Karpuravalli (in Tamil) / "Plectranthus amboinicus" once identified as "Coleus amboinicus"

Plectranthus amboinicus belonging to the family Lamiaceae commonly known as Country borage. This plant has fleshy leaves carries the flavour of camphor and hence the name in Tamil.

Karpuravalli

 
The plant is distributed throughout world especially in India. It is cultivated in the gardens and can be grown in any climatic condition. It can be grown in pot too.

Leaves of this plant has lot of medicinal values and used as natural medicine. It is mainly used for treatment of colds and coughs especially for children.

Raw leaves can be taken for throat infection, cold and coughs.


It is used as cure for malarial fever, cough, chronic asthma. Studies has identified that these leaves extract has anti bacterial activity.

Eechuramooli - Locally called Urikkodi or Tharaasukkodi (Aristolochia bracteata Retz)

Botanical Name: Aristolochia bracteata Retz

Eechuramooli

This weed is commonly found in dry, irrigated hot lands and in deep forest. This is one of the plant used for cancer treatment and snakebite during ancient days.

In Ayurveda as mentioned the leaves, seeds and the roots are mainly used for treatment of skin diseases, ulcers, lung inflammation etc.

 

In ancient days to increase power of other medicines people used to make powder out of these roots, mix with other medicines and they will have it. Also it is believed to be whoever having leaves of this plant won’t get cancer.

 

Root powder is combined with honey and given internally in the case of gonorrhea, boils, ulcers and other skin diseases.

Leaf powder is combined with honey and given to children to cure fix kind of issues. Also mentioned in olden books that having these leaves will increase our life span.

Eechuramooli

 

Olden days this plant is mainly used in veterinarian medicines to cure all kinds of unknown diseases caused to the animals. People used to tie this plant in animal neck and just leave animals to inhale the smell from the leaves will cure any type of diseases.

Aloe vera

Aloe vera is a stemless plant growing to 60–100 cm. The leaves are thick and fleshy, green in colour. These species has been widely cultivated throughout the world. It also can be grown in pots.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is used on facial tissues as a moisturiser and/or anti-irritant to reduce chafing of the nose. Cosmetic companies commonly add sap or other derivatives from Aloe vera to products such as makeup, tissues, moisturizers, soaps, sunscreens, incense, shaving cream, or shampoos.

Below are the medicinal benefits of Aloe vera

Burn Treatment:
Aloe vera gel is very good for treating sunburns, healing cuts and wounds, dermatitis and also insect bites.
The best part is that this plant can be consumed and also applied externally.

Maintain cholesterol:
Aloe is great for maintaining cholesterol levels by reducing tryglycerides.

Good for diabetes:
Aloe vera is good for diabetes patients, because it helps regulate blood sugar levels and the ability to reverse blood stickiness, thus ensuring smooth circulation of blood.

The anti-ageing properties of aloe vera moisturizes the skin, gets rid of dead skin cells along with wrinkles and fine lines.

Aloe Helps to improve digestion. Make juice out of jelly leaf and have it will improve digestion.

Avoid taking aloe internally during pregnancy, menstruation, if you have hemorrhoids or degeneration of the liver and gall bladder.