www.malaysianherbals.com---Coccinia indica (69)-கோவைக்கொடி

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Ivy gourd occurs wild in northern and eastern Africa, Arabia to tropical south and southeast Asia. It has spread and become naturalised in Tropical northern Australia and Fiji and occasionally adventive in the neotropics
 “Coccinia Grandis”-

கோவைக்காய்

தெரியுமா? அல்லது அதன்


பயன் தான் தெரியுமா?

This green vine is grown widely through out Malaysia.

Indian Ivy Gourd is a widely consumed vegetable, available in India and Malaysia  through out the year. Called  Kovai keerai and Kovai Kai  in Tamil  and Dondakaya (Telugu) or Tindora/Tondli (Hindi), these cute looking small, stubby, green colored vegetables which grow aggressively on vines are used to prepare delicious stuffed curries, stews, pickles, salads and stir fries.

Ivy Gourd is considered as weed in many parts of the world . It comes under the Cucurbitaceae family(Family of Cucumbers). The Botanical name of the vine is Coccinia indica. Name indicates it is native to India. Although it grows all round the Asian countries. Also in West Indies and Hawaai. It is highly valued as food and medicine in Thailand! In India, the Ayurveda text, mentions about its usage in various ailments. 

General characteristic of  Vines with small green are  round tendrils. The tendrils are 12-14 cm long, single and spring-like twisted, oppositely inserted to leaves. Leaves are simple and alternate. Leaves' bases are in heart-shaped, sharpened tip and curvy edge. The shape of the leaf is star-liked with 5 rays. 5-7 veins separated from leaves' bases. Leaves are 3-4 cm wide, 5-6 cm long. A stem is 3-5 cm long. Flowers are solitary, axillary, and sometimes fasciculate. Berry-like fruits are green when young and red when ripe. Inflorescence is during April-December. Fruiting during June-January. Propagating by seeds and preserved stems.

Kovai  has the property towards reducing one's glucose level. 



The gourd is considered as vegetable and appreciated for its unique taste. Widely used in culinary. Gourd has the property towards reducing one's glucose level. Researchers are now showing interest in common plants, which have more pharmacological uses than one could imagine. The gourd is said to have the properties to lower one's glucose level. To be more specific...it suppress the activity of enzymes that are involved in the production of glucose, such as G-6-phosphatase. Although the leaves tend to have more properties than the gourd itself. Maybe the foliaceous nature of this creeper...gets very little attention! Wish Ethonobotonist give some holistic approach towards the whole plant/vine.
Scientific Name- “Coccinia Grandis”

Ivy Gourd, Gentleman’s Toes (English)

Dondakaya, Dondakai (Telugu)

Tondakayi (Kannada)

Vargoli (Hindi)

Tindora, Ghiloda (Gujarati)

Tondli, Tendli (Marathi)

                                     கோவைப்பழம்போல்சிவந்தஇதழ்கேள்விப்பட்டுள்ளீர்களா?

Kovakkai (Malayalam)

Kovaikai (Tamil)

Goli (Rajasthani)

Kundru (Utter Pradesh)

Dondakaya or Tondli is a small oblong shaped, smooth skinned, light green to dark green shade, abundantly available Indian vegetable
Has a mild sour flavor with a crunchy juicy texture
Has medicinal value and used widely in Traditional Thai and Ayurvedic Medicine
Contains beta-carotene and a good source of protein and fiber

Medical Research suggests that gherkins may suppress the activity of certain enzymes involved in glucose production, such as G-6-phosphatase and helps control diabetes.

Coccinia grandis, the ivy gourd, also known as baby watermelon, little gourd, gentleman's toes, tindora or gherkin is a tropical vine. It is also known as Cephalandra indica and Coccinia indica. Wikipedia

கோவை (கொவ்வை, Coccinia cordifolia) மருத்துவப் பயன்பாடுடைய தாவரமாகும்.

 இக் கொடித் தாவரம் பற்றைக் காடுகள், வேலிகளில் வளர்கிறது. இதன் இலையின் பிளவு அமைப்பைக் கொண்டு மூவிரல் கோவை, ஐவிரல் கோவை என்ற பிரிவுகள் உண்டு. இதன் பூ வெள்ளை நிறமானதாகும். இலை, காய், தண்டு, வேர் என எல்லாப் பாகங்களும் மருத்துவ குணமுடையனவாகும். இலைக்கஞ்சியில் இதன் இலை சேர்க்கப்படுவதுண்டு.

கண்குளிர்ச்சியை உண்டாக்கும். இலைச்சாற்றுடன் வெண்ணெய் சேர்த்து சிரங்குகளுக்குப் பூசலாம். இதன் இலைச்சாற்றைப் பருகி வந்தால் நீரழிவு நோய் கட்டுப்படும். கொவ்வங்காய் கோரோசனை மாத்திரை செய்யப் பயன்படுகிறது.

இலக்கியத்தில் கோவை]

இதன் பழங்கள் ஒரு கவனிக்கத்தக்க செந்நிறத்தில் இருக்கும். இதன் காரணமாக திருநாவுக்கரசர்பின்வரும் தனது பாடலில் சிவனின் வாய்நிறத்திற்கு உவமையாக இதைப் பயன்படுத்துகிறார்.

குனித்த புருவமும் கொவ்வைச் செவ்வாயில் குமிண் சிரிப்பும் 
பனித்த சடையும் பவளம்போல் மேனியில் பால்வெண்ணீறும் 
இனித்தமுடைய எடுத்த பொற்பாதமும் காணப்பெற்ல் 
மனித்தப் பிறவியும் வேண்டுவதே இந்த மாநிலத்தே  நன்றி: த.விக்கிபீடியா

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www.malaysianherbals.com - Prickly Pear Cactus cactus -(68) `Chapathi kalli'-சப்பாத்திக்கள்ளி

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DO YOU KNOW IT IS GOOD FOR PURIFYING WATER AS WELL AS REDUCING SUGAR LEVEL IN BLOOD?

Prickly pear cactus and fruit. Did you know that even the 

cactus part is edible?


There are over 200 species of prickly pear cacti. Most are found in southwestern North America, Mexico, Central America and South America. Opuntia humifusa is native to the United States east of the Rockies, where it grows in dry, sandy soils in open pine woods, prairies and scrub. Prickly pear is easy to grow, rooting readily from pads stuck in the ground, or even just lying on the surface. Grows best in full sun, in dry, sandy soil.


WATER PURIFIER

Millions of people lack access to clean water globally, and that lack of access - or rather, access to unsafe drinking water - kills as many as 15 people per minute.

 We have many options for filtering water, but a primary problem with clean water technologies is they're expensive and not simple to maintain once placed where they're needed. Yet, that could change. 

By using a cactus found commonly worldwide, a team of researchers have devised what could be a solution for access to clean water.

 According to New Scientist, the prickly pear cactus could be key to cheap, clean water globally - or at least that's the hope of Norma Alcantar at the University of South Florida in Tampa. She and her team extracted the gum used by the cactus to store water. When mixed with water that had high levels of sediment or the bacterium Bacillus cereus, the gum caused the sediment and bacteria to settle at the bottom of water samples, filtering out 98% of the contaminants.

The researchers think that by boiling a slice of cactus and adding it to the water needing purification, a household could have the cheapest, easiest solution to clean water where other more advanced technologies are unavailable.

Questions remain, however, on when a household would know when the bacteria is filtered out, as well as what variety of contaminants this could filter. If it can't filter the bacteria, pollution and viruses common in drinking water, then it isn't the simple solution hoped for. And of course, there's an issue of having enough cactus available. More research is needed, but this could be an excellent supplement for areas or times when other options are simply not around.

Prickly pear cacti typically grow with flat, rounded platyclades that are armed with two kinds  of spines; large, smooth, fixed spines and small, hairlike spines called glochids that easily  penetrate skin and detach from the plant. Many types of prickly pears grow into dense,  tangled structures. Like all true cactus species, prickly pears are native only to the Western hemisphere; however,  they have been introduced to other parts of the globe. Prickly pear species are found in abundance  in Mexico, especially in the central and western regions. They are also found in the West of the  United States, from arid regions in the Northwest, throughout the mid and lower elevations  of the Rocky Mountains, and especially in the Southwest. Prickly pears are also the only types  of cactus natively found to grow far east of the Great Plains states, as far north-east as Long  Island, where it can be found in Northport. Prickly pear species were introduced into Australia in the late 1800s, causing major ecological  damage in the eastern states (see www.northwestweeds.nsw.gov.au). They are also found in  the Mediterranean region of southern Europe, especially on the island nation of Malta where they  grow on cactus found all over the island, and can be found in enormous numbers in parts  of South Africa, where it was introduced from South America. Opuntia are the most cold-tolerant  of the lowland cacti, extending into western and southern Canada; one subspecies, Opuntia  fragilis var. fragilis, has been found growing along the Beatton River in central British Columbia,  southwest of Cecil Lake at 56° 17’ N latitude and 120° 39’ W longitude. Charles Darwin was the first to note that these cacti have thigmotactic anthers: when the anthers  are touched, they curl over, depositing their pollen. This movement can be seen by gently poking  the anthers of an open Opuntia flower.  [1]

சப்பாத்திக்கள்ளி

PRICKLY PEAR cactus (Opuntia species known as `Chapathi kalli' in Tamil) is found in abundance along roadsides and drought-prone regions. It is highly nutritious and is endowed with good medicinal properties.

It is of great economic value, and is extensively grown in Mexico, parts of Central and South America and the Caribbean region. "In Mexico, the flattened stems are eaten, and are very popular. Prickly pear cactus also gives a delicious fruit called tunas. The cactus can be dehydrated, pulverized and made into capsules. Mexico exports huge quantities of prickly pear cactus to Japan as a herbal medicine," says Ms. Margarita Barney de Cruz, President of the Group to Promote Education and Sustainable Development (GRUPEDSAC), a pioneering non-governmental organization in Naucalpan, Mexico. "Also the prickly pear cactus is used in making a highly effective water-proof paint for homes. The technique originated in Mexican rural areas and is probably pre-Columbian. It was mostly used in the 16th to 18th centuries for painting churches and convents and the smooth paint gave a shiny, silk-like finish if white of eggs were added to the mixture," says Ms. Barney de Cruz.

The type of whitewashing is also excellent for henhouses and pig stables, because it acts as a germicide and sealer, which prevents the formation of bacteria and the nesting of insects.

Stables, hen and rabbit houses should be whitewashed at least two times a year and also each time there is a change of inhabitants in such places, according to her.

The waterproofing substance is made by adding water to chopped paddles of the cactus, lime and salt in the right proportions. About 100 litres of water is added to 20 chopped stems of the prickly pear cactus (with or without the spines).

Chopped stems should be soaked in water for 24 to 48 hours. The mixture is then strained to remove the chopped stems, leaving only the slimy water. To this decanted fluid is added a mixture of about 20 kg of lime and 2 kg common salt.

A thick white paint will form, and it is then used for painting, according to Ms. Barney de Cruz. "It is recommended that at least two coats of this paint should be applied within a minimal interval of 24 hours. This paint gives an intense white colour to any kind of wall. Painting ferro-cement structures with this special whitewash seals the cracks that may have formed in the setting of the cement. The waterproofing effect is 100 per cent," she points out. The whitewash also results in better lighting, as white reflects light in the inside of the buildings.

The paint on the outside results in the reflection of sunlight and thus diminishes heat, according to her. "Waterproofing with this substance is very economical.

The plants are well adapted to dry regions. It can be easily grown from the cuttings or from the seeds. With thick water-retaining stem, lack of leaves and extensive root system, the cacti is well adapted to dry environmental conditions, and it can be raised with minimal care and attention," explains Ms. Barney de Cruz.

The prickly pear cactus was designated the official plant symbol of Texas in 1995. Found in the deserts of the American southwest, the fruits of most prickly pear cacti are edible, and have been a source of food to native Americans for thousands of years. Cacti in general (and the fruits in particular) are still staple foods for some residents of Mexico and Latin America and the prickly pear cactus is raised commercially. The fruit is sold under the name "Tuna"; the branches or pads are eaten as a vegetable, called "nopalito" or "nopales.

"TheseFruits upon first glance, they looked like kiwis with candle wax dripped on them, shaped like baby avocados... but with armor!--tiny hairlike prickles called glochids that leave surprise reminders of their presence as you bend your fingers.  Click here to learn more about prickly pears!rickly pears, also known as cactus pears, cactus fruit, cactus fig, or tuna in Spanish, are grown on a cactus called the Prickly Pear, native to the Americas and grown in abundance in Mexico and the western US (we purchased ours from California). 

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www.malaysianherbals.com Artemisia vulgaris -(67)வாய்வு நீக்கும் மூலிகை

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Artemisia vulgaris

கிறிஸ்மஸ் பூச்செடியின் இலைபோல் வாசமானது.நன்கு காற்று பரியும். இது சீன வம்சத்தினரின் அரிய மூலிகையாகும்.மலேஷியாவில் எல்லா இடங்களிலும் கிடைக்கக்கூடியது.

According to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, mugwort leaf has bitter, pungent and warm properties, and is associated with the Liver, Spleen and Kidney meridians. Its main functions are to warm the meridians and stop bleeding, and to dispel cold and stop pain.

Artemisia vulgaris (mugwort or common wormwood) is one of several species in the genus Artemisia commonly known as mugwort, although Artemisia vulgaris is the species most often called mugwort. This species is also occasionally known as felon herb, chrysanthemum weed, wild wormwood, old Uncle Henry, sailor's tobacco, naughty man, old man or St. John's plant (not to be confused with St John's wort). Mugworts are used medicinally and as culinary herbs.

It is native to temperate Europe, Asia, northern Africa and Alaska and is naturalized in North America, where some consider it aninvasive weed. It is a very common plant growing on nitrogenous soils, like weedy and uncultivated areas, such as waste places and roadsides.

It is a tall herbaceous perennial plant growing 1–2 m (rarely 2.5 m) tall, with a woody root. The leaves are 5–20 cm long, dark green,pinnate, with dense white tomentose hairs on the underside. The erect stem often has a red-purplish tinge. The rather small flowers (5 mm long) are radially symmetrical with many yellow or dark red petals. The narrow and numerous capitula (flower heads) spread out inracemose panicles. It flowers from July to September.

A number of species of Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) feed on the leaves and flowers; see List of Lepidoptera that feed on Artemisiafor details.

Mugwort leaf is known by many other names, including artemisia and Japanese wormwood. It resembles a shrub, which can reach a height of more than three feet, with small greenish-yellow flowers and alternating leaves of green, grayish green or silver. The part of the plant used for medicinal purposes is the leaf. The leaves are gathered in the spring and summer, while the plant is flowering, and dried in a shady place.

Mugwort has a special place in traditional Chinese medicine. It is the herb of choice for acupuncturists who practice moxibustion - a form of healing in which mugwort is burned, either in a cone-shaped pile, or on top of an acupuncture needle. Mugwort also has a long history of use in folk remedies. Research has shown that it acts as an emmenagogue - that is, an agent that increases blood circulation to the pelvic area and uterus and stimulates menstruation. This could explain its use in treating breech births and menstrual cramps. A landmark study published in 1998 showed that moxibustion using mugwort leaf on expectant mothers could help breech babies relocate to the correct position prior to birth.

How much mugwort leaf should I take?

The amount of mugwort leaf used depends on the condition being treated and the way it is being applied. Mugwort cones may weigh as little as three grams. Larger moxa sticks may weigh up to 10 grams. Mugwort can also be ground up into boiling water and used in a decoction with other substances. Fresh mugwort leaf can be crushed and blended to form a type of juice.

What forms of mugwort leaf are available?

Dried mugwort leaf is usually available as a pre-formed cone or stick for moxibustion. Moxa sticks are widely available from most herbal shops and acupuncture suppliers. Dried, unformed mugwort leaf can also be obtained at many Asian markets and specialty stores.

What can happen if I take too much mugwort leaf? Are there any interactions I should be aware of? What precautions should I take?

Mugwort leaf should be avoided by patients diagnosed with spleen yang deficiency. Skin contact with mugwort leaf may also cause an allergic reaction in some individuals; burning mugwort leaf should be used with extreme caution by patients and practitioners alike. As always, make sure to consult with a licensed health care provider before taking mugwort leaf or any other herbal remedy or dietary supplement.
Thanks naturopathydigest

As one of commonly seen weeds in China, mugwort herb, also called Ai Ye or moxa, can be taken  orally or used externally in Chinese herbal therapy. Externally moxibustion therapies are its  distinguishing application; internally it has wider usage, especially for gynecological diseases. What is mugwort herb? It is also known as Artemisia Vulgaris in Latin, which is a perennial herb in the composite family.  Regularly it can be found along open hillsides, grassy areas, and margin of forests. The best harvesting  timing is from May to July when their leaves are in their utmost luxuriance while without blooming yet.  And drying in ventilated shade is the way to make them with best medicinal effect. Mugwort leaves are shrunk and wrinkled with short stalk after drying. The intact one is in oval shape,  with pinnate parted in elliptic-lanceolate, irregular margin with coarsely sharply serrate. The upper  surface is grayish-green with sparse pubescence and glandular dots; Lower surface is covered with thick whitish pubescence. The preferred one should be with thick leaf, green in color, whitish  on lower surface, thick pubescence, and rich aroma. By the way, it can be consumed now in many forms like tea, powder, pills, and extract, etc. What is mugwort herb used for? It is bitter, acrid, and warm in nature. And Liver, Spleen, and Kidney are the three Channels it  effectively acts on. Main clinical usage and indications are spitting blood, nosebleed, menstrual disorders, hemafecia,  uterine bleeding, period pain, bleeding during pregnancy, restless fetus, chest and abdomen pain  due to cold, diarrhea and prolonged dysentery, abnormal vaginal discharge, eczema, sores and  ringworm etc. Usual dosage is from 3 to 9 grams in decoction. Popular Chinese herbal formulas Mugwort leaf is mentioned in two formulas in Shang Han Lun and Jin Gui Yao Lue (The Treatise on  Cold Damage Disorders and Miscellaneous Illnesses) – one is Bai Ye Tang and the other is Xiong Gui Jiao Ai Tang. Bai Ye Tang is mainly for vomiting blood due to the middle-burner Qi losing its control over blood.  This formula is especially designed for deficiency-cold in middle-Jiao lead to Qi’s failure of controlling  blood, thus the blood deviation of from the meridians. Ce Bai Ye (Biota Leaves) in this formula is  looking to mitigate the ascending tendency while inducing astringency; Gan Jiang (dried ginger)  works to warm the middle Burner, dispel cold, and descend the adverse movement of Qi; In addition  to warm the meridians and stop bleeding itself, mugwort herb works together with dried ginger to  motivate spleen yang to regulate blood; The juice of Ma Tong is warm and guides the blood  downwards in order to stop bleeding. Mugwort leaf in Xiong Gui Jiao Ai Tang is aimed at warming meridians and womb for the sake of  hemostasia. Combining with Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia) , Chuan Xiong (Szechuan Lovage Root),  Shao Yao (Peony Root) and Gan Cao (Licorice Root), this formula tunes the meridians and blood while  treating abdominal pain. So Xiong Gui Jiao Ai Tang is good at deficiency patterns suffering from loss  of blood, especially with abdominal pain and collapse due to massive hemorrhage. Moxibustion therapies According to Compendium of Materia Medica (Ben Cao Gang Mu), moxibustion with mugwort cones  cures a variety of diseases. Moxibustion practice is quite similar to acupuncture and the difference  between them is the tool used, the choice of needle or burning cone. Moxa is fragrant, inflammable  and with warming fire, which is capable of warming associated channels to dispel cold, strengthen  Yang-Qi to stop draining away, remove stasis of the blood to dissipate stagnation, and prevent  diseases to have a long life. And the weights of them are varied from 3 to 10 grams. Glutinous rice cake It is also a fabulous vegetable. In Dongjiang River of Guangdong  province, its tender young leaves and buds are eaten as a vegetable  during winter and spring time. More than that, glutinous rice cake  is another famous local-flavor snack of south China during the  Ching Ming Festival. Usually the ratio of fresh tended leaves  and glutinous rice flour mixed together is 1:2. To add some flavors,  peanut, sesame, and white sugar or others would be put in as filling too. Fending off evil This is a very interesting folk tradition in China. When Dragon Boat Festival comes, people tend to  hang or place herbs like mugwort plant and calamus (Chang Pu) on the door of their houses, which  they believe can help keep their whole families from jinx the whole year. This ritual was there long  ago partly because it is a medicinal herb, which serves as a widely popular moxibustion medium to  burn its way to a cure. Possible side effects and contraindications Normally mugwort has little side effects if used properly. But it has its own share of cautions and  contraindications as well in TCM practice. It is only recommended for non-sensitive skin because its  volatile oils have mild stimulation on skins, which might lead to fever and flush. Else, using it over a  long period of time could inhibit nerve and impair liver, nervous centralis, and blood vessel due to  excessive “volatile oils”. The experiment revealed its essential oils have significant inhibiting action  on contract of the isolated heart from toad and little impact on heart rate. However, it might develop  atrioventricular block and heart failure in a high concentration dosage. If poisoning occurs after oral ingestion of large doses mistakenly, first gastric lavage and bone carbon  adsorption are the way to go. And then place the patient to a quiet room with lower levels of light to  avoid unnecessary stimulation. Based on the description from Ben Cao Bei Yao Ben Cao Bei Yao (Complete Essentials of the Materia  Medica) and Ben Jing Feng Yuan (Journey to the Source of the Materia Medica Classic), mugwort  herb should be avoided by those suffering from blood heat due to Yin deficiency from the Traditional  Chinese Medicine (TCM) point of view. Hence use it only as directed or consult your doctor when  necessary.    http://www.sidhhaherbs.blogspot.com                   (67)     Croton Seed (Ba Dou) »

www.malaysianherbals.com- (66)Aeschynomene americana--நீர் நெட்டி-

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In Malaysia It is grown wildly.

முள்ளில்லாத தொட்டால் சிணுங்கி           -நீர் நெட்டி

 இதை பார்த்திருக்கீர்களா?

Aeschynomene americana is a species of flowering plant in the legume family known by many common names, including shyleaf,  aeschynomene, American joint vetch (United States and Australia), thornless mimosa (Sri Lanka), bastard sensitive plant (Jamaica), pega pega, pega ropa, antejuela, ronte, cujicillo, and dormilonga (Latin America).It is native to Central America, parts of South America, the West Indies, and Florida. 

This plant is an annual or perennial herb growing up to 2 meters tall. The leaves are up to 7 centimeters long and have several pairs of linear to oblong leaflets. The sensitive leaves fold up when touched. The inflorescence is a raceme of flowers each up to a centimeter long. The flowers range in color from white to pinkish, orange, or purplish. The fruit is a curved legume pod up to 4 centimeters long made up of several jointed units, each unit containing a seed.

This species is widely used as a green manure or pasture plant throughout the tropical world. It is grazed by livestock and may be cut for hay. Cattle readily eat the plant and spread the seeds on their coats and in manure. Available cultivars include 'Glenn'.eschynomene americana is a species of flowering plant in the legume family known by many common names, including shyleaf forage aeschynomene, American joint vetch (United States and Australia), thornless mimosa (Sri Lanka), bastard sensitive plant (Jamaica), pega pega, pega ropa, antejuela, ronte, cujicillo, and dormilonga (Latin America). It is native to Central America, parts of South America, the West Indies, and Florida.

This plant is an annual or perennial herb growing up to 2 meters tall. The leaves are up to 7 centimeters long and have several pairs of linear to oblong leaflets. The sensitive leaves fold up when touched. The inflorescence is a raceme of flowers each up to a centimeter long. The flowers range in color from white to pinkish, orange, or purplish. The fruit is a curved legume pod up to 4 centimeters long made up of several jointed units, each unit containing a seed.

In the wild it is generally a wetland plant, easily taking hold in wet places such as drainage .
Grows in low-lying wet areas and waterlogged soils

Tolerates low fertility soils.

High nitrogen fixation.

Compatible with grasses.

High digestibility and nutritive value of leaf and young stem

Very palatable.

Persists under heavy grazing.

Seed readily available and relatively inexpensive.

Moderate shade tolerance.

Uses/applications

A freely nodulating nitrogen-fixing species, A. indica can be used as green manure.  May have application as a fodder crop in rotation with rice, but should be treated with caution due to reports of toxicity.  Many medicinal uses (including spermicide).  Pith from the stem can be used for floatation. http://www.sidhhaherbs.blogspot.com         (66)