Herb of the Month

Bhumiamla

Botanical Name: Phyllanthus niruri

Parts used: All parts.

Historical aspects: 

Charaka mentions the plant. In ayurveda the expressed juice of the fresh plant is given for a sluggish liver and also for chronic liver diseases. It is commonly and widely used for dysentery and intestinal colic. Phyllanthus niruri, also called "stonebreaker" due to its strong roots, is native to South America. The plant is dried into an extract that acts as a diuretic and an astringent

Habitat:  

Common in central and southern India extending to Sri Lanka.

Botanical description: 

Phyllanthus niruri is an annual, herb; height varies between 30–60 cm. Stem is angular with numerous distichous, elliptic-oblong leaves. Flowers are yellow and very numerous; monoecious with 1–3 staminate flowers and solitary pistillate flower borne axillary. Fruits capsule, very small, globose, smooth, seeds 3-gonous, longitudinally ribbed on the back. Seed to seed cycle occurs in two or four weeks. The flowering time in Indian conditions is July to August.

Healing Options:

Phyllanthus has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for over 2,000 years and has a wide number of traditional uses.

This includes employing the whole plant for jaundice, gonorrhea, frequent menstruation, and diabetes and using it topically as a poultice for skin ulcers, sores, swelling, and itchiness

Liver Disorders/ Jaundice :

The herb stimulates the liver and is useful in liver and spleen disorders. It can be used in jaundice and enlargement of liver. The leaf should be administered with black salt and ginger every morning for 10 days in the treatment of such disorders. Click here to know more..........

Loss of Appetite:

Its root, leaves, fruits, milky juice is very useful in Loss of appetite . It is a major component of many popular liver tonics which increase Appetite & locally to relieve inflammations.

Oedema:

The plant is also used as a diuretic in oedema. Powdered leaves & roots -  pulverized & made into poultice with rice-water useful in oedematous swelling and ulcers.


Ayurvedic Supplements that contains Bhumiamla: