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Ayurvedic Herbs / Thai Herbs - Medicinal Plants - B
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Ayurvedic
Medicine |
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Basics
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There are numerous medicinal plants in current use in Thailand.
Ayurvedic medicine and Thai traditional
medicine, each finding many uses and deserving to be exhibited to the
enthusiasts who wish to know about the characteristics of its stem, flower,
fruit together with the research work undertaken, it is impossible to
exhibit all, or even the majority, of them. For this reason some common
medicinal plants which received research attention both locally and
internationally have been selected. In addition, some which
have so far attracted little attention from
researchers have also been included owing to their recognition in
Ayurvedic Medicine and traditional medicine in Thailand
as well as some Asian countries.
The information
has been
searched from the literature, selected and edited in order to be presented in
this site, which will familiarize the reader with general characters of such plants. No botanical details are given
owing to the nature of this
work and also to limited space. Sketches of the plants, however, are
given to enable the reader to recognize them. It should be noted that
all Thai, Sanskrit, Latin and English common names of the plants
appearing in this site are transliterated into English with the sound in
mind, and not according to the official rules. In addition, owing to
the limited space the traditional
usage of each plant is meant to be representative, and by no means comprehensive.
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 Bacopa
monnieri
is a small, creeping herb that contains the alkaloids
brahmine and herpestine.
The entire plant constitutes the well-known
drug Brahmi. The drug is astringent, bitter and cooling,
and, reportedly improves the intellect. It is used in
Ayurveda for the treatment of asthma, hoarseness, insanity,
and epilepsy and is also a potent nerve tonic, cardiotonic,
aperient and diuretic.
It is reported to improve the intellect, and,
acts as an anti-anxiety agent. It also calms restlessness in
children and is used in several mental disorders. |
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 Bauhinia
variegata
is a medium-sized, deciduous tree with variously colored
flowers.
Its principal constituents are the seeds
which yield a fatty oil, the bark yields fiber. The bark is
astringent, tonic and antihelmentic. It is useful in
scrofula and skin diseases. It is also used for ulcers and
leprosy. A decoction of the bark is taken for dysentery. The
dried buds are used for diarrhea, dysentery and hemorrhoids.
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 Berberis
aristata
is an erect shrub.
Berberine, berberine chloride and palmative
chloride are its principal constituents. The roots possess
antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. The drug is
used as a cholagogue, stomachic, laxative, diaphoretic,
antipyretic and antiseptic. It is administered externally
for painful eye afflictions and hemorrhoids. The root bark
is useful in amenorrhoea.
It has an essential active ingredient,
Berberine, which possesses anti-inflammatory and
antibacterial properties. It is used in the treatment of
leucorrhoea.
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 Blepharis
edulis
is a small, grey-pubescent or nearly glabrous perennial herb
found in the Thar desert and in Africa.
The stem is rigid and leaves are four in each
node. The flowers are blue, in strobilate inflorescence. The
capsules are 2-seeded. Blepharin was identified from the
seeds. The seeds are considered aphrodisiac, and are also
resolvent and diuretic. |
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 Boerhaavia
diffusa
is a weed found throughout India.
The roots contain the rotenoids, boeravinones
A1, B1, C2, D, E and F besides the new
dihydroisofurenoxanthin and boerhavine. The roots are
credited with anti-convulsant, analgesic, diuretic, laxative
and expectorant properties.
It has been found to stop
intra-uterine-contraceptive-device (IUCD)-induced bleeding.
This herb is also known for its anti-inflammatory and
analgesic properties, which are comparable to that of
ibuprofen. It has also proved useful as a hematinic. |
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 A
lofty, deciduous tree with horizontally, spreading branches.
The bark, on analysis, possesses tannins and
non-tannins. It also contains lupeol, ß-sitosterol and its
D-glucoside. The bark is given as a demulcent, emetic and
tonic. Externally, it is used as a styptic, and also for
fomenting wounds. The gum is credited with astringent,
tonic, and demulcent properties and is used for dysentery,
hemoptysis in pulmonary tuberculosis, influenza and
menorrhagia.
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It is a white to grayish, greenish or bluish
colored granular mineral, crystallizing in monoclinic
system. It is in usage since the historical time. Borax is a
well known house-hold commodity. It is mildly antiseptic and
cooling properties. |
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 Commonly
called Frankincense, Boswellia serrata is a moderate
to large branching tree, found in India and the Middle East.
Strips of bark are peeled away, yielding a gummy oleo resin.
The gum is used as an anti-inflammatory agent
when applied externally. Internally, besides being
antiarthritic, it has expectorant effect and improves
immunity. One of the principal constituents in the gum resin
is boswellic acid which exhibits anti-inflammatory activity.
The gum resin is used as an ointment for sores and has
anti-inflammatory, antiatherosclerotic and antiarthritic
activities. The nonphenolic fraction of the gum resin had
marked sedative and analgesic action. |
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 A
deciduous tree with a crooked trunk and bright orange-red
flowers.
The bark exudes a red juice that dries to
form the Butea gum. The gum contains leucocyanidin,
tetramer, procyanidin, gallic acid and mucilaginous
material.
The gum is a powerful astringent; it is given internally for
diarrhea, dysentery, phthisis and hemorrhage of the stomach
and bladder.
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