Doctor Bon

Rauwolfia is a very popular medicinal herb which grows to a height of about 0.9 meters. The lanceolate, bright green leaves of the plant are arranged in whorls of three and are about 7.5 to 18 cm. long. The flowers are found in clusters referred to as corymbose or umbellate cymes. The flower stalk and the calyx may be red and the corolla white with a red tinge. The fruit or drupes are purplish-black in color.

Herbal use

1. As the name of the plant suggests, for years it was used for snakebite with little or no use at all. However, it is useful for expelling worms from the body, checking high blood pressure, insomnia, epilepsy, melancholia, anxiety states, excitement, maniacal behavior associated with psychosis, chizophrenia, insanity and other mental disorders, checking intestinal problems, fever and ulcers.
2. Rauwolfia is useful for inducing labour pains and uterine contractions.
3. Rauwolfia is very useful for colic or acute abdominal pains.
4. Used for clearing corneal opacity.
5. Very useful in the treatment of high blood pressure and as a sedative or tranquilizing agent.

Uses

The juice of the leaves is instilled into the eyes as a remedy for the removal of opacity of the cornea.