Everything You Need To Know About Medicinal Plants
A variety of household medicinal plants are widely used in Odisha, particularly among its large tribal populations who rely on traditional remedies for primary healthcare. Commonly used plants include:
- Tulsi ( Holy Basil) – Widely cultivated and used in almost every household for coughs, colds, and fever. Leaves are often taken with honey.
- Neem (Azadirachta indica) – Known for its strong antibacterial and antiseptic properties, its leaves and bark are used to treat skin diseases, wounds, and also as an ingredient for diabetes management.
- Ghee Kuanri (Aloe vera) – The gel from its leaves is used to treat burns, skin injuries, and stomach ulcers.
- Aswagandha (Withania somnifera / Winter Cherry) – Used as an immune enhancer, to treat rheumatism, gout, hypertension, and joint pain.
- Kalmegh (Bhuin Nimba, Andrographis paniculata) – leaves are used for liver disorders, jaundice, indigestion, and skin infections.
- Guluchi (Tinospora cordifolia) – Used for urinary tract infections and diabetes.
- Bela (Aegle marmelos / Bengal Quince) – The leaves and fruit are widely used for dysentery, diarrhoea, and other intestinal problems.
- Ginger (Zingiber officinale / Ada) – The root is a common household remedy for coughs, colds, and digestive issues like anorexia. etc…
- I just explained a few of the wide variety of medicinal plants used for treating different ailments in Odisha. Please go through the following table for more details about some other medicinal plants.
| Plant Name | Benefits and Uses |
|---|---|
| Barkoli (Indian Jujube) | Reduces fat growth. |
| Manjuwati | Relieves jaundice and stops hairfall. |
| Guluchi | Increases immunity. |
| Bahada | Stops stomach-related problems. |
| Pansas, Insulin, Gudmari, Stevia | Controls diabetes. |
| Lemon | Stops gas problems and decreases acidity. |
| Mutha | Stops malaria fever, piles, and diabetes. |
| Khadi Sidu | Treats bleeding gums and dental problems. |
| Sahada | Reduces toothache. |
| Chireita, Ground Neem | Used for deworming. |
| Gugul, Sandalwood, Arakh | Reduces skin diseases. |
| Pasaruni | Reduces waist and lower abdomen pain. |
| Pippali | Reduces breathing issues, cough, and cold. |
| Ashoka | Especially useful for women’s health. |
| Gaias | Reduces stomach problems in children. |
| Punarnava | Prevents body aches. |
| Keshavardhani | Helps in hair growth. |
| Bacha | Promotes a sweet/clear voice. |
| Pomegranate | Prevents diarrhoea. |
| Amarapoi | Treats loose motion. |
| Gangashiuli | Reduces fever. |
| Lajkulilata | Stops bleeding from hemorrhoids. |
| Dudura | Treats indigestion, phlegm, and heart disease. |
| Bara (Banyan) | Removes nocturnal emission and helps with eunuchism. |
| Palua | Promotes a healthy stomach. |
| Turmeric | Deworming and treating skin diseases. |
| Juani | Increases digestion. |
| Hatajoda | Helps in joining broken bones. |
| Bhringaraj | Beneficial for hair health. |
| Bishalyakarani | Used for curing wounds. |
| Anantamula | Acts as a pure blood purifier. |
| Patala Garuda | Reduces high blood pressure. |
| Saptapharni | Cures jaundice and aids in cancer treatment. |
| Black Pepper | Reduces head reeling, aids weight loss, and fights cancer. |
| Dashakeranta | Reduces pain in the stomach. |
| Gheekuanri (Aloe Vera) | Reduces hairfall, diabetes, and skin diseases. |
| Sahabedi | Reduces migraine. |
| Chaktakhai | Stops blood flow during injury. |
| Ashwagandha | Increases immunity and helps with brain/cognitive problems. |
| Thalakudi / Brahmi | Increases memory. |
| Amla | Reduces stomach problems. |
| Arjuna | Beneficial for heart disease. |
Let’s have a list of plants to be kept intentionally in different rooms like bedroom, kitchen, study room and drawing room etc. For example , for bedrooms, choose air-purifying, low-maintenance plants like Snake Plant (Sansevieria), Pothos (Money Plant), Aloe Vera, and Spider Plant, which release oxygen at night, filter toxins, and create a calming environment for better sleep. We may think of putting fragrant plants too like Jasmine, Lavender etc. for experiencing aromatherapy benefits.
If you like to have a glance on different medicinal plants widely used in different households of Odisha , you may go through the following link.
These plants represent a small fraction of the state’s rich ethnobotanical diversity, with traditional healers and local communities using different parts of various plants (leaves, roots, bark, fruits) to prepare remedies for a wide range of ailments.
Dr Manoj Mishra lunarsecstasy@gmail.com
