The Medicinal plant sector has observed significant growth over the decade. The medicinal plants’ sector has been one of the prime reasons for the conservation of biodiversity and has played an important role in providing safe health-care in recent years.
Medicinal plants have a very important place in the Indian traditional health sector. India’s indigenous health system comprises Ayurvedic, Unani, and Sidha health-care systems, which are adequately popular across the globe.
There are many medicinal plants in Kerala which are uses in various sectors. According to the World Health Organization, 80% of the medicinal system are de medicines ended on medicinal plants.
Kerala is a state which has rich biodiversity and the state where ayurvedic medicinal plants and their ayurvedic uses are practised in their traditional plants. Most of the Ayurvedic Plants and Herbs in Kerala are founded from the forest and a few from cultivation.
Approximately 4500 flowering and medicinal plants in Kerala out of which 900 has medicinal values. Around 550 species out of this are found in the forest. More than 150 plants and their species are used in Ayurvedic and Sidha health system.
There are various medicinal plants in Kerala which have different medicinal uses. Some of its uses are described below.
- Plant such are Aloe Vera is used for curing Acne, poor body immunity, constipation etc.
- Tulsi is one of the prime ayurvedic medicinal plants and used for treating cough, indigestion, relive stress, cures diseases such as diabetes, cancer, hair loss etc.
- It is also used for keeping mosquitoes away and strengthening the respiratory system.
- Fennel also has some prime medicinal plant uses, which include curing of acidity, controls cholesterol, prevent bad breath, etc.
There are many medicinal plants in Kerala which provide exceptional medicinal plants uses. Some of the prime medicinal plants in Kerala are mentioned below with its uses.
Top medicinal plants in Kerala and their uses
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Adalodakam (Malabar Nut Tree)
Adalodakam which is called Malabar Nut Tree in English is one of the prominent medicinal plants in Kerala. The medicinal plant belongs to group Acanthaceae. The Sanskrit name of plants is Vishnu, Vasa, Vasaka etc.
It is popular in India with names such as Vasa, Aduso, Adalodakam, Chittadalodakam etc. Its Sindha name is Adathodai.
The height of the plant is around two metres and basically has two varieties.
1.Adhatoda bedomia
This plant has more medicinal values and uses. The plant is full of leaves and it, grows up to 2 metres. It is used in various ayurvedic medicines and herbs. It is popularly known as Chittadalodakam in Malayalam.
2.Adhatoda Vasica
The leaves of this variety of Adhatoda are comparatively big and can grow up to 3 metres in height. It is used in various medicinal sectors.
The plant is primarily used in curing cough and cold. The raw leaves of the Adhatoda plants are boiled, extracted and mixed with honey. This mixture is used in curing cough and cold, especially of children.
The plant is one of the prime ayurvedic medicinal plants and is used to increase blood platelets count in various vaccines.
Adhatoda or Vasa is used as one of the ingredients in curing diseases such as chronic bronchitis, diarrhoea, chest diseases, fresh wounds, dysentery, malaria fever, asthma, inflammatory swellings, nose bleeding, rheumatic joints etc.
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Chittamrith or Giloe Plant
Chittamrith which is called Giloe or Leaved Moonseed in English is one the most used medicinal plants in Kerala. Chittamrith is one of the major Ayurvedic Plants and Herbs in Kerala.
This medicinal plant belongs to group Menispermaceae. In Sanskrit, it is known as gudooji, Amritha, amritha sambhava etc. In India, it is popularly known as Vayastha, Gulooji, Indian Koyinav, Jevanthi, Somavalli etc.
The plant is known as Amritha as it is popular as Paracetamol of Ayurveda. It depicts that this plant is the defeat of death. It is one of the prime ingredients of Ayurvedic medicines and Herbs.
The Chittamrith has two variety
1.Tylophora cordifolia
This variety of the medicinal plant has a small leaf, yellow coloured flowers. It has red fruits and has assimilatory roots.
2.Tylophora Malabarica
This variety of medicinal plants has big leaves. This plant is wild in nature and therefore has less medicinal values as compared to Tylophora cordifolia.
Amritha or Chittamrith is one of the common medicinal plants in Kerala and is found in most of the villages of the state. It is used primarily for curing fever as it is quite a good rejuvenator.
The plant helps in reducing and controlling the heat of the body and hence cures the heavy fever. The plant is also used to maintain blood sugar and is helpful against blood cancer too. It is also an important plant used in the treatment of AIDS and thus is one of the useful medicinal plants in Kerala.
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Mukkutti
Mukkutti is one of the important medicinal plants in Kerala and is known as a Sensitive plant in English. Mukkutti belongs to Oxalidaceae group and its Latin name is Biophytum sensitivum D.C.
In Sanskrit, it is known by different names such as Samanga, Peethapushpa, Jalapushpa, Alambusha etc. Mukkutti also has different Indian names such as lajalu, Theendanazhi, Tintanali, lakhshana, zarer etc.
Mukkutti plant it popular as in Ayurveda it is one of the ten plants of “Dashapushapa”. It has some exceptional medicinal plants uses and has a life cycle of the year.
The Mukkutti plant is small and has a height of around ten to twenty cm. it has a yellow flower which also possesses medicinal plants uses. Some similar spices of this plant are also found in other countries and have white flowers.
The Mukkutti plant is used to make a paste which consists its leaves and this paste is useful in curing fresh wounds. The plant is also one of the ingredients which reduce excessive bleeding in women in case of a menstrual period.
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Eanth
Eanth is popular as Queen sago in English and is one of the most common medicinal plants in Kerala. The Latin name of Eanth plant is Circinalis and is popular by the name Eanth across the nation.
It is said that its origin was in the era of dinosaurs. Eanth is popular for its long-lived lifespan of more than 2000 years. the fruits of Eanth were assumed to be the food of dinosaurs.
Eanth has all its medicinal values, nutrients and minerals in its fruit. The old citizens of Kerala used the fruit of Eanth as their food. But the fruit also comprises of poison. Therefore, it is refined and make into sago by the old-age peoples. This sago has many stupefying medicinal values which help maintain health.
The sago produced is known as Immune sago which is a food supplement and suits to both modern and traditional lifestyle for curing ailments. It helps to control metabolism and is suitable for any age groups. It is pure and natural and does not contain any flavours and colouring agents.
It helps maintain health as it improves body immunity to resist diseases and also in restoring normal body functions and reduces cholesterol and obesity.
It is also helpful in curing acidity, and ulcer. It controls white discharge and increases sexual power. It is one of the excellent food supplements which is used in Ayurvedic and Sidha health-care systems.
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Muthil
Muthil which is known as Indian Pennywort is one of the major medicinal plants in Kerala. It belongs to group Umbelliaferae and has Latin name Centella Asiatica Urban.
It is popular in Kerala as Malayalam names like Kudangal and Muthil.
In Sanskrit is it famous by names like Mandookaparni, Swaraswathi, Jalolbhava etc. It also has names in different Indian languages such as Centella. Karinthakali, Tholkuri, Kudangal, Kurivana, Thankuni etc.
Muthil is one of the common medicinal plants in Kerala and is found in most of the villages of Kerala. Muthil is one of the best natural tonics used for boosting memory.
The leaves of Muthil has a smell similar to that of carrot. The extract of Muthil leaves is used to strengthen the nervous system of the brain. It is also beneficial for heart health.
Muthil is the major content of an Ayurvedic medicine “Mandookaparnyadi” which is good for increasing memory and brainpower. It is also helpful in curing Hepatitis B from positive to negative.
Muthil is one of the main Ayurvedic Plants and Herbs in Kerala as it has various medicinal uses. Even there is a book written oh this Muthil that is Pennywort plant in Sidha Vaidya.
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Cherucheera
Cherucheera is one of the well-known medicinal plants in Kerala and possesses many medicinal plants uses. The Latin name of Cherucheera is Amaranthus polygamus.
It is popularly known as Thandulia in Sanskrit and has many different Indian names such as tharuuja, kamudenade, chulae koshak etc.
Cherucheera is one of the major ayurvedic medicinal plants and is known as “Swarna Basma” in Ayurvedic health-care system. Liquification of a small part of gold is done using an extract of Cherucheera to make Ayurvedic medicines.
Cherucheera is also used as a vegetable in kitchens of Kerala and is also used to make a border for the garden as a garden plant. It is said that adequate use of this medicinal plant as vegetable removes all poison from the human body.
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Iruveli
Iruveli whose scientific name is Coleus zeylanicus (Benth.) Cramer is one of the other known medicinal plants in Kerala.
Iruveli belongs to Lamiaceae group and is an important medicinal plant grown in Kerala. It also possesses various medicinal plants uses.
Iruveli can grow up to a height of 1.5 metres and is an erect branched herb. Various parts of Iruveli such as dried stem, roots and flowers are used in medicinal purposes.
It is one of the most important ingredients of Ayurvedic medicine “Devasthagandha”. Iruveli is used for curing indigestion and urinal disorders.
Iruveli is commonly used in curing of diseases like vomiting, fever, diarrhoea, chronic liver diseases, leuchoderma etc.
Iruveli is also used as the main ingredient in Ayurvedic preparations such as Iruveli Kashayam, snana choornam etc.
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Anachuvadi
Anachuvadi which is known as Elephant’s foot in English is one of the other common medicinal plants in Kerala. It belongs to the group Asteraceae and has Elephantopus scaber Linn as its Latin name.
It is known as Gojihwa in Sanskrit and Anayadian, Kuchirikka in different Indian languages. It is known as the Elephant’s foot because leaves of these plants are similar to an elephant’s footprint.
Anachuvadi has various medicinal plants uses and is quite popular among the local people of Kerala. It helps reduce the heat of the human body and can cure ailments such as cough and heart diseases. Therefore, it is one of the medicinal plants in Kerala.
The plant is also used for curing Tonsillitis. The leaves of Anachuvadi or Elephant’s foot is used as a shampoo for preventing hair loss and eliminating dandruff.
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Kiriyath
Kiriyath is known as Great Chirata in English and is one of the common medicinal plants in Kerala. It belongs to group Acanthaceae and has Andrographis paniculate Nees as its Latin name.
Locally it is known in different names such as Kiriyatha, Nilayep, Chirayatha etc. In Sanskrit, it is known as Kiratah, Mahathiktha and Bhoonimba. In different Indian languages, it is popular in names like Kalmegh, Liratha, Bhoonimba, Mahathiktha etc.
Kiriyath grows in many villages and is one of the great Ayurvedic Plants and Herbs in Kerala. It is prime content of Ayurvedic medicine “Sudershanachoornam”.
Eating raw leaves of Kiriyath helps in relieving indigestion. It is also used in blood sugar treatment.
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Kasthurimanjal
Kasthurimanjal which is known as Curcuma aromatic in English is one of another well-known medicinal plant in Kerala. It belongs to the family Zingiberaceae.
It is also known as wild turmeric in many regions of India. In Sanskrit, it is known as jangali-Haldi.
Kasthurimanjal is a rhizomatous medicinal plant and possesses various uses. The growth of the plant is often speedy and can have around 40 cm. Kasthurimanjal is used as an ingredient in cosmetic medicines which is used for the treatment of chronic skin diseases which is caused by impure blood.
It is also used in curing high fever and worm infestation. It is used as a tonic for women after childbirth. As it has rhizomes with fragrance and cream colour it is used cosmetic herbal medicines as well.
There are many medicinal plants in Kerala some of the best are listed above. one can find many other medicinal plants in Kerala which possesses exceptional medicinal plants uses.
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