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Ayurvedic Herbs / Thai Herbs - Medicinal Plants - A
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Ayurvedic
Medicine |
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Basics
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There are numerous medicinal plants in current use in Thailand.
Ayurvedic medicine and Thai traditional
medicine, each finding many uses and deserving to be exhibited to the
enthusiasts who wish to know about the characteristics of its stem, flower,
fruit together with the research work undertaken, it is impossible to
exhibit all, or even the majority, of them. For this reason some common
medicinal plants which received research attention both locally and
internationally have been selected. In addition, some which
have so far attracted little attention from
researchers have also been included owing to their recognition in
Ayurvedic Medicine and traditional medicine in Thailand
as well as some Asian countries.
The information
has been
searched from the literature, selected and edited in order to be presented in
this site, which will familiarize the reader with general characters of such plants. No botanical details are given
owing to the nature of this
work and also to limited space. Sketches of the plants, however, are
given to enable the reader to recognize them. It should be noted that
all Thai, Sanskrit, Latin and English common names of the plants
appearing in this site are transliterated into English with the sound in
mind, and not according to the official rules. In addition, owing to
the limited space the traditional
usage of each plant is meant to be representative, and by no means comprehensive.
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It is prepared by treating biotite (mica) with
the juices of a number of reconstituent plants that make it a
powerful cellular regenerator. It is a nervine tonic and is also
widely used in respiratory tract infections, and anemia. It
contains iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium and aluminum in
traces. |
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 It
is an erect, annual or biennial, hirsute herb. The fatty oil of
the seeds contain phospholipids-a-cephalin, and
phosphatidylserine. The seeds are antiseptic, stomachic, tonic,
carminative and aphrodisiac.
It is used in the treatment of male sexual
disorders and venereal diseases. |
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 A
softly tomentose herb or shrub, with yellow or orange-yellow
flowers.
The plant is reported to contain fructose,
galactose, glucose, glutamic acid, aspartic acid and
galacturonic acid. The drug is used as a febrifuge, has
antihelmentic, and anti-inflammatory properties, and is useful
in urinary and uterine discharges, piles and lumbago. |
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 A
moderate sized tree with feathery crown, pinnate leaves and a
pair of recurved prickles at the base of the rachis. Catechin
and catechutannic acid are the major active constituents in the
wood extract. Taxifolin, another constituent has antibacterial,
anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Traditionally, it is used for the treatment of cough and sore
throat.
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 A
moderate-sized, almost evergreen tree with a short trunk, a
spreading crown and feathery foliage.
The bark from the branches yield 7-12 per cent
tannin and is used for asthma, bronchitis, diabetes, dysentery,
diarrhea and skin diseases.
The stem is used as a toothbrush and
the gum for burns. The leaves are useful for eye complaints,
headache, throat infection, urinary problems and gonorrhea.
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A common, prickly, scandent shrub. The pods yield
saponins (20.8%) which have been reported to contain acacinin-C,
-D and -E and a homologous series of oligosaccharides. An
ointment prepared from the ground pods is good for skin
diseases. A decoction of the pods relieves biliousness and acts
as a purgative. It is used to remove dandruff and has a
detangling effect on the hair, which helps in increasing the
hair volume.
The pods, known as Shikai or Shikakai, are
extensively used as a detergent, and the dry ones are powdered
and perfumed, and sold in the market as soap nut powder. |
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 Achillea
millefolium
is a perennial herb that contains the alkaloid achilline, and
also yields an essential oil, Espirt d' Iva. The herb possesses
diaphoretic, vulnerary, styphic, astringent, emmenogogue,
stimulant, tonic and anti-hemorrhoidal properties.
It is useful in influenza and heavy chest colds
and also as a blood-purifier. It has carminative, digestive,
astringent and anti-spasmodic properties. It is used in the
treatment of flatulence, colic and
heartburn. A decoction of the
herb is said to give significant relief in chronic colic. It is
also used in various hepatic disorders.
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 An
erect or procumbent, annual or perennial herb, often with a
woody base.
The whole plant contains the alkaloids
achyranthine and betaine. The plant is much valued in indigenous
medicine. It is reported to be pungent, astringent, pectoral and
diuretic. It is used as an emmenagogue, and in piles and skin
eruptions. |
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 A
biennial herb, with a tuberous and paired root.
The roots contain five diterpene alkaloids, viz.
palmatisine, vakognavine, vakatisine, vakatisinine and vakati.
The root is intensely bitter and is used in combination with
long pepper for pain in bowels, diarrhea, and vomiting.
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 Acorus
calamus
is a semi-aquatic herb with creeping rhizomes.
The dried rhizomes constitute the drug Calamus of
commerce. The rhizomes, roots and leaves yield a light brownish
yellow volatile oil called calamus oil. The important
constituents of Indian calamus oil are asarone and its b-isomer.
The rhizomes are considered to possess sedative
and analgesic properties. They are used for the treatment of
epilepsy, chronic diarrhea and dysentery, bronchial catarrh,
fever, glandular and abdominal tumors, kidney and liver
complaints, rheumatism and eczema.
It has been used in indigenous systems of
medicine (eg. Ayurveda) to improve memory retention and recall.
A combination of B. monnieri and A. calamus significantly
increases memory and controls hyperactivity in children. |
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