Posts Tagged ‘Health’

BANGUN-BANGUN (INDIAN BORAGE) RELIEVES ASTHMA

Sunday, June 6th, 2010

There are many benefits of the Bangun-Bangun (Indian Borage) plant, comprising for medication, cullinary and also for perfumery.

Its scientific name is the Plectranthus amboinensis from the Labiate family and has many other common names – Broadleaf Thyme, Country Borage, Cuban Oregano, French-Thyme, Indian Borage, Indian-Mint, Mexican Mint, Soup-Mint, and Spanish Thyme. It has thick leaves that look nearly like the Ati-ati, with either sides having hairs and when crushed will produce a nice minted aroma.

The stem is soft, light green in colour and would sag downwards to the ground.  The leaves emerge all along the stems while there are also small leaf branches at each leaf stalk thus making the plant easy to turn into bushes.  The plant is also easily propagated – by simply breaking the stems for bud grafting or inserted in the ground.

The juice from the leaves is said to be effective against cough and asthma. The Malay traditional method is by simply boiling a handful of leaves in water and the mixture is consumed when lukewarm.

Some people use the leaves for aroma in preparing tea.  The practice is also common among those who suffer hereditary asthma. A piece of leaf would normally suffice for a cup of tea.  One would have to quit taking the mixture when there are side effects.

The leaves are also used to relieve headaches, unconsciousness, and animal bites.  For headaches, the leaves are crushed and patched onto the forehead.  To resuscitate a person who fell unconscious, the leaves are put near the patient’s nose.  The crushed leaves are patched onto the affected area of animal bites.

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ARA TANAH (ASTHMA WEED), REMEDY FOR POST-NATAL DEPRESSION

Sunday, June 6th, 2010

Ara tanah or known as the Asthma Weed, Hairy Spurge, Cats Hair, Fei-yang ts’ao, is a kind of grass plant with dark greeen and oval-shape leaves. The stems and branches have sparse of tiny and split hairs.

Also known in Malaysia as Gelang Susu and Keremak Susu, its scientific name is Auphorbia hirta Linn from the Euphobiaceae family. The leaves grow in pairs along the stem.  Each leaf has intersperse veins that are also sparse.  The flower is yellow and spots like a button that emerges from the stem in between two leaves. The plant has no taproot structure and is easly pulled from the earth. The grass like plant grows easily in open spaces and in flower pots.  It grows upright to a maximum of 30 centimeters height.

Asthma Weed is usually used against skin disorders like warts and cuts.  The leaves are first cleaned and then pounded or milled and then patched on the affected skin area.

It is also said to be effective against joint paints, gouts, and high blood pressure by consuming the water that has been boiled with all parts of the plants.

It is also known as the ‘goat’s milk grass.’ In his book, ‘Introduction to Medicinal Herbs,’ Abd. Rahman Md. Derus writes that the plant has whitish latex that contains some amount of narcotic.

The latex and liquid obtained from the leaves are used as remedy for post-natal depression. It is also said to be useful against eye disorder. However, those who wish to use them to treat eye disease should obtain advice from herbalist first.

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ARA SONGSANG MERAH (ASYSTASIA) TO TREAT HAEMORRHOID

Sunday, June 6th, 2010

Ara Songsang Merah is a shrub that covers land surfaces and grows up to 15 centimetres in height.

Its stem and leaf are dark red while the flower resembles the shape of a cat’s tail, and the fruits are small and thorny.  It grows on spacious areas even at the road side and currently people plant them as ‘blankets’ and ‘hangovers.’

Ara Songsang Bunga Merah, as it is called in Malay, is scientifically known as Asystasia sp. from the Acanthaceae family. It is known to have many alternative qualities.  Highly associated as remedy for Haemorrhoid (piles) and bleeding soil. Common method of preparation is by boiling all parts of the plant in water including the roots and then sifted to drink twice a day.

In the Malay alternative medicine world, it is usually mix them with other plants like the starfruit or ‘belimbing’ (Averrhoa spp.). The mixture is believed to be highly effective to treat high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney problems and heart diseases.

Mixtures in the traditional Malay traditional sphere are prepared in a traditional pot made of earthen clay while metal base utensils are not advisable as they are believed anti-herbal and would usually deter the desired healing properties.

While boiling the mixtures, the earthen clay is left uncovered to allow the evaporation of unwanted and ‘hazardous’ substance.

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THE MULTI-PURPOSE ANGSANA (BURMESE ROSEWOOD) TREE

Sunday, June 6th, 2010

The Angsana tree is categorized as a timber plant that can reach up to 30 meters in height and the trunk measures up to 3 to 3 ½ meters in diameter.  The wood is suitable to make furniture.

The trunk base spots artistic curvy and decorative veneer surface and if angularly sliced into thick pieces can be used as unique table tops.  The trunk however will produce reddish-like resin if cut or ‘injured.’

Pterocarpus indicus is its scientific name from the Legumisosae family. Popularly known as the ‘Pokok Sena’ or ‘Pokok Sano’ in Malaysia, its leaves are pinnate and densely grown at the branch tips that make them stoop downwards.  The tree is suitable as shades.

The flowers are produced in panicles containing a few to numerous flowers, slightly fragrant and have yellow or orange-yellow petals. The fruit is a semi orbicular pod 2–3 cm diameter, surrounded by a flat 4–6 cm diameter membranaceous wing which aids dispersal by the wind. It contains one or two seeds, and does not split open at maturity; it ripens and becomes brown when dry.

The central part of the pod can be smooth, bristly or intermediate.

In the alternative medicine sphere, the Angsana has been proven effective especially the leaf, bark and resins.  The young leaves are used as remedy to help cure high fever, boils, dry skin (at the heel) and mouth ulcer.

For treating high fever, the leaves are fondled with little water and dapped onto the body.  For boils, the leaves are seared near fire for heat and applied with cooking oil and seared again near fire and patched on the boils. Resins from the bark can be used to heal dry skins at the heel by applying it on the problematic area; the bark is boiled with water and when lukewarm, the water can be gargled to treat mouth ulcers.

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AKAR CERITA (THE KING OF BITTER) HELPS CURE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

It is called Akar Cerita in the Malay Language, but known as the King of Bitter.  It is a kind of herbaceous plant in the Acanthaceae family. At a glance it looks like the henna plant, with dark green leaves.  Its flower bud is like the small chili, and the flower, white in colour with purple spots at one end of the petals.  It grows easily in an open area.

Known scientifically as Andrographis paniculata but also known as the ‘hempedu bumi’ or the ‘earth bile’ in Malaysia, it tastes so bitter after being rubbed with hands.  If consumed as blended juice the bitter taste can be described as of the same with the ‘petawali’ plant (Tinospora Tuberculata), and will linger at the tongue for a while.

It is widely cultivated in southern Asia, where it is used to treat infections and some diseases, often being used before antibiotics were created. Mostly the leaves and roots were used for medicinal purposes. It is used as part of the remedy to help cure high blood pressure and diabetes.  Normally the leaves, stems and roots together with the flowers of the plant are boiled and later drank to treat ailments.

The bitter taste from the mix will linger and cause the tongue to feel numb.  For diabetes the mix is usually added with the java tea or the misai kuching (Orthosiphon Stamineus).

It is also used as alternative remedy to treat cold and sore throat by simply dipping a few leaves in a glass of hot water and consumed slowly while the water turns lukewarm.  Experts however advise that the intake frequency be scheduled for controlling measures.

The plant is also used to treat insect bites including bee sting and snake bites. Simple procedure includes pounding the leaves and applying them on the part affected by insect sting and snake bites.

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