Eclipta alba is an erect or prostrate, much branched, strigosely hirsute, annual herb often rooting at the nodes, with opposite and sessile, leaves.

Its principal constituent is the herb which contains wedelolactone and demethyl wedelolactone. The herb is used as a tonic and deobstruent in hepatic and splenic enlargements and in skin diseases. The plant juice is administered in combination with aromatics for catarrhal jaundice. The fresh juice leaves is applied on the scalp for promoting hair growth. The plant possesses antihepatotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities. The fresh plant is considered anodyne and absorbent.

• Jaundice

A tall, herbaceous perennial with branching subterranean rootstock, from which arise a number of upright leafy shoots.

In medicine, it is used as an adjuvant to carminative drugs. It is official in the British and U.S. pharmacopoeias and used as an aromatic stimulant, carminative and flavoring agent.

Cardamom owes its aroma and therapeutic properties to the volatile oil present in the seeds. The major components of the oil are 1,8-cineole and terpinyl acetate. Volatile components of cardamom exhibit antimicrobial activity. The oil has anti-aflatoxin substances.

In herbal medicine, cardamom is chewed slowly to sweeten the breath, as aphrodisiac, to soothe digestion, stimulate the appetite, used against flatulence, colic and disorders of the body, often combined with purgatives to offset griping.

It is also reported to possess anti-inflammatory, analgesic and cardiotonic properties.

• Colic

• Flatulence

Embelia ribes is a large scandent shrub with slender branches and gland-dotted leaves.

Its principal constituents are embelin, quercitol and fatty ingredients. An alkaloid, christembine, a resinoid, tannins and minute quantities of a volatile oil are present. The dried fruit is considered antihelmentic, astringent, carminative, alterative and stimulant. It has been used in India since ancient times, as an antihelmentic. It is effective in the treatment of ascariasis. The dried fruits are used in decoction for fevers and for diseases of the chest and skin. The fruit also shows antibacterial activity.

• fever

Emblica officinalis is a deciduous tree with exfoliating bark. Its fruit contains the highest amount of vitamin C in natural form and cytokine-like substances identified as zeatin, z.riboside, z.nucleotide.

Its fruit is acrid, cooling, refrigerant, diuretic, laxative and used in the preparation of hair dyes. A fixed oil extracted from the fruits is reported to have the property of promoting hair growth. The dried fruit is useful in hemorrhage, diarrhea and dysentery. It has anabolic, antibacterial, expectorant, cardiotonic, antipyretic, antioxidative, antiviral, anti-emetic and resistance building properties and used in the treatment of leucorrhea and arteriosclerosis.

• Diarrhea

It is antibacterial and its astringent properties prevent infection and help in the healing of ulcers. It is used as a laxative to relieve constipation in piles.

• constipation

Eucalyptus globulus is a large tree attaining a height of 300 ft. or more, with opposite and sessile leaves on juvenile shoots under forest conditions.

The leaves and terminal branchlets of E. globulus grown in Nilgiris yield 0.9-1.2% of a pale yellow essential oil containing cineole as a major component.
Eucalyptus oil is used locally as an antiseptic, especially in the treatment of infections of the upper respiratory tract, and in certain skin diseases. It is found to have potent pain relieving and anti-inflammatory action. Mixed with an equal amount of olive oil, it is useful as a rubefacient for rheumatism, which help in reducing joint swelling. It is also used in ointments for burns. Internally it is used as a stimulating expectorant in chronic bronchitis and asthma. It is frequently given by inhalation.

• Asthma

• Bronchitis

The plant is a hairy perennial herb with spreading wiry branches arising from a small woody rootstock.

The plant is bitter and is used as a tonic and febrifuge.