2. Acacia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division : Angiosperms
Class: eudicots
Order: eudicots
Family: fabaceae
Subfamily: mimosoideae
Genus: Acacia
Characteristics
1. Over 1,300 species of Acacia, the traditional circumscription is not monophyletic.
2. This discovery has led to the breaking up of Acacia into five genera, along with the much-debated
retypification of the genus with an Australian species instead of the original African type species, an
exception to traditional rules of priority that required ratification by the International Botanical
Congress.
3. That decision has been controversial, and debate continues, with some taxonomists (and many other
biologists) deciding to continue to use the traditional Acacia sensulato circumscription of the genus, at
least for now.
4. Such use is contrary to decisions by two consecutive International Botanical Congresses. When the
genus is divided, the traditional acacias of Africa are now treated in the genera Vachellia and Senegalia,
some of the American species are placed in Acaciella andMariosousa, and the majority of species still
treated in the genus Acacia are confined to Australia.
Parts used= whole plant
3. MEDICINAL USES
1. Both the African and Australian varieties have tannin-rich bark. A decoction can be applied to inflamed tissue
and burns to promote rapid healing and the knitting together of the tissues. This high tannin content also helps
in the treatment of mouth ulcers and throat inflammations. Its astringency helps check the growth of oral
bacteria while soothing the delicate tissues that line the oral cavity.
2. In Ayurvedic medicine, Acacia leaves, flowers, and pods have long been used to expel worms, to staunch
bleeding, heal wounds, and suppress the coughing up of blood. Its strong astringent action is used to contract
and toughen mucous membranes throughout the body in much the same way as witch hazel or oak bark.
3. Black Catechu is used internally for chronic catarrh of the mucous membranes, dysentery, and bleeding. In
Chinese medicine it is used for poorly healing ulcers, weeping skin diseases, oral ulcers with bleeding, and
traumatic injuries. A small piece of cutch can be dissolved in the mouth to stop bleeding gums or heal canker
sores. In Ayurvedic medicine, decoctions of the bark and heartwood are used for sore throats.
4. Senegal gum is used as a mild stimulant and to impede absorption as well as for the treatment of catarrh and
diarrhea. It is the source of the well-known gum Arabic, as well as being a constituent of cough drops. It is also
used in veterinary medicine for mild diarrhea in small animals, foals, and calves.
5. Mexicans use the flowers, leaves, and roots to make soothing teas and washes, good for the mucous
membranes, and used mainly to treat bladder problems or as a topical antiseptic for skin and oral
inflammations. The astringent fruit is used to treat dysentery.
6. Although herbalists in the US rarely use acacia for parasitic infestations, it is commonly used in other cultures.
For example, one species, A. anthelmintica, is specific for worms in Abyssinia; A. nilotica is specific for malaria
in Nigeria; and A. polyacantha is specific for malaria in Tanzania.
7. It is helpful against venomous stings and bites and used in much the same manner in each culture. The juice of
the chewed bark is swallowed, while the chewed bark itself is placed on the area of the bite.
8. Decoctions made from the powdered leaves, stems, and pods are taken for shigella, malaria, dysentery, and
diarrhea. The brew is both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory.
9. An infusion of the flowers and leaves is taken for gastrointestinal inflammations. The flowers are also sedating.
10. The roots make a mucilaginous tea that is both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. It helps soothe mucous
membranes from the mouth through to the anus, reducing inflammation and attacking microbial infections.
11. Any part may be powdered and applied to fungal infections, infected wounds, and to stop the bleeding of
wounds and prevent subsequent infection.
4. ALANGIUM
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division : Angiosperms
Class: eudicots
Order: asterids
Family: cornales
Subfamily: cornaceae
Genus: alangium
Characteristics
1. Sage Leaved Alangium is a
tall thorny tree native to
India.
2. It grows to a height of
about 3 to 10 meters.
3. The bark is ash colour,
rough and faintly fissured.
4. The leaves are elliptic
oblong, elliptic lanceolate
or oblong lanceolate.
5. The flowers are greenish
white, fascicled, axillary or
on old wood.
6. The berries are ovoid,
ellipsoid or nearly globose.
7. Glabrous, smooth and violet
to purple. The flowering
season is February to June.
Medicinal Uses:
1. Sage-leaved alangium is
used in the treatment of
Rabies.
2. The leaves, roots, seeds and
the bark of the plant is used
in the preparation of
decoction and making pills.
5. ARNICA
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division : Angiosperms
Class: eudicots
Order: asterids
Family: asteraceae
Subfamily: asteroideae
Genus: alangium
Characteristics
1. Arnica is applied to the skin for
pain and swelling associated
with bruises, aches, sprains,
and arthritis. It is also applied to
the skin for insect bites, muscle
and cartilage pain, chapped lips,
and acne.
2. It is also taken by mouth for sore
mouth and throat, insect bites,
painful and swollen veins near
the surface of the skin
(superficial phlebitis), sore gums
after removal of wisdom teeth.
Parts used= Arnica and its
extracts,flowering heads of arnica
MEDICINAL USES
1. Arnica should only be used internally by licensed medical
practitioners, and a tincture made from the plant material
can be used in the treatment of heart failureand coronary
artery disease.
2. It can be used as a mouth wash and gargle when fighting
inflammation of the mucus membranes.
External use
1. Arnica is an anti-inflammatory, pain reliever and a local
antibiotic that is used in liniments and creams
for dislocations, sprains, bruises, chilblains, and varicose
ulcers.
2. It helps to prevent bruising and swelling after traumatic
skin injuries and prevents the blood platelets from
gathering to the site of injury.
3. Furthermore, it reverses the effect of pain causing
prostaglandins and thereby has a pain relieving effect,
which is further enhanced by the sesquiterpene lactones,
helanalin and dihydrohelanalin contained which
also reduces inflammation and fights bacteria.
4. It is particularly useful for joint, muscle and rheumatic
pain and it has also been found to prevent muscle
stiffness and reduce pain when applied before athletic
events.
6. Eucalyptus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division : Angiosperms
Class: eudicots
Order: rosids
Family: mytraceae
Subfamily: eucalypteae
Genus: eucalyptus
Characteristics
1. All eucalyptus is evergreen but some tropical species lose their leaves at the end of the dry season,
eucalyptus leaves are covered with oil glands. The copious oils produced are an important feature of the
genus. Although mature eucalyptus trees are usually towering] and fully leafed, their shade is
characteristically patchy because the leaves usually hang downwards.
2. The leaves on a mature eucalyptus plant are commonly lanceolate, petiolate, apparently alternate and
waxy or glossy green. In contrast, the leaves of seedlings are often opposite, sessile and glaucous. But
there are many exceptions to this pattern. Many species such as E. melanophloia and E. setosa retain the
juvenile leaf form even when the plant is reproductively mature. Some species, such as E. macrocarpa, E.
rhodantha and E. crucis, are sought-after ornamentals due to this lifelong juvenile leaf form. A few
species, such as E. petraea, E. dundasii and E. lansdowneana, have shiny green leaves throughout their life
cycle. E. caesia exhibits the opposite pattern of leaf development to most eucalyptus, with shiny green
leaves in the seedling stage and dull, glaucous leaves in mature crowns. The contrast between juvenile
and adult leaf phases is valuable in field identification.
3. Four leaf phases are recognised in the development of a eucalyptus plant: the ‘seedling’, ‘juvenile’,
‘intermediate’ and ‘adult’ phases. However there is no definite transitional point between the phases.
The intermediate phase, when the largest leaves are often formed, links the juvenile and adult phases.
Parts used= The dried leaves and oil
7. MEDICINAL USES
1. Asthma.
2. Reducing swelling (inflammation) of the upper airway tract.
3. Stuffy nose.
4. wounds.
5. Burns.
6. Ulcers.
7. Acne.
8. Bleeding gums.
9. Bladder diseases.
10. Diabetes.
11. Fever.
12. Flu.
13. Liver and gallbladder problems.
14. Loss of appetite.
Arthritis pain
