Flowers that heal

                                                          Flowers that heal
                             
 Flowers look beautiful in the garden. They are pretty in vases in the house as decoration. We think that flowers only help to please the eye, but they are also god healers.

Ixora coccinea /Rathmal


A large variety of flowers are used as medicine in the treatment of infants and children. The “Malkasaya”  for Rthagaya in the infants is one example. Ratmal or Vitch( in tamil ) is widely used in medicine for infants’ diseases. Ixora coccinea is the botanical name for Rathmal.

   Sometime ago, Dr. V.P.P. Willis, a well-known Western practitioner brought the root of this tree to the notice of the profession as a remedy For Dysentery. He further stated that it was a good tonic for week stomachs. A very useful domestic remedy , composed of Rathmal , is given for catarrh in children.

  A large variety of flowers are used as medicine in the treatment of infants and children. The “Malkasaya”  for Rthagaya in the infants is one example. Ratmal or Vitch( in tamil ) is widely used in medicine for infants’ diseases. Ixora coccinea is the botanical name for Rathmal.

   Sometime ago, Dr. V.P.P. Willis, a well-known Western practitioner brought the root of this tree to the notice of the profession as a remedy For Dysentery. He further stated that it was a good tonic for week stomachs. A very useful domestic remedy , composed of Rathmal , is given for catarrh in children.

                           

Hibiscus rosainensis/Sapattumal

Sapattumal or Vadamal (Shoe Flower), (Hibiscus rosainensis) is not an endemic plant here but has been introduced from China or the Phillipine, many years ago. This flower is prescribed  for uterine haemorrhage.Shoe flowers are fried in ghee and given in case of excessive menstruation. The buds are mostly used in children’s diseases like  Rathagaya. A stimulating application for the hair is made by mixing the juice of the patales and olive oil in equal portion and boiling in til all the water has evaporated.

Saraca indica/Asoka


Asoka (or Hopalu)  is botanically known as Saraca indica. The Asoka tree when in flower is glorious sight. It is connected largely with the mythology of the Hindus. There are many names in Sanskrit for this tree.Angana priya is one, which means dear to woman. Asoka , as a medicine , is very frequently used by Ayurvedic physicians as a astringent, especially for uterine haemorrhage. Afluid extracted from the flowers is given for haemorrhagic dysentery. The dried flowers are given in diabetes.

  

Michelia champaca/ Sapu
 Champa or Sapu (Michelia champaca) is cultivated mostly for the sake of its flowers. These flowers are astringent and diuretic. It is not an endemic plant here , but for ages these flowers have been used as a herb. When people were not educated in the prevention and care of social diseases, the indigenous herbs were very useful. Sapu flowers are carminative , antispasmodic, diuretic and are used for stomach ailments. An infusion of the Sapu flowers is given in cases of gonorrohea, for prevention against and also in kidney dises. An ointment of the sapu flowers made with some mild oils is useful as a dressing for rheumatism, headache, vettigo, and inflammation. The oil extracted from sapu flowers is used locally in the case of headaches . This oil rubbed on the abdomen relieves flatulence.

  
Puncia granatum/Delum
The flowers of the Delum tree (Puncia granatum) , mostly known as Pomegranate are used as treatment for sore eyes. The buds are boiled and the infusion is given for chronic diarrhea especially in children and even in the case of bronchitis.The infusion of the powder of these flower is given in doses of four to five grains of for round worms. The powder is used as a substance that checks bleeding from the nose.

Jasminum grandiflorium/DesamanDesaman of Pichchamal (Jasminum grandiflorium) is another well known flower used in medicine. These flowers can be crushed and applied to the breasts of nursing mothers to check the secretion of milk if an abscess is developing. The essential oil extracted from flowers is a deodorant.It is used when discharges from nose and years foul smell. The Spanish Jasmine (or the Saman pichchamal) is widely used in medicine. These flowers are mainly used for eye diseases. It is used to ferment the eyes when they are swollen. The juice is put into the eye for redness. Dried flowers are used as a pillow for headaches and catarrh. 

Cassia Fistula/Ehela

Ehela or Cassia Fistula , is known in English as Golden Shower or Purging Cassis. In Sanskrit it is called Suwarnaka or Raja taru , which means Roayal Tree. When blooming it is beautiful with its long springs of yellow flowers. The Ehela flowers are boiled and give as a safe purgative for children and expectant mothers. The flowers are made into pulp and applied round the navel of a child suffering from flatulence. This causes evacuation.

coconut flower

The coconut flower, which is very common in this country, is a very effective medicine in haemorrhage and dysentery. 12 Kalaadas of the coconut flower boiled ib 8 cups of water and reduced to one , is highly recommended in Sassaneepa(the Ayurvedic medical book ) for dysentery. 



Source: HERBAL FOOD and MEDICINES in SRI LANKA