Public Health

Scientific Name Carthamus tinctorius Linn. Family Asteraceae. Used Part Flowers. Distribution Area Cultivated throughout India. As an oilseed crop, safflower is cultivated in the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Common Uses . The flowers are laxative, cure "vata""tridosaha""kapha", strangury, leprosy,cause biliousness. The flowers have a bitter bad taste and bad odor, tonic to the liver, hypotonic, diuretic, expectorant, cure inflammations, boils, ringworm, scabies, leucoderma, piles, bronchitis, improve the complexion.…

Scientific Name  Vanda tessellata  (Roxb.) Hook ex Don (=V.roxburghii R.BR.)   Family Orchidaceaae    Used Part     Root.   Distribution Area  An epiphytic orchid, 30-60 cm. high, found from Uttar Pradesh to West Bengal, extending southwards to Kerala. .   Common Uses . The root is a bitter heating alexiteric, antipyretic, useful in dyspepsia, bronchitis in lammations, rheumatic  pains, diseases of the abdomen, hiccough, tremors. In Yunani system root is used as tonic to the liver and brain ; good for bronchitis, piles, lumbago…

Scientific Name Phyllanthus emblica Linn. ( E. officinalis Gaertn. syn.Phyllanthus emblica Linn.) Family Euphorbiaceae Used Part Fruit rind. Distribution Area The tree is common in the mixed deciduous forests of India ascending to 4,500 ft. on the hills. Common Uses . Amla fruit has been held in high esteem in indigenous medicine. It is acrid, cooling, refrigerant, diuretic and laxative. The raw fruit is eaten as an aperient. Dried fruit is useful in haemorrhage, diarrhoea and dysentery. In ombination with iron, it is used as a remedy for anaemia, jaundice…

Scientific Name Paris polyphylla Smith. Family Liliaceae Used Part Rhizome Distribution Area It is found throughout Nepal from 1800 to 3000 m, and also in temperate Himalayas at altitudes of 1,500-3,000m. from Simla to Bhutan, and in Lushai and Aka hills. Common Uses .The Rhizome possesses antihelmintic properties. The plants of P. polyphylla var. chinensis and var. yunnanensis are credited with sedative and analgesic properties and form one of the constituents of the Chinese medicine `Chonglou'. The rhizome possesses anthelmintic properties; its powder taken with…

Trigonella Foenun-grecum Linn. Vernacular Names :- Arabic : Berlime ; Bengal : Methishak ; English : Fenugreek , Greek Hayes ; Gujrat : Methini ; Hindi : Methi ; Punjab : Sag Methi ; Sanskrit : Gandhaphale ; Tamil : Vendaya ; Telgu : Mentikura. Family :- Papilionaceae. Distribution :- It is found in Punjab and Kashmir. Morphology:- An erect, annual, densely hispid, robust herb. Leaves trifoliate. Leaflet oblanceolate-oblong. Flowers sessile in the axil of leaves. Calyx 4 mm long. Corolla bright yellow coloured. Pods linear, falcate with persistent long beak and 10-20 seeded (Bhandari, 1978…

Indigofera tinctoria Linn. Vernacular Names :- Arabic : Nilaj ; Bengal : Nil ; Bombay : Guli , Nila ; Central provinces : Nil ; English : Common Indigo, Indigo ; Gujrat : Gari ; Hindi : Gouli ; Punjab : jil, Nil ; Sanskrit : Gandhapushpi ; Tamil : Attipurashadam ; Telgu : Karunili. Family :- Papilionaceae. Distribution :- It is found in tropical Africa, Ceylon, Phillipines, Burma, Malaya, Pakistan and throughout India. Morphology :- An extensively branched high shrub. Stem terete or sulcate, thinly silky with short medifixed with white hairs. Leaves 5-8 cm long, bear 9-13 leaflets which are…

Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn. Vernacular Names :- Arabic : Irkessus ; Bengal : Jashtimadhu, Jaishbomodhu ; Bombay : Jashtimadhu ; English : Liguorice ; Gujrat : Jethimadha ; Hindi : Mulhatti ; Punjab : Jetimadh , Muleti ; Sanskrit : Jalayashti ; Telgu : Atimaduramu. Family :- Papilionaceae. Distribution :- It is found in Afganistan, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Spain and Turkistan. Morphology :- 4-5 feet high plant with typical papilionaceous flowers of purplish blue colour. The underground portion of the plant consist of long roots and thin rhizomes or stolons (Trease and Evans, 1973…

Abrus precatorius Linn. Vernacular Names :- Assam : Latuwani ; Bengal : Chunhati ; Bombay : Ghungchi ; English : Indian liquorice ; Gujrat : Chanoti ; Hindi : Chirmiti, Rati ; Punjab : Labri Ratak ; Sanskrit : chataki ; Tamil : Adisamiyai ; Telgu : Raktika. Family :- Papilionaceae. Distribution :- It is found in Ceylon, Pakistan, throughout the tropical regions and it is found throughout India. Morphology :- A perennial, twinning shrub. Leaves 9-12 cm long, leaves have rachis bristle-tipped ; leaflet 10-20 pairs, 1-2 x 0.5-0.8 cm, oblong. Flowers pink, born in fascicles on swollen nodes…

Abrus precatorius Linn. Vernacular Names :- Assam : Latuwani ; Bengal : Chunhati ; Bombay : Ghungchi ; English : Indian liquorice ; Gujrat : Chanoti ; Hindi : Chirmiti, Rati ; Punjab : Labri Ratak ; Sanskrit : chataki ; Tamil : Adisamiyai ; Telgu : Raktika. Family :- Papilionaceae. Distribution :- It is found in Ceylon, Pakistan, throughout the tropical regions and it is found throughout India. Morphology :- A perennial, twinning shrub. Leaves 9-12 cm long, leaves have rachis bristle-tipped ; leaflet 10-20 pairs, 1-2 x 0.5-0.8 cm, oblong. Flowers pink, born in fascicles on swollen nodes…

Butea monosperma Roxb. ex Willd. Vernacular Names :- Assam : Polah ; Bengal : Kinka ; Bihar : Paras ; Bombay : Khakara ; Central provinces : Pharas ; English : Flame of the forest, Bastard teak ; Gujrat : Pallaso ; Hindi : Palas, Dhak , Tesu ; Punjab: Pahal ; Sanskrit : Raktak pushpaka ; Tamil : Palasu ; Telgu : Kimsukamu. Family :- Papilionaceae. Distribution :- It is found in Ceylon and throughout India. Morphology :- An erect tree of 20-40 feet in height with crooked trunk and irregular downy or tomentose branches. Bark is ash coloured and rough or at times olivaceo-reddish. Leaves…