhaviifolia PersFam-Acanthaceae

Leaf paste is applied externally in clinical practice

Leaf is crushed and the juice is applied

Ayyapana, Vishapacha – Eupatorium triplinerve M.VahlFam - Asteraceae

Leaf paste is useful locally against various kinds of haemorrhages

Decoction of the leaves to clean foul ulcers

Apply leaf paste in haematoma

Burns

Paruvakodi – Pothos scandens LFam - Araceae

Oil prepared out of leaves or whole plant is used externally

Pazhamtondi – Alangium salvifolium ssp salvifoliumFam- Alangiaceae

Oil prepared out of leaves according to anthardhooma method is used externally

Venomous bites

Kaippanaranchi –Cipadessa baccifera (Roth) Miq Fam - Meliaceae

Used by Kani tribes– South Western Ghats

Decoction of Leaf – Scorpion, Insect and Snake bites

Leaf Juice is used both internally and externally in Viper venom

Analivegom – Alstonia venenata R. Br.Fam - Apocynaceae

The root and leaves of this medicinal plants are used against all venomous bites

Decoction is used both internally and externally in Viper venom

Analivangam, Kasumaram – Pittosporum dasycaulon Miq. Fam - Pittasporaceae

Kachapatta, Analivegam –Pittosporum tetraspermum Wt. & Arn Fam - Pittosporaceae

Endangered medicinal plant mainly distributed in the peninsular parts of the Western Ghats region

The stem bark is used as antidote to snake poison

Kuppacheera, Cherucheera – Amaranthus viridis LAmaranthaceae

Whole plant paste used in the treatment of Viper venom

Eswaramulla – Aristolochia indica LFam - Aristolochiaceae

Whole plant or leaf or root as paste used both externally and internally for all venomous bites

Leaf juice applied externally on bites

Root decoction is used internally

Vella Erukku – Calotropis gigantea (Linn.) DryandFam - Asclepiadaceae

Cut end of Leaf bundle made hot in ghee and is massaged to reduce pain due to cobra bite

Keerikizhangu – Anaphyllum wightii SchottFam - Araceae

Bulb is used internally to treat snake bite

Vishapacha – Clinacanthus nutans (Burm.f) LindauFam - Acanthaceae

Leaf made into paste is applied externally to cure venomous symptoms

Kattuthekku maravazha, Chilantikizhangu – Eulophia graminea LindlFam - Orchidaceae

Bulb powder is used as Anti rabies drug

Gruel prepared with the bulbs is used in Spider toxicity

Mal : Piripu, Kuzhalvatakkodi – Polygonum chinense LFam - Polygonaceae

Root boiled in rice-water, crushed and smeared on the navel for poison

Bleeding piles

Kattappa –Ageratum conyzoides LinnFam - Asteraceae

Whole plant made into paste is used internally

Anachuvadi –Elephantopus scaber LinnFam - Asteraceae

Whole plant made into paste is used internally

Bhutacchadayan – Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit.Fam - Lamiaceae

Leaf powder is used internally

Fracture

Ellutti – Pterospermum rubiginosum HeyneFam - Sterculiaceae

Stem bark is made into paste, applied externally and a bandage is given

Chaturamulla – Myxopyrum serratum A. W. HillFam - Oleaceae

Leaf is made into paste, applied externally and a bandage is given

Rabis infection

Gopuramtangi – Andrographis echioides (L.) NeesFam - Acanthaceae

Leaves are used externally

Mal : Pulichuvadi – Ipomoea pes-tigridis LFam - Convolvulaceae

Apply leaves with pepper externally

Acute conditions and diseases

Stomach pain and inflammation

Kudalchurukki – Morinda umbellata LFam - Rubiaceae

Leaf paste is used internally

Kudalchuruki –Borreria articularisFam - Rubiaceae

Whole plant or Leaf paste is used internally

Head ache

Talavedanavalli , Vatakkodi– Naravelia zeylanica (Linn.) DCFam - Ranunculaceae

Fresh leaf is crushed and smelled

Leaf powder is blown into the nostrils (Nasyam)

Fever

Nilanarakam – Naregamia alata Wight & ArnFam - Meliaceae

Drink the water dripped from the root for fever with epileptic seizers

Makkippoovu – Artemisia nilagirica (Clarke) PampFam - Asteraceae

Decoction of whole plant is used internally

An ingredient of Valiyangadi kashayam

Skin disease

Pullanni –Calycopteris floribunda (Roxb.) PoirFam - Combretaceae

Leaves along with curcuma rhizomes are boiled and used as Kshalana for various ulcers instead of Triphala kwatham

Njottajodiyan – Physalis minima Linn Fam - Solanaceae

Whole plant decoction is used internally for various allergic skin conditions

Puzhukkolli – Rhinacanthus communis NeesFam - Acanthaceae

Leaf paste is applied externally for Alopacia (Indralupta)

Urinary calculi

Kallurukki – Scoparia dulcis linnFam - Scrophularaceae

Sip the juice of the root by continuous chewing

Njerinjil –Tribulus terrestris LinnFam - Zygophyllaceae

Kshara preparation of whole plant is used internally

Urine obstruction

Karachulli – Barleria mysorensis RothFam - Acanthaceae

Take root decoction

Hepatitis

Tumba – Leucas aspera (Willd) LinkFam - Lamiaceae

Leaf paste or whole plant powder is used internally for various liver disorders

Manjapittapacha – Thunbergia fragrans RoxbFam - Acanthaceae

Leaf paste is used internally for jaundice

Poovarasu – Thespesia populnea (Linn.) Soland ex CorreaFam - Malvaceae

Leaf paste or bark powder is used internally for jaundice

Bach pain

Paarvalli – Ichnocarpus frutescens (Linn.) R. BrFam - Apocynaceae

Root decoction is used internally along with gruel (Peya)

Idinjil – Commiphora wightii (Arnott) BhandariFam - Burseraceae

Bark decoction is used

Anaemia

Kutajadripacha– Lepidagathis cuspidata NeesFam - Acanthaceae

Leaf juice is used internally for Pandu

Menustral disorder

Neerootikizhangu –Eleutherine plicata (Sw.) Fam - Iridaceae

Bulb made into decoction in milk is used internally

Chronic conditions and diseases

Diabetes

Malkanneeram – Tinosporacrispa (L.) Miers ex Hook. f. &Thoms.Fam - Menispermaceae

Stem decoction is used internally

Chronic conditions and diseases

Cancer

Oruveran, Paruvalam – Clerodendrum viscosum VentFam - Verbenaceae

Root decoction is used

Cheditakkali – Rivina humilis LFam - Phytolaccaceae

Whole plant decoction is used internally

Infectitious and Communicable diseases

Panal – Glycosmis arborea (Roxb.) DCFam - Rutaceae

Whole plant decoction is used internally for small pox, chicken pox etc

Boiled water is used for bath

Leaves are used as bed

Mal : Kareelanji – Smilax zeylanica LFam - Smilacaceae

Decoction of Tuber is used for venerial diseases internally and externally

Used as substitute for Madhusnuhi

Substitute for non available/costly drugs

Noorakorana, Pannikizhangu – Dioscorea pentaphyllaFam - Diascoreaceae

Used as substitute for Varahikanda

Ingredient of Varahyadi choornam, Varahyadi ghrtam

Varahikanda is the classical substitute for Ridhi and Vridhi

Karutta kundirikkam – Canariums trictum Roxb.Fam - Bursearaceae

Used as substitute for Sallaki - Boswellia serrata

Pattichevi – Hemionitis arifolia (Burm.) MooreFam - Chelianthaceae

Used as substitute for Ahukarnie – Merremia emarginata

Palluvedanachedi –Spilanthus calva DCFam - Asteraceae

Used as substitute for Akarakarabha- Anacyclus pyrethrum

Pachakarpooram –Artemisia japonica ThunbFam - Asteraceae

Used as substitute for Karpooratulasi – Ocimum kilimandscharicum

Increases / modifies the therapeutic efficacy

Karingotta – Samadara indica GaertnFam - Simaroubaceae

Tailam is used to replace tila tailam in Pindathailam preparation

Tailam and ghritam are added to Pindatailam to convert it as Mokkoottu tailam

Local flora based formulations

Verakkaita – Hypolytrum nemotum (Vahl.) SprengFam - Cyperaceae

An ingredient of Vizhanlveradi kashayam

Kalloorvanchi –Rotula aquatica LourFam - Boraginaceae

An ingredient of Kallorvachyadi kashayam

Conclusion

Available flora in the locality can be used effectively in various diseases and conditions

Revive clinical practice by utilizing these plants

Recognize the scientific background behind the traditional practices