Extra Mile

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...