On Thursday, 19 August 1999 08:00:00 UTC+1, Adey Oyenuga wrote:
Thursday, August 19, 1999
Medicinal uses of giant milk weed
THE giant milk weed also known as swallow wort and mudar
bark, is not a weed as we know weeds to be. It is a shrub
which is very common in settlements - villages and towns.
It grows easily from the seeds where the soil is
suitable, even from the side of cemented path ways. It
grows well on sandy soil.
Scientists are not very consistent at times in naming
plants. In Traditional medicine and Pharmacopoeia
contribution to Ethnobotanical and Floristic Studies in
Western Nigeria by 14 authors, published by Organisation
of African Unity/ Scientific Technical and Research
Commission, the plant is called Calotropis procera and in
Ethnomedical uses of plants in Nigeria by Prof. L. S.
Gill, the plant is called Calotropis procera and
calotropis gigantea.
The giant milk weed is called Bomubomu in Yoruba and
Tumfatiya in Hausa. The leaves are used in areas where
cattle is reared when coagulating milk because it is
known to prevent small pox and measles. Such coagulating
milk is called wara (cheeses) in Yoruba. Wara can be done
without it.
The leaves are also placed in the pot before adding
maize, then beans, to cook as a meal. This is also done
to prevent small pox and measles.
The ball-like shape of the fruits is also peculiar. The
fruits, hanging in bunches of two or more like balloon
have fibre-like content and remind one of the signature
of plants when some herbalists add them to remedies for
testicular problems
The natives use giant milk weed and value its medicinal
properties which scientists have also looked into and
confirmed.
The parts used are the leaves, root, bark, flowers and
the fruits.
The constituents are listed by scientists to be alkaloids
- benzoyllicolone, calotropin, calotozin, uscharin,
uscharidin, calactin, benzoylisolineolone, voruscharine
and mudarin. No doubt these are what make it a medicinal
plant; enough to encourage and make those in
pharmaceutical industries to understand what is in the
plant. They need such analysis which the herbalist, in
his/her child-like nature, does not ask for before using
the plant. His/her acceptance of medicinal plants is
based on what was passed down to him or her.
The leaves of the plant are boiled in water to treat
malaria. A tea cup of this is taken twice a day. Whatever
herb is used for malaria is to be taken for up to one
week to ensure that the condition clears very well.
It is not easy for people who are not used to herbal
remedies to accept that one plant can be used for the
treatment of many ailments. Such plants are many. In
fact, a part of the plant can be used for more than one
ailments. This is true of the giant milk weed.
The root, bark of the plant can be powdered and used in
pap or as cold infusion for diarrhoea and dysentery. The
same powder is dusted on leprosy and elephantiasis. Both
are very severe skin diseases. Leprosy causes sores on
the toes and fingers which deform them. Elephantiasis is
said to be a disease caused by worms infecting the
lymphatic circulation. It causes the foot (or feet in
some cases) to be fat and thick-skinned, heavy and
unsightly.
The powdered bark is also used on chronic eczema. This
may be applied two or three times daily. Skin problems
arise from the poor state of the blood. It is, therefore,
essential to improve on the blood through the eating of
fruits, vegetables in their raw state. Blood cleansing
herbs are also of benefits.
To relieve pains, a decoction of the root and leaves is
recommended. This decoction is also a bitter tonic and a
good remedy for convulsion and asthma.
When there is general water retention (dropsy) or just in
the abdomen known as enlargement of the abdominal
viscera, a decoction of the leaves is used.
The extract of the pure juice of giant milk weed is known
to be tonic and is therefore used in small doses. The
water decoction is preferred. In recurring fevers one to
five drops of the extract of the leaves is recommended.
While inhaling the smoke of tobacco will cause asthma and
cough in some people, inhaling the smoke from the dried
leaves of this plant will cure cough and asthma. It makes
one to marvel at how Nature works.
The dried flowers can also be used for asthma, cold and
cough. Dried flowers may be infused and taken as tea.
Inflammatory swellings and rheumatic joints can be very
painful. Poultices are often used to reduce such pains.
The slightly roasted leaves of giant milk weed are good
as poultice on inflammatory swellings and rheumatic
joints. When slightly roasted on fire the leaves become
soft and they are placed on the painful joint, leaf over
leaf, to cover the area affected. Bandage firmly and
leave it over night. It can be repeated in the morning.
It is usual and expected that a woman lactates after
having a baby in order to be able to breast feed the
offspring. But in some few cases the breast milk may not
flow. Quoting Prof. Gbile, Prof. Dill says the leaves can
be grounded with the local black soap. This is used to
wash the breast thrice daily till the milk flows. When
using a herb to help lactation, the baby should be made
to suck to quicken lactation.
The milk of giant milk weed is used on ringworm of the
scalp. It relieves pains in the joints and may also be
used on swellings. When used on carrion teeth to relieve
pain, honey is added. Mix well before applying.
The flowers are equally medicinal, good as tonic; help
stomachic and digestive problems.
The juice of the stem is capable of causing abortion and
should be avoided by pregnant women. The dried twig is
equally harmful to pregnancy. There are many medicinal
plants that are good for healing different diseases but
with a part or two that are destructive.
Abortion is the destruction of a foetus meant for use by
one that needs it. Many women do this many times only to
become childless. Nature that gives everything knows how
to make one to regret her actions with time. It is not
always that the effects of abortion can be reverted. It
is better to avoid abortions.
- THE GUARDIAN --
Great Info - Thanks!!
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