Mukkutti

Mukkutti

Botanical name : Biophytum sensitivum Linn.
Family : Oxalidaceae 

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS:Viparita lajjalu, Jhulapushpa, Peethapushpa

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English  : Biophytum
Hindi  : Lajjalu, Lakshmana
Malayalam : Mukkutti 

PLANT DESCRIPTION A slender erect annual; leaves abruptly pinnate, leaflets opposite, 6-12 pairs, the terminal pair is the largest; flowers yellow with many peduncles; fruits ellipsoid capsules
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES Plant pacifies vitiated kapha, pitta, urinary calculi, wounds, abscesses, asthma and stomachalgia.
 Useful part : The whole plant

 

It is an important flower for the people of Kerala both for its medicinal values and cultural importance. Mukkutti has been used in traditional folk medicine to treat numerous diseases.In Ayurveda this little herb Mukkutti is described as a good medicine. 

**Mukkutti is used as a tonic and stimulant 

**It is used for chest complaints , convulsions , Cramps and inflammatory tumours .

** It's ash is mixed with lime juice and given for stomach ache .

**Leaves and roots are styptic , decotion of leaves is given for diabetes , asthma and phthisis.

**Arthralgia, Arthritis, Back Pain, Bone Spur, Bursitis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Cervical Spondylosis, Degenerative Joint Disease, Degenerative Neck Disease, Fibromyalgia, Leg Cramps, Leg pains, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sprains, Stiff Neck, Tendonitis and Tennis Elbow are also treated using mukkutti in Ayurveda.

**Mukkutti herb is very useful in treating Varicocele. The leaves of this herb (20) need to be boiled in 300ml of water for 40 mins. Strain and cool this potion and drink it two times daily for a month and complete relief would be accorded in a month.

** It is also used for treating heavy bleeding seen in women.Therefore it is also called "Teendanaazhi".

**Its leaf well grinded in butter milk is used in treating dysentry.

**It is a good medicinal herb to clean the uterus after delivery.

1. The leaves are ground and given along with butter milk for diarrhoea.
2. The seeds ground with water and applied over wound and ulcer.
3. The samoolam of this plant or whole plant is ground, mixed with honey and given for cough, chest congestion etc.
4. After delivery, the leaves of this plant along with jaggery is cooked and given to the delivered ladies to expell the lochia and remains from the uterus.
5. The paste of the leaves is applied over burns and contusions.

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