Medicinal Plant 6

TORBOT is local name of Benincasa hispida (Thoxb) Cogn. Cucurbitaceae.

Ash gourd, also known as white gourd or wax gourd is an annual, hairy, creeping herb. Its fruit is very large, eaten as a vegetable when mature. It is eaten simply as boiled food ‘champut’ or steamed. Ash gourd is known for its medicinal values and healing power. Being low in calories, it is ideal for diabetic patients, and those seeking weight-control. The cooling purgative herb boosts secretion and disposal of urine. Therefore it acts as a good detoxifying agent too. It is beneficial for curing peptic ulcer. It provides good relief from constipation, acts as a blood coagulant, body coolant and reduces body heat. It helps in controlling common cold, cough, fever, sinusitis, bronchitis, influenza and more, without any side effects. It can also be of much relief to chronic asthma patients.

Benincasa hispida

LOKLEI: Rhizome of The White ginger lily (Hedychium coronarium) which is called takhellei angouba in Manipuri. It belongs to family, Zingiberaceae. Fresh rhizomes of H. coronarium is used in culinary. It is preferred in ethnic dish of Manipur called ‘Tharoi-thongba’ and widely used as an important ingredient in ‘yongchak-aloo eromba’. The rhizome of H. coronarium is used in headache, lancinating pain, contusion inflammatory. It is used as a febrifuge, tonic, excitant, and anti-rheumatic.

Hedychium coronarium

Medicinal Plant 5

YONGCHAK botanically known as Parkia roxburghii (F. mimosaceae) is a tropical tall tree. Fruits and pods are eaten as one of the favourite delicacies in Manipur either cooked/roasted/raw. The plant grows abundantly in the foothills of the state as well as in the backyard of houses in the valley. The leaves are bipinnate with numerous small curved leaflets and flowers in dense turbinate heads hanging on long peduncles. The fruit comprises bunches of green pods which may be upto 50cm in length. On maturation, the pods turn black and contain yellow dry powder pulp in which are embedded several black seeds. Pods and seeds are used for stomach disorders. The decoction of leaves is applied to cure sores and skin infections. The concoction made from bark is used to cure skin infection.

Parkia roxburghii

UMOROK (Capsicum chinense), the traditional crop of Manipur, is giving importance in the scientific community as it was reported in the recent past to be the hottest chilli in the world. Besides, Manipur, the crop is also traditionally cultivated in Nagaland which is known as ‘Naga King chilli’, in Assam popularly known as ‘Bhoot Jolokia’ and also in other North-eastern States of India. It is reported that the tremendous hot flavour of chillies is due to the presence of a group of seven closely related compounds called capsaicinoids, but capsaicin (8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide) and dihydrocapsaicin are responsible for approx. 90% of the pungency. Capsaicin, the active component of chili peppers, has the ability to dilate blood vessels thus giving relief in chronic congestions. It also helps to cure cough and sore throat. It stimulates the secretion of saliva and gastric juice. Clinical reports also indicate that capsaicin can protect the mucous membrane of the intestine from mechanical and chemical damage. Use of chilli leaves for ailments such as boils, headache and night blindness have also been reported.

Capsicum chinense

Medicinal plants 4

PERUK (Indian Pennywort) botanically known as Centella asiatica of Apiaceae family is a slender creeping plant. It is little bitter in taste when boiled/steamed. Whole plant when boiled is used in popular cuisine known as ‘peruk kangsu’. The leaves are taken raw for its amazing medical properties. Since ancient times the plant is traditional used for various pathological disorders and in particular for the healing of wounds. It is also recommended in chronic diseases. Leaves have found application in clinical practice for dermatological disorders and in particular for improving the healing process of wounds, burns, skin and vein ulcers. Juice of aerial parts is used as a brain tonic; powder of aerial portion is taken to control high blood pressure; whole plant is used as diuretic; plant paste is applied as a poultice in case of bone fracture. Today preparations of C. asiatica leaves constitute the active principle of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products for the treatment of venous and skin disorders.

Centella asiatica

HAWAI MUBI (broad bean/fava bean) botanically known as Vicia faba (Fabaceae) is used as a vegetable. It grows in a long pod and is one of the important winter crops for human consumption in Manipur. The popular dishes of faba bean in Manipur include hawai mubi ‘kangsoi’ (stewed beans) and serves as an ideal culinary ingredient in ‘yongchak aloo eromba’. In literature, it is reported that feeding value of faba bean is high, and is considered in some areas to be superior to other legumes. The seedpods are diuretic, expectorant, or tonic. Studies reveal that fava beans are linked to Parkinson’s disease for it contains levodopa. Levodopa (L-Dopa) is the major ingredient for drugs used for treating Parkinson’s disease. It includes Sinemet, Madopar, Dopar and Larodopa. It is not just the beans itself that contains L-Dopa. As a matter of fact, the entire plant contains levodopa. It can be found in its stems, leaves, pod and even immature beans.

Vicia faba

IKAITHABI commonly known as Water mimosa (Neptunia oleracea) belonging to Mimisaceae) is a long-lived aquatic plant which is cultivated as a vegetable. It has mimosa-like leaves that close up when touched. It grows in shallow water and has thick taproot that becomes woody with age and produces stems up to 1.5 m long which may become detached. The older floating stems develop a thick spongy covering which aids with flotation and they also produce roots at their joints. The young stems are eaten raw as vegetable salad ‘singsu’ and shoots (after removing the spongy covering) are cooked for ‘eronba’. Fresh leaf juice is taken as refrigerant and astringent. Stem juice is poured into ear to get relief from earache. Eaten raw in dysentery and intestinal infections. Whole plant is used in syphilis, dipsia, burning sensation, diarrhoea, strangury and helminthiasis.

Neptunia oleracea

Welcome the new beginning

Make an end is to make a new beginning

The year 2011 has been a fond year for me… I got far closer and attached to my parents, my sisters, brother and cousin bro. Though I had some bitter moments but this is the time I forget every bad memories of the past and start afresh a meaningful chapter of my life ahead!!
Through this year, I cultivated some good hobbies.. Enhanced my cooking skills. Though cooked a lot yet eat less and hence put off some kilos :), gain more responsibilities  and regards.. Interacted with new people, made new friends and got chance to meet up old friends who are staying miles away..
Visited some great places which I always yearn to be there once in my lifetime and naturally felt so great. Had celebrated each festivals of the year with full enjoyment. 

I have got loads and loads more to jot down here for a complete whole year period but I should be conscious that the readers might not get bored. So I just end up here with my best wishes for everyone out there..

May the coming year be a glorious one. Have a fabulous time ahead!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!! Cheers everyone!!

Medicinal Plants 3

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis (Singgralei)

Plant is a shrub. It is planted as an ormaental plant for its beautiful fragrant flowers. An orange dye obtained from the flowers is used for colouring silk and cotton. Leaves and flowers are edible.

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis

Cyperus rotundus (Shembangkaothum)

Plant is a perennial erect sedge with stoloniferous rhizome. Dried tuberous root has aromatic properties and used in perfumes and also for hair oils.

Cyperus rotundus

Coptis teeta (Urihangampal)
Plant is a rhizomatous perennial herb. Plant is used in malaria and stomach pain. The root is a pungent, very bitter, cooling herb that controls bacterial and viral infections, relaxes spasms, lowers fevers and stimulates the circulation. It is analgesic and anaesthetic and is used as a general panacea with alterative, ophthalmic and pectoral activity. The root contains several compounds that are effective in inhibiting various bacteria and they are a safe and effective treatment for many ailments, such as some forms of dysentery,  that are caused by bacteria. The root is harvested in the autumn and can be used fresh or dried.

Moringa oleifera (Sajana) 
Plant is a deciduous tree. Green fruits and tender leaves are used as vegetables. Oil from seeds is used in cosmetics. 

Moringa oleifera

Ficus racemosa (Ashi Heibong) 
Plant is a deciduous tree. It is used in diabetes.  

Ficus racemosa

Ricinus communis (Kege) 
Plant is an evergreen shrub. Leaves are used to feed eri silkworm. Seeds are used to poison fish. Fresh leaves boiled with milk when given to mother increases milk flow. Plant is used during stomachache and carbuncles.

Ricinus communis

Morus nigra (Heijampet)

Leaves are antibacterial, astringent, diaphoretic, hypoglycaemic, odontalgic and ophthalmic. They are taken internally in the treatment of colds, influenza, eye infections and nosebleeds. The stems are antirheumatic, diuretic, hypotensive and pectoral. A tincture of the bark is used to relieve toothache. The fruit has a tonic effect on kidney energy. It is used in the treatment of urinary incontinence, tinnitus, premature greying of the hair and constipation in the elderly. Its main use in herbal medicine is as a colouring and flavouring in other medicines. The root bark is antitussive, diuretic, expectorant and hypotensive. It is used internally in the treatment of asthma, coughs, bronchitis, oedema, hypertension and diabetes. The bark is anthelmintic and purgative, it is used to expel tape worms. Extracts of the plant have antibacterial and fungicidal activity. A homeopathic remedy is made from the leaves. It is used in the treatment of diabetes. Fruit - raw, cooked or used in preserves. A delicious slightly acid flavour, it makes an excellent dessert fruit and can be eaten in quantity. The fruit is juicy and refreshing, though it must be used as soon as it is ripe.

Morus nigra

Punica granatum (Kaphoi) 

Pomegranate fruit juice is known as a delicacy and is made into excellent sherbet with the addition of water, sugar and taken internally, and some people use it in preparing ice-creams, jellies and marmalades. Such juice of pomegranate fruits possesses diuretic, cooling effect, glucose, fructose, tannins, oxalic acid, and reduces thirst in cases of fevers, supplies the required minerals and helps the liver to preserve vitamin A. from the food, increases the body's resistance to T.B infection, and acts as a tonic for heart and kidney.

Punica granatum

Emblic Myrobalans (Heigru) 
It is a deciduous tree. Fruit bark and leaves are used in tanning and dyeing fabrics. It is used in allergy, anti-dandruff shampoo, skins diseases. It removes excessive salivation, nausea, vomiting, giddiness, spermatorrhoea, internal body heat and menstrual disorders. Because it is also cooling, it increases sattwa, and is an excellent liver tonic. The fresh fruit is a diuretic and a laxative. A cooling and refreshing drink can be made from it. The dried Amla fruit is astringent and useful in cases of diarrhoea and dysentery.

Emblic Myrobalans

Aegle marmelos (Heirikhagok) 
It is a middle sized deciduous spiny tree. The fruit and leaf extract are good in diarrhea, chronic dysentery and other stomach ailments. Half-ripe fruit is astringent, digestive and stomaich. Root bark is is used in intermittent fever. The ripe fruit is consumed and also used for squash making. Ground leaf-paste is rubbed over the body to eliminate foul body smell.  

Aegle marmelos

Citrus sinensis (Komla)

The Fruit is appetizer and blood purifier. It is used to allay thirst in people with fever and also treats catarrh. The fruit juice is useful in the treatment of bilious affections and bilious diarrhoea. The fruit rind is carminative and tonic. The fresh rind is rubbed on the face as a cure for acne. The dried peel is used in the treatment of anorexia, colds, coughs etc. A semi-drying oil obtained from the seed is used in soap making.

Citrus sinensis

Citrus limon (Champra) 
They are an excellent preventative medicine and have a wide range of uses in the domestic medicine chest. The juice is a good astringent and is used as a gargle for sore throats etc. Lemon juice is also a very effective bactericide. It is also a good antiperiodic and has been used as a substitute for quinine in treating malaria and other fevers. The skin of the ripe fruit is carminative and stomachic. The essential oil from the skin of the fruit is strongly rubefacient and when taken internally in small doses has stimulating and carminative properties. The stem bark is bitter, stomachic and tonic. An essential oil from the fruit rind is used in aromatherapy. A semi-drying oil obtained from the seed is used in soap making. An essential oil from the peel is used as a food flavouring and also in perfumery. The juice of the fruit is used for polishing bronze and other metals that have been neglected. It can also be used for removing ink stains. The juice is used as a bleaching agent. Wood - nicely veined, it takes a beautiful polish.

Citrus limon

Citrullus lanatus (Tarbuj) 

The seed is demulcent, diuretic, pectoral and tonic. It is sometimes used in the treatment of the urinary passages and has been used to treat bed wetting. The seed is also a good vermifuge and has a hypotensive action. A fatty oil in the seed, as well as aqueous or alcoholic extracts, paralyze tapeworms and roundworms. The fruit, eaten when fully ripe or even when almost putrid, is used as a febrifuge. The fruit is also diuretic, being effective in the treatment of dropsy and renal stones. The fruit contains the substance lycopine (which is also found in the skins of tomatoes). This substance has been shown to protect the body from heart attacks and, in the case of the tomato at least, is more effective when it is cooked. The rind of the fruit is prescribed in cases of alcoholic poisoning and diabetes. The root is purgative and in large dose is said to be a certain emetic. it is also used for making soap and for lighting. Face masks made from the fruit are used as a cosmetic on delicate skins.

Citrullus lanatus

Arocarpus heterophyllum (Theibong) 

Roots of the plant is known to cure hydrocoele. Leaves are antidote to snake bite. Fruit  paste is used to cure swellings of feet and arms. Heart of the wood is bright yellow, hard and durable and used in the construction of house and furniture.

Arocarpus heterophyllum

Bauhinia hookeri (Chingthrao Angouba)

It is a rounded shrub or small open tree, up to 5m high, with an irregular habit. Leaves are silver to grey green, held in small delicate pairs up to 2.5 cm across, looking just like hundreds of butterfly wings. Plants are semi-deciduous with most leaves falling immediately before flowering then replaced with the flowers. Plants flower in spring to early summer and dot the canopy with large pure white orchid-like five petal flowers up to 7 cm in diameter, with a number of long spidery brilliant red stamens protruding out.

Bauhinia hookeri

Medicinal Plants 2

Clitoria ternatea (Aprajita)

Plant is a climbing vine. It is often planted as an ornamental plant for its beautiful blue flowers. Leaves are used for ear ache, fever and for curing ulcer. 

 

Clitoria ternatea

Pisum sativum (Hawaithrak)

It is a herbaceous climber. Seeds, tender shoots and pods are used as vegetables. Seeds are used as emollient on face and measles.

Pisum sativum

Azadirachta indica (Neem)
It is partially evergreen medium height tree, can be considered as deciduous. Leaf and bark juice are consumed to eliminate the problem of sugar. Leaf, fruit and seed extracts are used as insect repellents. Twigs or small branches are used as tooth brush, as it is good for gum and teeth. Leaves are good in scabies, eczema and other skin diseases. Also used in small and chicken poxes, measles, and as anthelmintic. The oil prepared from the seed pulp is known to be good in small pox and sores. Leaves are also eaten for blood purification. 

Azadirachta indica

Bixa orellana (Ureirom)
Plant is a shrub. A dark yellow dye is obtained from ripe seeds which are used for dyeing cloth and some food products (butter, cheese etc.). Fibre obtained from the bark is used for rope making. Stem bark juice is used in dysentery and  kidney trouble. Seeds are used as a remedy for gonorrhoea.

Bixa orellana

Cassia fistula (Chahui)
Plant is a small tree. Wood is used for housing pupose making furniture, agricultural implements, cart wheels, rice pounders etc. It is used for common cold, constipation and septic ulcer.

Cassia fistula

Cyperus rotundus (Shembang kaothum)
Plant is a perennial erect sedge with stoloniferous rhizome. It is used during stomach discomfort.

Cyperus rotundus

Medicinal Plants 1

Amaranthus viridis (Cheng-kruk)

It is an erect annual herb. Tender shoots are eaten as vegetable for improving eye sight. The stem paste is against snake bite. Leaf paste/juice is good against scorpion bite. 

Amaranthus viridis

Allium sativum (maroi-chanam)

It is an annual erect herb with bulbous stem, and cultivated for bulbils and extensively used in flavouring food, pickle etc. The bulb extract is bactericidal and antiseptic. Garlic oil is used as expectorant, stimulant and also against hysteria. Garlic juice is good in pulmonary diseases, phithisis, bronchitis, gangrene of lungs, whooping cough, and dyspepsia. It is also good to cure fever, piles, cough and leprosy. It is carminative, diuretic, stomachic, and alternative. Daily consumption can reduce hypertrension or high blood pressure. It is also uised in asthma, general paralysis, facial gout, sciatica pain, lumbago and rheumatism. It is also good as digestive, carminative, blood purifier and helps remove ringworm and scabies. It is used extensively as a food additive.

Allium sativum

Amaranthus spinosus (Chengkruk-tingkhang-panbi)
It is an erect or diffuse spinous herb.  The ground paste of the plant is used as an antidote to snake bite. The tender shoots are used in diarrhoea, galactogue to nursing mothers* and eczema. The root is good for menorrhagia and gonorrhoea.

Amaranthus spinosus

Alocasia indica (Yendem)

It is a stout coarse herb bearing green, triangular and saggitate leaves. Juice of the leaf is astringent and the rhizome is mild laxative. The juice can cure abdominal pain.

Alocasia indica

 Abelmoschus esculentus (Belendri)

It is a hairy shrub. The fruit extract is used as an Expectorant. The mucilage of the fruit and seeds are used in gonorrhoea and also in irritation of the urino-genital system. It is also used as vegetable. Abelmoschus esculentus Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Jubakusum) Plant is a shrub.  It is grown as ornamental in the garden and for making hedges. It is used in anti-dandruff shampoo.  Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Gossypium herbaceum (Lasing) Plant is a shrub.  Leaves and flowers are used for dysentery, ear troubles, burn injury, scabies, inflammations.  It is used for making cloths, carpets, mercerized cotton and other cotton goods, woven products etc.   Gossypium herbaceum Mimosa pudica Plant is a prickly herb. It is used in jaundice, sexual vigour and septic ulcer. Mimosa pudica Zingiber officinale (Shing) Plant is a herb with tuberous and creeping rhizome. Rhizome is used for stomach trouble, expectorant and allergy. It is used as a spice to flavour curries. It is used in medicine as aromatic ingredients. Tinospora cordifolia (Ningthou- khongli) Plant is a succulent climber. Leaves are used for treating leprosy.  Tinospora cordifolia Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi) Plant is an erect undershrub. Leaves are used for cough and ear-ache.