Chembarathi

Chembarathi

Botanical name : Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn.
Family : Malvaceae
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS:Japa, Ondrapuspi, Ragapuspi

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
Hindi  :  Gudahal
Malayalam :  Chemparatty 

  

PLANT DESCRIPTION An evergreen woody shrub grows up to 8 meters in height. Leaves simple, bright green, ovate and serrate towards the end. Flowers are beautiful, solitary and axillary.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES Plant pacifies vitiated kapha, pitta, cough, menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, pruritus, burning sensation, fever, alopecia and dandruff. 
Useful part : Root, Fruit.

 Hibiscus Rosasinensis (chembarathi or chemparathi) is an ornamental plant seen in almost all parts of Kerala. Its Latin name, rosa-sinensis translates into the rose of China or Chinese rose. This flower is predominant in almost all parts of India and China.

    Women and girls (of Kerala) prepare a special herbal shampoo called chembarathi thali, by rubbing the leaves and flowers of chembarathi against a clean rock slab. This helps them with thickly growing, black shining hair. 

   Ayurveda suggests it is good to prevent premature hair graying, hair loss, dandruff, and other hair related problems. Its petals also form a component of hair oil prepared at home. Coconut oil is boiled with easily available chemparathi petals, nellikka (amalaki), etc.

Other uses of hibiscus include regulation of menstrual cycle, avoid menstrual cramps, and also as a contraceptive medicine. The roots of the plant are used in the treatment of different venereal diseases.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis comes in the plant family Malvaceae.

There are 5000 varieties in China rose or shoe flower, Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa sinensis). There are many uses of hibiscus, including beauty tips, medicines and dyes. Do you know that some tribes are using this flower for cancer? Many colors of Hibiscus are available. Of all these white one has much importance in medicine.

1. The chemicals in hibiscus flower helps in growth of hair. It reduces dandruff and makes the hair black.
2. The natural oil in this flower acts as a good conditioner
3. This flower can be used as natural dye for hair
4. The oil in this flower can be applied to the skin of patients who are suffering from cellulite which makes the skin to glow
5. The ash obtained by burning the flower and leaves of this flower can be applied to eyebrows which glazes them black
6. This flower can be used as shoe polish by rubbing it on the shoe
7. Hibiscus flower can be used as contraceptive. The oil from this flower is used for abortion in some tribes in Jamaica.
8. Jamaicans use this flower in herbal tea as it contains many minerals and vitamins
9. The juice from these leaves and flowers can regularize the menstrual cycle
10. Ayurveda says the medicine made from its roots can be used as a prevention of venereal diseases
11. According to traditional medicine if we eat the buds of white hibiscus flowers early in the morning on empty stomach it should cure all the diseases. We can mix sugar if we are unable to eat directly.
12. This flower improves digestion. Hence raw flowers are eaten by Hawaiian people, and Chinese eat this flower by making pickle.
13. The fiber from this stem is qualitative. This can be used in manufacturing of clothes, nets and paper.
14. The roots of hibiscus are boiled in oil until the water gets evaporated. Then the oil can be applied to the wounds caused by cancer. This can be very useful in initial stage of cancer.
15. According to the traditional medicine, the flowers of white Hibiscus can be dried in the shade of neem tree. Then they can be powdered and it can be used to fight all cancers.

  According to Ayurveda it is good for increasing blood count among anemic people. The bright Red variety that is commonly found in tropical countries is supposed to be the best . The flowers are boiled in a little water and blended in a mixer with roasted cummin seeds and salt and consumed after diluting it to the required level ,for increasing the quantity of hemoglobin .

The flower is also used for hair care. The leaves and flowers are added to hot coconut oil and slowly heated for a few minutes , after which the oil is completely cooled and filtered. The Oil is then stored in bottles and used to apply to the hair . The oil should be massaged into the hair and left for an hour or two after which it can be washed with a shampoo. This treatment when done regularly has been proved to be  very helpful in stopping hair loss and promoting new hair growth.
  In India certain varieties of Hibiscus flowers are used for cooking. Hibiscus is supposed to contain some vital nutrients that are essential for the body and in the southern parts of India it is regularly used in cooking.