Botanical medicine

March 1 2024

Sares

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A deciduous tree with spreading crown occurs commonly in wastelands and also planted along road sides. Leaves are bipinnate. Pinnae usually 1-4 pairs and leaflets 5-10 pairs, elliptic oblong with oblique base. Flowers fragrant, white or greenish yellow born in globose umbellate heads. Pods wide, linear, oblong, pointed, thin, green turning straw coloured on maturity. Seeds smooth shining, pale brown and compressed. Flowering and Fruiting in August to December.

Part used: Whole plant

Usage: Paste of stem bark is used to treat boils, pimples and ulcer. Leaves are used to treat night blindness. The leaf paste is applied in snake bite and scorpion sting. Flowers are used as a cooling medicine and used externally
in treating boils, skin eruptions and swellings. Root paste is used to cure Opthalmia, skin diseases and inflammations. The powdered root bark and root gum used for strengthening the gums. Seed oil is applied externally for leukoderma.
Agrotechniques : Propagation is best by seeds, can be also by stump planting. Nursery raised saplings are planted in 60 cm pits at 5×5 m during rainy season.

March 1 2024

Bil patar

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Wild in mixed deciduous forest of Aravalli’s, it is now cultivated in orchards and planted near temples. It is a large deciduous tree with thorns and trifoliolate leaves. Leaflet ovate-obovate with acuminate apex, crenate margin and densely punctate on both surfaces. Flowers are greenish white and sweet scented. Fruit is woody and smooth, ovoid or subglobose. Seeds are embedded in a sour, mucilaginous aromatic pulp. Flowering and fruiting in January to July.

Part used: Roots, Stem bark, Leaf and Fruit

Usage : Infusion of leaves is effective in peptic ulcers. Leaves rich in tanin, reduce inflammation and heal the ulcers. The oil prepared from leaves is used in the treatment of cold and respiratory disorders. The juice of leaves effective in diabetes. Paste of leaves applied externally heals boils. Extract of root mixed with neem oil cures infection, inflammation and discharge in ear. Decoction of fruit is useful in typhoid fever. Ripe fruit is aromatic, cooling, laxative and is used in the form of ‘sherbat’. The pulp of ripe fruit is very useful in constipation. The unripe fruit is very effective in case of chronic diarrhoea and dysentery.

Agrotechniques : Propagated through Seeds/ root cutting. Sowing is done in June or July and saplings are transplanted in the next second rainy season in 1 x 1 x 1 m pits spaced 10-12 m. Irrigation every 15-20 days in
summer, and weeding essential. Fruits should be collected after ripening and used as such. Its pulp should be dried in the shade.

March 1 2024

Adusa

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A tall, densely branched, perennial evergreen shrub with unpleasant odour, common in wastelands, in rocky places and along the fences. Leaves large elliptic lanceolate, opposite. Flowers born on solitary axillary spikes, white in colour with few purplish marking. Fruit brown, pubescent and four-seeded capsule. Seeds glabrous. Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Part used: Whole plant

Usage : Fresh juice 1 decoction, infusion and powder are extensively used as an expectorant, sedative and anthelmintic. The drug ‘vasaka’ is often taken in the form of juice extracted from its leaves mixed with ginger or
honey. Both, leaf powder and decoction effective in bronchitis, severe asthma, tuberculosis, cough, diarrhoea and dysentery. Paste and juice of fresh leaves is beneficial in healing wounds and in skin diseases. The root and stem bark has the same medicinal uses as the leaves. The flowers are used to treat tuberculosis.

Agrotechniques : Propagated through Seeds 1 Stem cuttings, 8-10 cms long with 3-4 internodes. Cutting takes 15-20 days to sprout and 30 days to root after which transplanted at 2x2m, with regular watering and weeding. Whole plant can be cut and dried in the shade.

March 1 2024

Undo kanto

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It is a common weed under shade throughout up to 1000 m elevation in India. An erect, stiff annual herb, up to 1 m tall, branching near the base. Stem angular, ribbed, thickened, light green or pink covered with short, stiff and slightly rough hair. Leaves simple, elliptic or obovate, acuminate or rounded at apex and glabrous. Flowers greenish white, small arranged on terminal 1 axillary spikes. Seeds light brown, sub cylindrical, pointed at apex and rounded at the base. Flowering and fruiting in August to December.

Part used: Whole plant

Usage: Its ash having high proportion of potash, acts as antacid. A bath with whole plant decoction relieves itching in skin diseases. Powder of whole plant cures spleen enlargements. Decoction of plant is diuretic while its ash is used in cold and cough. Leaves are used to treat asthma. Decoction of powdered leaves useful in the early stages of diarrhoea and dysentery. The juice of leaves is valuable in stomach disorders, kidney problems and is also applied externally over cuts and wounds. Its powdered root is very useful in pneumonia and cholera. Paste of the root is very beneficial in eye disorders (Opthalmia and opacity of the cornea). Root paste with cold water is given to stop bleeding after abortion. Root powder given as an antidote in dog bite, scorpion sting and rat bite. Root paste is applied on the abdomen for facilitating easy and painless delivery. Seeds mixed with milk are used as tonic.

Agrotechniques : Propagation through seeds. It is normally a weed and hence collected from nature. No specific agro techniques are available.

March 1 2024

Kumbat

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It is a small, prickly tree common on wastelands and gravels throughout the desert. It has glabrous-grey pubescent branches having hooked or straight spines. The two spines are slightly curved upwards and middle one curved
downward. Leaves dark green. Flowers in whitish fragrant spikes. Fruit is linear, oblong, thin flattened pod, pale brown, 3-6 seeded. Flowering and fruiting in August – January.

Part used: Gum resin, Stem and Flower

Usage: Source of true gum Arabic, which is demulcent and cures intestinal trouble because of soothing effect on mucous membrane. Externally it is applied on inflamed parts and bums and sores. It cures malaria, cough and
sore throat. Gum is used to prepare sweet dishes which are used after delivery as a tonic. Twigs are used for cleaning teeth. The bark decoction is beneficial as a gargle and mouth wash in throat infection. The decoction of
flowers is used to wash the infected eyes by desert dwellers. Seeds eaten as vegetable.

Agrotechniques : Propagated through seeds, it prefers sandy loam soils besides sand dunes and rocky areas. Direct sowing of seed! one year old plant prepared in nursery can be planted in June-July. It requires 1-3 irrigations in first year after plantation to ensure better survival. Weeding as and when required after planting. Gum is collected from bark.
Pods are dried in the sun light and seeds are taken out.

March 1 2024

Banwal

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Through out the area it is common on open grounds. Now extensively planted on wastelands in the drier parts. It is a medium sized evergreen tree. Stem has black to dark brown longitudinally fissured bark, Leaves bipinnate
with whitish straight stipular spines. Flowers golden yellow in globose heads. Pods compressed, moniliform and constricted between seeds. Seeds black brown, smooth, compressed and suborbicular. Flowering and fruiting in
March to May.

Part used: Gum, Leaf, Bark and Pod

Usages: Gum is used to prepare ‘Laddus’, a sweet dish which is used after delivery as tonic for general health. The decoction of leaves and bark is used to cure toothache and sore throat. Pod decoction is used in the treatment of urinogenital diseases. Leaves useful for treating bronchitis, piles and eye diseases. Leaf paste applied over pimples, blisters and boils. The twigs are used as tooth brushes. Bark paste is applied on fractured bone for early recovery.

Agrotechniques : Propagated through seeds, it grows well on deep, loam to clay loam soils. Irrigation at regular intervals is needed in first year of plantation. Weeding as and when required. A cut is made in the old stem to obtain gum from the bark.

March 1 2024

Tara Kanchi

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Common in waste places throughout hotter parts of India, it is a hoary tomentose perennial small shrub. Leaves velvety on both sides, cordate with toothed margin. Flowers golden yellow. Fruit subglobose and depressed in the centre. Seeds brownish black, reinifom1 with rough surface. Flowering and fruiting in October to January.

Part used: Whole plant

Usage: A febrifuge, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, aprnodisiaic and demulcent, its decoction is used to cure gonorrhoea. A known antidote for the scorpion bite. The extract of leaves is applied locally to boils and ulcers and as a fomentation to painful palts. Root infusion is used as a nerve tonic and antipyretic. Powdered flowers are used in cough. The infusion of seed is a cooling drink.
Agrotechniques : No specific Agrotechniques available as it is collected from the wild. Plant prefers hot and humid climate and can be propagated through seeds/ shoot cuttings

March 1 2024

Chirmi

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English-Indian Liquorice
Sanskrit-Gunja, Raktika
Hindi-Chinniti, Ratti
Local-Chirmi

It is a perennial twining climber on hedges particularly on hills in most parts of India. It has multiple branches. Leaf has leaflets 10-20 pairs, oblong, obtuse and hairy below. Flowers pink or white. Pods 3-5 seeded oblong turgid, beaked and pubescent. Seeds 3-6 scarlet red with black spot around the hilum, shining and smooth. Flowering and fruiting from October to March.

Part used: Root, Leaf and Seed

Usage: The root, a substitute for liquorice in coughs and catarrhal affections is diuretic, tonic and emetic. The decoction of roots is used to cure leucorrhoea. Leaves paste is applied on wounds and painful swellings.
Decoction of leaves is used for cough, cold and hoarseness. Seeds are used as purgative, emetic, and aphrodisiac and also in nervous disorders. Seed paste is used for baldness, dandruff and other hair and skin diseases.

Agrotechniques : No specific agro technique is available as it is a commonly occurring weed. However, it can be propagated through seed/stem cuttings.

February 29 2024

SAHJAN

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CLIMATE: Sahjan can tolerate a wide range of annual rainfall (250-3000 mm). It is a sun and crop that cannot
tolerate frost and thrives well where the daily temperature ranges between 25° to 35°C. It
can handle summer temperatures of up to 48°C for limited time.

SOIL: Sahjan grows in almost all type of soils with pH ranging from 5.0-9.0. It grows well in the vicinity of the sandy beds of rivers and streams. However, stiff soils are not suitable for the plant. Deep sandy loam soil with pH of 6.5 to 8 is most suitable for cultivating this crop.

PROPAGATION AND PLANTATION: Sahjan can be propagated by seeds as well as through stem cutting during July to October. Seeds may be sown at a depth of 2.5-3.0 cm in pits of 453 cm size at 2 x 2m distance; or after grafting, the seedlings may be raised in poly bags and transplanted after 35-40 days in the field at 5 x 5m distance.

Before plantation the pit must be filled with 10-15 kg manure and NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium) in a ratio of 135:23:45 g/pit/ha land after mixing with topsoil.

PLANT PROTECTION: The plants should be grown without chemical fertilizers and use of pesticides. Organic manure and pesticide are recommended.

IRRIGATION: Before sowing and on the 3rd day after sowing and subsequently at 10-15 days interval, water may be applied according to soil type.

HARVESTING: The crop becomes ready for first harvest after 180 days of sowing. After harvest of main crop, trees may be cut back 90 cm from ground level for ratooning. In another 4-5 months, trees again mature for harvest. Likewise, ratoon crops can be taken for 3 years.

USES

Sahjan leaves provide antioxidants, carotene, protein, Vitamin C, calcium and potassium. The flowers act as hypocholesterolemia, and the anti-arthritic agents can alleviate urinary problems. Pods are used to treat infections of the liver and spleen and also in treating articular pains. Leaves and pods are also helpful in increasing breast milk in the breastfeeding months.
The leaves can be eaten fresh, cooked or stored as dried powder for many months without refrigeration. The
leaves may also be used as animal fodder. The entire young and pliable pod is cooked and eaten or used in the preparation of curries.

February 29 2024

NIMBU

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CLIMATE: Lemons grow best between a temperature range of 13°C to 37°C. High humidity Favours spread of many diseases and frost is highly injurious to these plants. Hot wind during summer results in desiccation and drop of flowers and developing fruits.

SOIL: Lemons can grow in a wide range of soils, viz., from sandy loam or alluvial soils to clay loam or deep clay loam or in lateritic/acidic soils. The plant flourish well in light soils with good drainage properties and in deep soils with pH range of 5.5 to 7.5.

PROPOGATION AND PLANTATION: The best propagating technique for lemons is through rootstocks. For grafting the budwoods into the rootstocks, the selection shall be from disease free mother plants only.
For preparation of the seedlings, primary nursery beds may be prepared on light fertile soils. Secondary nursery seedlings may be raised in polythene bag and replanted after attaining the height of about 30-40 cm, which generally takes one year.

The best season for planting is June to August. 1m3 pits at a distance of 6 x 6 m should be dug for plantation. 15-20 kg of farmyard manure and 500 g of super phosphate needs to be applied in pits while planting per ha land.

PLANT PROTECTION: The plants shall be grown without chemical fertilizers and use of pesticides. Organic manure and pesticide are recommended.
IRRIGATION: Lemon plants require critical stage watering in the initial year. It reduces fruit drop and increases the fruit size. Diseases like root rot and collar rot occur in flooded conditions. Light irrigation with high frequency is beneficial. Irrigation water containing more than 1000 ppm salts is injurious.

HARVESTING: Lemons take 150-160 days for maturity, hence the fruits may be harvested 2-3 times in a year from one lemon tree.

USES

The lemon fruit is rich in Vitamin C which helps the body to fight off infections, to boost up immunity, to improve digestion, removes constipation and prevents or treat scurvy, soar throats, heavy weight, rheumatic conditions etc. It also has many skins caring properties.
The fruits can be eaten raw, and are frequently used in cooking, aromatherapy. The dried fruit rind is used as an insect repellent in the clothes cupboard, the juice is used for polishing metals, as wells as to remove ink stains for bleaching.