Indian birthwort, also called Pelican flower, is a twining
herb belonging to the plant family Aristolochiaceae. The leaves are linear-oblong to
obovate-oblong, with undulate margins. The
showy flowers are found in axillary racemes.
The perianth is greenish white, inflated, bent at a right angle and
narrowed into a cylindrical tube with a trumpet shaped mouth, which gradually
passes into a long narrow brownish lip. The
flat winged seeds are found in capsules which, when dehisced or opened, look
like an up-side-down parachute.
Medicinal Use
·
Promotes menstrual flow, relieves arthritis,
intermittent fevers and constipation in children.
·
Inflammations, biliousness or the excessive
production of bile, dry cough, arthritis, and works as a laxative.
·
Insect bites and stings.
·
Leucoderma.
How to Use
·
The decoction of the root promotes menstrual
flow, relieves arthritis, intermittent fevers and constipation in children.
·
The decoction of the seeds takes care of
inflammations, biliousness or the excessive production of bile, dry cough,
arthritis and works as a laxative.
·
A paste of the root is applied externally over
insect bites and stings.
·
The powered root is given with honey for
leucoderma
Parts used
The root and seeds by decoction.
Dose
10 to 15 grams for 1 liter of water. No more than 3 cups a day should be taken.
Caution
Pregnant women should not use this plant,
because it may induce abortion. Also, it
is noteworthy that the root, in excessive dose, is toxic.
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