Citron - Medical Citrus
April 17th, 2008 in Herbal medicine
Citrus aurantifolia synonymous to Citrus medica variety acida, commonly called sour lime, is one of the most widely used citrus fruits of India. The fruit, used for culinary purposes, are sold in markets almost the year around. It is a very common item which is served fresh or in pickle form along with the meals which are ordered in hotels. The plant is a much branched thorny shrub. The leaves are small with narrowly winged petioles. The small white flowers have usually four petals. The fruit are round of ovoid with thin rinds. The pulp is very acidic and is a rich source of Vitamin C.
Bassia latifolia
April 11th, 2008 in Herbal medicine
Bassia latifolia is synonymous to Madhuca indica, popularly known as Mahua in India. It is a large handsome tree which may reach a height of 12 to 15 meters. The trunk of the tree is rather short with many spreading branches which provide excellent shade. The leaves are elliptic-oblong in shape. The cream colored flowers which turn purplish when fully mature and ready to drop are formed in dense fascicles near the ends of the branches. The dry flowers which are brown in color are sweet and can be eaten. In some parts of India, the tribal folk prepare local liquor which has a very strong smell.
Asteracantha
April 10th, 2008 in Herbal medicine
Asteracantha is a hardy, upright, herbaceous plant which is hydrophytic in nature, or found growing in wet and marshy areas. The hairy stem is square and thickened at the nodes. Six stalkless lanceolate leaves forming a whorl are produced from each node. Four pairs of purplish-blue bilabiate, or two-lipped, flowers are put forth from the nodes. The capsule which is produced contains 4 to 8 seeds with white hairs.
Asparagus
April 10th, 2008 in Herbal medicine
Asparagus is a beautiful xerophytic garden plant which is often planted in pots for ornamental use. The leaf-like cladodes are succulent and lush green. The leaves are reduced to scales and the stems are spiny in nature. The fasciculate cluster of succulent roots makes a good identifying characteristic. The insignificant tiny white flowers give rise to small fruits, the size of pepper corns. These fruits which are initially green turn red on maturity.
Agave
April 9th, 2008 in Herbal medicine
Agave is a fibre-bearing plant which grows in tropical countries. It produces leaves upward from the ground, forming a massive rosette. Both sides of the leaves are smooth, having prickly edges, and at the upper extremity, a thorny end. The plant produces a long and erect stem which bears bulbs that fall to the ground and grow into new plants.
Fruits and Veggies for Your Health
April 8th, 2008 in Diets, Herbal medicine
- Apple
- Apple is considered very good for the heart.
- Oranges
- Oranges are prescribed for patients with a high blood pressure.
Psoralea
April 8th, 2008 in Herbal medicine
Psoralea is a common weed found everywhere. It has a grooved stem, simple leaves which are subcordate, ovate or roundish in shape with mildly serrated leaf margins. The 10 to 30 very small bluish-purple flowers are seen close together on axillary solitary racemes. The single-seeded pods are 5 mm. long ovoid-oblong, somewhat compressed and black in color.
Cajanus cajans
April 7th, 2008 in Herbal medicine
Cajanus cajans which is synonymous to Cajanus indicus is given different names like: Red gram, Pigeon Pea, Congo Pea, and “Tur” by the local people in India. The plant is usually cultivated and the gram, a rich source of protein is widely used in India for the preparation of the popular “Dal curry”.