artagala :

The leaves of a plant growing in the open are generally very prickly Photograph by: Vengolis

General Use:

The root is expectorant and febrifuge. It is used in the treatment of chronic fevers, coughs, asthma and paralysis

When boiled in milk, it is largely used in the treatment of leucorrhoea and general debility

A paste of the root combined with ginger is eaten as a treatment for colic and stitch in the side

Applied topically, the leaves are used as a poultice on wounds, rheumatic joints and areas of neuralgic pain. The roots are chewed and laid on wounds caused by poison arrows; combined with a little ginger, they are ground and used as a poultice on swollen legs

Therapeutic Uses:

Cooling, mildly salt-tasting.

• Antiphlogistic, anticontusion, expectorant.

• Galactagogue, expectorant, carminative.

• Leaves considered emollient.

• Root is expectorant.

• Astringent; makes a good nervine tonic and stimulant.

Systemic Use:

Decoction of 30-60 g of dried material used for acute and chronic hepatitis, swelling-enlargement of the liver and spleen, swelling and enlargement of the lymph nodes, gastralgia, asthma.

- Decoction of roots and leaves used for asthma; also, to aid expectoration.

- Root boiled in milk used for leucorrhea and general debility.

- Used for gastrointestinal pains.

Administration:

Applied topically, the leaves are used as a poultice on wounds, rheumatic joints and areas of neuralgic pain[

Pharmacological:

The aerial parts of the plant are rich in mucous and are considered to be astringent, diuretic, emollient, expectorant, resolvent, stimulant and nervine