Scientific name: Andrographis paniculata
Common names:
English: green chirayta, creat, king of bitters, andrographis, Indian echinacea
Chinese name: 穿心莲 (chuān xīn lián - heart piercing lotus)
Malay name: Hempdeu Bumi (bile of the earth), Pokok Cerita (story tree)
Family: Acanthaceae
Origin: India and Sri Lanka
Category: annual plant
Photo taken at : My home garden
Notes:
It is a native plant here in Malaysia. Many of us have this plant in our home gardens. It is very easy to grow. Just collect some dried seeds and sow them in a pot or on the ground. Makes a good ground cover that loves our tropical sunshine. It grows like weeds here, but beneficial weeds! Some people eat the leaves raw but the taste is the most bitter you have ever tasted in the whole world! Others who can't stand the bitter taste, sun dry the leaves and use them to make herbal drinks or pack them in pill capsules for consumption.
It is widely cultivated in Southeast Asia and revelled by herbalists for its medicinal properties. The leaves and roots are used in folk medicine in the preventive treatment of many ailments and infectious diseases long before antibiotics were invented. Recent research by scientists have found that this herb has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal effects. In addition, it helps to boost the immune system, protects against cancer, prevents blood clots.
Important reminder: The above information is intended for your general knowledge only. Please seek your doctor's advice before consuming any plant parts or other herbal products.
It is widely cultivated in Southeast Asia and revelled by herbalists for its medicinal properties. The leaves and roots are used in folk medicine in the preventive treatment of many ailments and infectious diseases long before antibiotics were invented. Recent research by scientists have found that this herb has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal effects. In addition, it helps to boost the immune system, protects against cancer, prevents blood clots.
Important reminder: The above information is intended for your general knowledge only. Please seek your doctor's advice before consuming any plant parts or other herbal products.
This is my entry for My World Tuesday, Season 3, Episode 15 and the link is here.
Such a lovely, delicate flower/plant! And so great for the immune system! Very interesting and informative post! Thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
I have seen this flower in the wild, but did not know its name. You have taken a beautiful shot.
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