Extra Mile

Scientific Name: Syzygium aromaticum Common Name: Clove and Lavang Scientific classification: Kingdom: Plantae Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Myrtales Family: Myrtaceae Genus: Syzygium Species: S. aromaticum Syzygium aromaticum Habit: Tree Description: It is an evergreen tree, possesses large square leaves and sanguine flowers cloves Useful part: Dry flower buds Medicinal uses: It escalates heat in the system, increases hydrochloric acid which enhances digestion. It helps to reduce toothache, and it is an antiseptic, it helps to cure kidney, spleen, liver diseases and also utilized to treat immune system disorders, skin irritation, pimples, asthma, diabetics, and cough. Dosage: Oil and flower bud are utilized to cure the digestive problem, clove flower bud is kept in between teeth to reduce the infection and pain of that particular tooth. Chemical constituents: Gallotannic acid, campesterol, methyl salicylate, eugenol, eugenol acetate, ...

Scientific name: Feronia limonia Common name: Wood Apple, elephant apple, monkey fruit, curd fruit and velaga Scientific classification: Kingdom: Plantae Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Sapindales Family: Rutaceae Genus: Feronia Species: F. limonia Feronia limonia Habit: Tree Description: This is commonly known as wood apple tree, leaves are alternative, it possesses dull red or green flowers and woody grayish fruits. Useful parts: Bark, leaves, and fruits Medicinal uses: It is used as a liver and heart tonic and utilized to cure throat diseases, intestinal problems of children, dysentery, diarrhea, and asthma Dosage: Fruit is used as a tonic for liver and heart diseases; juice of young leaves is mixed with milk and sugar candy and given as a remedy for biliousness and intestinal problems of children. Powder of gum is mixed with honey and given to overcome dysentery and diarrhea in children. Oil derived from the crushed leaves is applied o...

Scientific name: Thevetia peruviana Common names: Kaner, Paccha ganneru Scientific classification: Kingdom: Plantae Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Gentianales Family: Apocynaceae Genus: Thevetia Species: T. peruviana Thevetia peruviana Habit: Shrub Description: Its evergreen shrub, leaves possess needle shape in the end. Generally, it has yellow color flowers, sometimes it contains white and orange color flowers. The fruit is small and contains 4 flat seeds Useful part: Leaves, seeds, and stem Medicinal uses: It is used as an anti fungal, antibacterial, anti termite properties, antimicrobial and it cures heart diseases and asthma Dosage: Milk sap containing a compound called thevetin is used as a heart stimulant Chemical constituents: Thevetin A, thevetin B, oleandrin, neriifolin, ruvoside, perudoside, and thevotoxin. Side-effects: Thevetin is extremely poisonous, all parts are poisonous especially seeds, it also causes nausea, abdom...

Scientific name: Picrorhiza kurrooa Common name: Kutki, Kardi, katuka-rogani Scientific classification: Kingdom: Plantae Class: Asteride Order: Scrophulariales Family: Scrophulariacea Genus: Picrorhiza Species: P. kurrooa Picrorhiza kurrooa Habit: Herb Description: It grows in the regions of the northwestern Himalayan region, roots are bitter, leaves are long oval in shape, flat and serrated. Flowers are white or pale purple on a long spike. Fruits are oval in shape Useful part: Leaves, bark, roots, and rhizomes. Medicinal uses: It is used as an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. It also reduces platelet aggregation, antiperiodic, stomachic, asthma; it reduces cholesterol of blood, boosts the immune system, against leishmaniasis, snake bite and for liver diseases Dosage: Medicine has to be taking from leaf, bark, root, and rhizome Chemical constituents: Iridoid glucosides, kutkoside, picroside I, II, III, IV, vanillic acid, pikuroside...

Scientific name: Phyllanthus amarus Common name: Phyllanthus, Jar Amla, Nillanelli, Kizar Neli and Nela usiri Scientific classification: Kingdom: Plantae Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Malpighiales Family: Phylanthaceae Genus: Phyllanthus Species: P. amarus Phyllanthus amarus Habit: Herb Description :  Compound leaves are present, and leaves possess small fruits Useful parts: Whole plant Medicinal uses:  It is used in treating viral infection, hypoglycemic (lower blood sugar), hepatitis-B, chronic fever, and for other liver diseases, this is why this plant is often utilized in south India to treat jaundice. Dosage: Juice of leaves is taken with milk on empty stomach for jaundice, nothing should be taken at least for an hour after taking this. Chemical constituents: Lignans, ellagitannins, amariinic acid, repandusinic acid A, phyllanthin, gallic acid, ellagic acid, and hypophyllanthin Side-effects: It may cause diarrhea and stomach...

Scientific name:   Solanum nigrum Common name: Black nightshade, poison berry, mokoi, and kamanchi Scientific classification: Kingdom: Plantae Sub kingdom: Tracheobionta Class: Magnoliopsida Sub-class: Asteridae Order: Solanales Family: Solanacea Genus: Solanum Species: S. nigrum Solanum nigrum Habit : Herb Description: This plant grows up to 60 cm tall, usually erect. Leaves are alternate, ovate, deep green in color and flowers are white with a yellow colored center. Useful part: Whole plant Medicinal use: It is used in treating skin diseases, rheumatism, gout, and juice of the herb are given for the patients who are suffering from chronic enlargement of the liver, it can cure ear and eye diseases. Dosage: Fruits are mostly used to cure diseases Chemical constituents: This plant contains solanine, solasonine, solamargine, glycoalkaloids, solasod  and solasodinsolanideine Side-effects: Solanine is toxic, it causes vomiting, ...

Scientific name : Foeniculum vulgare Common name: Fennel, sompu Scientific classification: Kingdom: Plantae Dividion: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Sub-class: Rosidae Order: Apiales Family: Apiaceae Genus: Foeniculum Species: F.vulgare Foeniculum vulgare Habit: Herb Description: It is a herb and it possesses very small flowers Useful parts: Fruits Medicinal uses:  It is anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, stomachic, helps to clear phlegm from the lungs, it improves appetite and reduces spleen, liver, kidney problems. Used to treat wounds, gastric problem and  for digestion problems Dosage: Fennel helps to release gas from the stomach and bowels and relieve its associated pain and cramping. The warm water of these seeds are used for better digestion Chemical constituents: Fenchode, anethole, methyl chavicol, alpha-phellandrene, fenchone, and estragole Side-effects:  It’s better to avoid during breastfeeding period an...

Scientific name:   Butea monosperma Common name: Sacred tree, flame of the forest, moduga, parasu, kankrei Scientific classification: Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Class: Rosidae Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Genus: Butea Species: B. monosperma Butea monosperma Habit : Medium size tree Description: It is popularly known by the name ‘flame of the forest’, 20-40 ft height, trunk has irregular branches and rough gray bark. Leaves are in a pinnate shape with 8-16 cm petioles and 3 leaflets. Flowers are in beautiful deep orange color, from January to march it truly becomes a tree of flame, covering entire crown with bright deep flowers with 5 petals    Useful parts: Leaves, seeds, flowers, gum, and stem Medicinal uses: It is used when one suffers from intestinal worms, skin problems, night blindness, other eyesight defects, piles, ulcers, tumors, pimples, swelling and for proper digestion Dosage: ...

Common name: Nutmeg, Jatiphala, jatipatri, nuez moscada, jaiphal and Jajikaya Scientific name: Myristica fragrans Scientific classification: Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Magnoliales Family: Myristicaceae Genus: Myristica Species: M. fragrans Myristica fragrans Habit: Tree Description: It is an Evergreen tree, fruit is rough and it has a pear shape, 20-30 mm long and 15-18 mm wide, seed possesses reddish coating. Flowers are orange in color. Useful part: seed Medicinal uses: It is used for digestion, aphrodisiac, clearing up skin problems as well as relieving muscle spasm, internal problems, increasing appetite, to reduce heartburn, rheumatism, and diarrhea Dosage:  Honey and lemon are mixed with the decoction of its seed for treatment Chemical constituents: Sabinene, terpinen-4-ol, eugenol, elimicin, safrole, methyleugenol and methylisoeugenol Side-effects: It is not used during pregnancy (Imag...

Scientific name : Aegle marmelos Common name:  Wood apple, bael, stone apple and maredu Scientific classification: Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliopsida Class: Magnoliopsida Sub-class: Rosidae Order: Sapidales Family : Rutaceae Genus: Aegle Species: A.marmelos Aegle marmelos Habit: Tree Description: Thorns are present and it’s about 8 to 10 m, it has big stout, trunk, it possesses unusual branches, Fruits are present with pulp and woody. Leaves are aromatic and give sweet scent smell, green in color. Flowers are in white color, smooth, 5-15 Cm in diameter, it has numerous seeds which covered with hair, the flesh is edible. Useful parts: Whole plant Medicinal uses: For the treatment of for heart beating and other heart problems, ear problems, cold, cough and stomach diseases Dosage: Powder of root is mixed with kaskas is taken. For ear problems, a stiff piece of the root is dipped in neem oil and lighted. The oil that drips from...

Scientific name: Achyranthes aspera Common name:  Devil's horsewhip, Chirchra, uttareni, nayurivi, rabo de gato (Spanish) Scientific classification: Kingdom: Plantae Sub-kingdom: Tracheobionta Division: Mgnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Sub-class: Caryophyllidae Order: Caryophyllales Family: Amaranthaceae Genus: Achyranthes Species: A. aspera Achyranthes aspera Habit : Herb Description : It is a small herb, leaves are simple and spikes are present Family: Amaranthaceae Useful parts : Leaves and roots Medicinal uses: It is used to reduce extra cholesterol, for teeth problems and for normal delivery. It is used as medicine for gynecological problems due to unhygienic living conditions during pregnancy, wounds, ulcers, against parasites and microbes; for digestive problems, for cleaning nasal therapy, wounds, ulcers, skin diseases, vaginal diseases. Seeds are used for bleeding piles, it relieves the blockages of phlegm, eases ...

Scientific name: Acanthospermum hispidum Common name: Bristly starbur, goat’s head, sroto, gunta kalagaraaku Scientific classification: Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Spermatophyta Class: Dicotyledonae Order: Asterales Family: Asteraceae Genus: Acanthospermum Species: A. hispidum Acanthospermum hispidum Habit: Herb Description: 60 cm. tall herb, stems are covered with bushy hair and smaller glandular hair, leaves elliptic, flowers are in yellow color  and fruits are in a triangular shape Useful parts: Leaves Medicinal plants: Hair fall, skin ailments and to relieve the fever Dosage: Crushed herb paste is applied on skin ailments, leaf juice is used to relieve the fever. Dry leaves powder is mixed in pure coconut oil and applied this oil on hair for hair fall. Chemical constituents: Alkaloids, methyl carvacrol, saponins, acanthospermol galactoside, α-bisabolol, α-humulene, β-caryophyllene, germacrene D and bicyclogermacrene.

Scientific name: Andrographis panculata Common names: Green chirretta, kirayat, nelavemu and chirota Scientific classification: Kingdom: Plantae Sub-kingdom: Tracheobionta Division: Angiosperma Class: Decotyledonae Order: Personales Family: Acanthaceae Sub-family: Acanthoideae Genus: Andrographis Species: A. paniculata Andrographis panculata Habit: Shrub Description: Simple leaves are present Useful parts:  Whole plant Medicinal uses: Used to treat liver diseases, cold, cures respiratory problems, pneumonia, bronchitis, colic pain, and eczema. It is anti-infective, antiviral, anti-diarrhea, antipyretic and anti-HIV (it improves lymphocytes while it improves immunity power). Dosage: Juice of leaves is taken in the treatment of the above-mentioned diseases and stem juice is taken in the treatment of the above-said diseases. Chemical constituents: 14-deoxy-12-hydroxyandrographolide, stigmasterol, lupeol, 4-deoxyandrographolid...

Scientific name: Pongamia pinnata Common names : Indian beech, Karanj, Kanuga, Pongam Oiltree and Naktamala Scientific classification: Kingdom: Plantae Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Genus: Pongamia Species: pinnata Pongamia pinnata Habit : Tree Description: This is an evergreen tree which grows up to 8 m with branching roots; Bark is smooth, gray in color; shiny leaves are present, young leaves are pinkish red, matured leaves are glossy, deep green in color, leaflets are 5-9, terminal leaflet longer than the others. Flowers are fragmented, in long racemes, cup-shaped and pink. Fruits are square shaped, pod short, stalked flat, smooth; fruits are one-seeded, the seed is thick. Useful parts: Seed, bark, and root Medicinal uses: Useful to cure skin diseases, piles, cold, cough and anti-inflammatory Dosage: Powder of this root is used in skin diseases, to treat digestion problems and oil is used to treat piles and abdomi...

Scientific name : Phyllanthus emblic Common name: Indian gooseberry, Amla and Usiri (Telugu) Scientific classification: Kingdom : Plantae Sub-kingdom : Tracheobionta Division : Magnoliophyta Class : Magnoliopsida Sub-class : Rosidae Order : Euphorbiales Family : Euphorbiaceae Genus : Phyllanthus Species : emblica Phyllanthus emblica Habit: Small to medium tree Description: Leaves are compound, fruits are light green or yellow and flowers are greenish yellow, this tree grows as long as 18 m, but in hilly areas it grows up to 25 m. Useful parts : Whole plant Medicinal uses:  It is useful to get energy, for blood circulation and , as anti oxidant, to  remove wastage from the body, to dwindle diabetes, to reduce risk of cancer, useful for constipation, common cold, scurvy, treatment of human bone disorder, jaundice, skin ulcers, skin problems and for heart diseases. Dosage : Fruits are eaten daily to enhance blood c...

Scientific name: Sapindus emarginatus Common name: Notched leaf soapnut, Kunkudu , Reetha, Rita and Aritha Scientific Classification: Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Spermatophyta Sub-phylum: Angiospermae Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Sapindales Family: Sapindaceae Sub-family: Sapindoideae Genus: Sapindus Species: emarginatus Sapindus emarginatus Habit: Small tree Description: An evergreen tree, 10 m. tree, leaves are soft, flowers are in creamy white color, fruits are divided into three parts, seeds are black Useful parts: Dry fruits Medicinal uses: There are a plethora of uses of soapnuts, it is used to reduce the heat of the body, used for fits and piles, it has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. It is used for migraine treatment. Dosage: These are used for head bath and it diminishes the body heat, fruit juice is poured in the  nose to control fits and powder of fruits is used to dwindle piles Chemical constituents...

Scientific name : Aloe vera Common names: True aloe, Burn aloe, Barbados aloe, First aid plant and  Kalabanda (Telugu) Scientific Classification: Kingdom: Plantae Division: Spematophyta Class: Monocotyledonacea Order:  Asparagales Family: Asphodelaceae Sub-amily: Asphodeloideae Genus: Aloe Species: A . vera Aloe vera Habit: Herb Description: Leaves have gum, it produces red-orange flowers Useful parts: Whole plant Medicinal uses: It is useful to solve gynecological problems, to cure arthritis and diabetes, also useful to reduce high cholesterol, it reduces the level of blood sugar, utilized to build immunity, useful to reduce digestive disorders, it reduces ulcers, bruises wounds, scrapes, insect bites, rashes, and first healing qualities can even cure psoriasis. Dosage: Gum and turmeric powder is mixed and taken in the morning on the empty stomach Active components: Carbohydrates, hormones, vitamins, proteins, saccharides, enzymes...

Scientific name: Eucalyptus globulus Common names : Eucalyptus, Tasmanian blue-gum Scientific classification: Kingdom: Plantae Sub-kingdom: Tracheobionta Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Sub-class: Rosidae Order: Myrtales Family: Myrtaceae Genus: Eucalyptus Species: globulus Eucalyptus globulus Habit : Tree Description : This tree has long leaves, fruits are capsule, leaves give the pleasant smell, shoots are quadrangular, flowers are in cymose inflorescence, bark consists of long fibers and can be pulled off into long pieces Useful parts: Leaves Medicinal use:  For body and muscle pains, easy breathing in cold. It also helps in purifying blood in fever, lowers the blood sugar, improves the blood circulation, relieves from asthma and bronchitis. Dosage: Can use leaves directly or can mix the leaves in boiling  water; can make tea also with these leaves Chemical constituents: It contains cryptone, 1,8-c...

Solanum surattense is a very common plant and it  has a plethora of uses  Scientific-name:   Solanum surattense  Common-names: Wild-eggplant(English), Vakudu(Telugu), Kanteli(Hindi) Scientific classification:   Kingdom:  Plantae Sub-kingdom:  Tracheobionta Division:  Magnoliophyta Class:  Magnoliophyta Sub-class:  Asteridae Order:  Solanales Family:  Solanacea Genus:  Solanum Species:  surattense Solanum surattense  Habit:   Small tree Description: Leaves are simple; possesses thorns which are in white color , fruits are green at young age, but developed fruits are yellow and seeds are in abundance, it possesses purple flowers  Family: Solanaceae Useful parts: Whole plant Medicinal uses: Cures earache, swelling, skin diseases, breathing problems, toothache, fever, asthma and reduces white hair Dosage: The whole plant is burned and the powder is mixe...

My research work was done at Araku, Andhra Pradesh, India, I worked on some medicinal plants, got priceless information from Araku tribals, this village was chosen to work on my project because of the abundance of medicinal plants on the hills surrounding the village, would like to share some information regarding these plants and uses in my blog. Scientific name : Rauvolfia serpentina Common N ames :  Indian snakeroot, Serpentine wood, Devil pepper, Sarpagandha, Chandrabagha Scientific Classification :  Kingdom : Plantae Order : Gentianales Family : Apocynaceae Genus :  Rauvolfia Species :  R. serpentina Rauvolfia serpentina Habit: Shrub Description :  It is a shrub, and used as a medicinal plant Family: Apocynaceae Useful parts:  Tuber, roots, and leaves Medicinal uses: This shrub is used for snake bite, fever, stomach pain, insect stings, hypochondria,  insomnia, epilepsy (fi...