MEDICINAL PLANT- ANALIVEGAM/DEVIL TREE

Common name: Sinnappalai, Devil Tree

Scientific name:  Alstonia venenata R.BR.

 Parts used: roots and fruits

Commercial importance:  it can used for treating pitta, cobra bite, skin diseases, other venomous bites, epilepsy, fever and otalgia. Fruits are useful in insanity and epilepsy. The latex is used in treating coughs, throat sores and fever. It is a remedy for impure blood. the seeds of Alstonia venenata as an aphrodisiac and stimulant in their tantric sex rituals.

 

How to cultivate

 Plant seeds just under the surface (0.5cm) in a well drained mixture, (potting mix:perlite:washed sand) in full sun. Keep moist until germination. They are drought tolerant and hardy species once established.

MEDICINAL PLANT- TINOSPORA / AMRUTHU

Common name: Gulancha tinospora, Tinospora

 

Scientific name: Tinospora cordifolia (WILLD.) HOOK.F. & THOMS.

 

Parts used: stem

 

Commercial importance: amruthu acts as a diuretic and found to be effective against Renal obstruction like calculi and other urinary disorders. It acts as a memory booster, develops inteligence, promotes mental clarity. It is described as one of the Medhya Rasayana (mental rejuvenative) in the Charak Samhita (The oldest and most potent book of Ayurvedic Medicine). It is regarded as a liver protector. It is considered helpful in eye disorders as a tissue builder and promotes mental clarity. The stem is used in general debility, dyspepsia and urinary diseases. It is anti-pyretic and act as a tonic after fever, also has action against alternative fever like Malaria. Tinospora or Guduchi acts as a diuretic and found to be effective against Renal obstruction like calculi and other urinary disorders

How to cultivate

Medium black soil or red soil is the best for the cultivation of Tinospora Cordifolia. A well drained, rich in organic matter soil is very good for the growth of this plant. The plant is very hardy and it can be grown in almost all climates but prefers warm climate.

 

Tinospora can be propagated by seeds and also vegetative cuttings. The best way is vegetative way. The cuttings of the small finger thickness with 6 to 8 inch length long stem having two nodes are used. The cuttings are dipped by quick dip method in 2500 ppm of IBA and get greater success of rooting. This may be planted in poly bags of 4 inch ×6 inch size. The poly bags filled with mud, sand and dry cow dung in the ratio 1:1:1. The rooting of the cuttings takes almost 4 to 5 weeks. The cuttings of Tinospora Cordifolia will be ready for planting into the main field by this time.

Tinospora is a climber and hence needs some source of support to get higher yields. Proper training structures like the wires are required. The first harvest can be made by plucking the leaves without damaging the vines. These leaves are then spread on clean dry floor for drying.

 

Irrigation: Tinospora Cordifolia should be watered everyday in the early stages and later at weekly intervals depending upon soil and climate conditions.