Herbs in daily life - Indian nettle

Source: A CAP Guide by the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP)

Indian nettle

Scientific name: Acalypha indica
Tamil name: Kuppaimeni / punai vananggi
Malay name: Kucing galak
Chinese name: Yin du tie jian cai

Herbal and medicinal uses:

Cures phlegm
Cures skin disorders
Cures body ache
Cures bed sores
Cures worms in breastfed infants 

My comments:

This is a light green plant that grows well in the open with lots of sunshine. It is hard to grow from seedling but grows well once it takes root. It spreads by wind-blown seeds. Spreads and grows fast even if left unattended. No need to take care. Can overgrow and fill an entire garden. Easy to pluck and remove but young plants may have started growing around the old plants. Can be terrible to have to pluck the small plants, and becomes a nuisance.

The plant is effective against the worst skin disorder - especially if due to itchiness (severe scratching, gatal sangat).

To use the plant for skin disorders, wash and clean and boil the entire plant including its roots. Let the water cool and then drink when it is lukewarm. it looks light brown like normal tea. Can add a bit of sugar since it has no taste.

Drink a glass in the morning and a glass in the evening. Drink daily till the itchiness subsides. Cures any skin disorder within a week, even the worst type or chronic whole body itchiness and skin disease. It does work and works well.

Indian nettle / Kucing galak

It is called Kucing galak as cats like to chew on the roots. This increases their prowess (miang). The Kucing galak plant is good for the general health of cats, male and female.

Herbs in daily life - serai

This is from CAP Guide produced by the Consumer Association of Penang (CAP).

Serai

Scientific name: Cymbopogon nardus
English name: Lemon grass, citronella
Tamil name: Karpurapul
Chinese name: Ning meng cao

Uses: for lemon fragrance in tea, cooking soup, curry, sambal, rice

It is sliced to make nasi kerabu Kelantan
It is sliced for making kuah singgam
The fresh stalk is used in curry and sambal

Herbal and medicinal uses:

Antibactericidal, antifungal
Helps to detoxify the liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder, digestive tract
Reduces uric acid and cholesterol
Improves blood circulation
Helps in digestion
Relieves flatulence and colic

My comments:

How do we demonstrate its bactericidal effects?
How do we demonstrate its antifungal effects?
How effective is it in detoxifying the liver? What sort of conditions result in toxic liver?
What results in toxic pancreas?
What causes kidney toxicity? Toxic bladder?
What causes toxic digestive tract?
How effective is it in reducing uric acid and cholesterol?
How does it improve blood circulation?
How does it help in digestion?
How does it relieve flatulence and colic? What is its mode of action?

Serai / Lemon grass / Citronella / Karpurapul / Ning meng cao

Traditional & Herbal Medicine

This video covers some medicinal herbs - peria katak, belimbing tanah, sambung nyawa, hempedu bumi, kemuning Cina (periwinkle), etc. The traditional practitioners (& artist) are interviewed. There are 2 success stories - jus peria katak for gastritis; air rebusan pokok belimbing tanah for hypertension. The massage technique looks good - also works for stroke.

Herbs in daily life - Misai kucing

Source: A CAP Guide by the Consumer Association of Penang (CAP).

Misai kucing

Scientific name: Orthosiphon aristatus
Tamil name: Punai misai
Chinese name: Mao xu cao

Herbal and medicinal uses:

Treating ailments of kidney, bladder stone, urinary tract infection, bladder problems
Treating liver problems
Treating diabetes
Treating rheumatism

Teh Misai Kucing (Java tea)

This is a local tea used by the Malays. This tea recipe is by Chew Jia Xin, a new first year medical student.

Steps to Make Java Tea (teh Misai Kucing)
- by Chew Jia Xin, Year 1 Medic, USM, 13 Sept 2011

1. Pluck the ‘Misai Kucing’ leaves.

2. Tear the leaves into smaller pieces if the size of the leaves is too big.

3. Wash it thoroughly and dry it under the sun.

4. Place the dried leaves into a pot of water and then boil it. After boiling, it is ready to be served.

OR

Put some dried leaves into a tea pot and then pour water that has just been boiled into it.


My comments:


Here is what the real Misai kucing plant looks like in my backyard. It grows wild! When the bush grows really wild, just trim the bush and pluck the leaves for making tea. The plant does not die but regrows to full height in a few weeks. The plants grows best in the hot Malaysian weather, in semi sandy soils or poor soil. There is no need to add any fertiliser. The plant seems to prefer hot areas with plenty of morning and evening sunshine. Daily watering is not needed or the plant grows too bushy. Occasional watering is preferred. Insects feed on the leaves (don't know what insects). This plant needs no tender loving care. It grows wild by itself. Propagation is easy - just pluck an old stem and stick it in the ground. It seems to take root fast. You should have no regrets trying to grow this plant. Give it a try. You can also purchase a potted Misai kucing plant from Pasar Tani.

Misai kucing (Orthosiphon stamineus) with white flowers which resemble cat whiskers

Misai kucing bush without flowers