IXORA

I don't think one needs to really thing hard to know why the Ixora coccinea is known as Jungle Flame. It is rather obvious, isn't it? For your information, Ixora is derived from the name of a Hindu deity and is commonly used in Hindu worship. It is also known as Flame of the Woods and Jungle Geranium.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES AND USES
The parts used are the flowers, leaves and bark.
The roots are astringent, acrid, sedative, stomachic and antiseptic. They are useful in fever, anorexia, diarrhoea, dysentery, sores, chronic ulcers and skin diseases.
The leaves are used in diarrhoea.
The flowers are astringent, bitter sweet, carminative, digestive and constipating and can be used in dysentery, catarrhal bronchitis, sores and ulcers
It is also said to have anti-cancer properties.
References
http://www.da-academy.org/medplants.html
http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/ixora.htmhttp://www.sriaurobindosociety.org.in/flrarch/flrsep02.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ixora

RANGOON CREEPER

Common names: Dani, Akar Dani, Redani, Selimpas, Udani, Urdani

Scientific name: Quisqualis Indica L.

Family: Combretaceae.

USES

The plant is mainly used for traditional medicine. Decoctions of the root, seed or fruit can be used as antihelmintic or for alleviating diarrhea. Fruit decoction can also be used for gargling. The fruits are also used to combat nephritis. Leaves can be used to relieve pain caused by fever. The roots are used to treat rheumatism. It is effective in the elimination of intestinal worms.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quisqualis_indica

www.flickr.com/photos/30344835@N03/3063242654/

ARA TANAH

NAMA MELAYU: Ara Tanah

NAMA SAINTIFIK: Euphorbia hirta L.

NAMA LAIN: Hairy Spurge, Asthma Weed

KEGUNAAN UNTUK PERUBATAN:

Digunakan untuk merawat penyakit lelah (asthma), bronchitis, cacing and disenteri. Ia juga digunakan untuk meredakan batuk berdahak. Orang tua zaman dahulu menggunakan getah tumbuhan ini untuk mengubati mata yang merah (penyakit conjunctivitis).

Ara tanah mempunyai sifat anti inflamasi ( anti radang ), diuretic ( peluruh kencing ) dan anti pruritic ( menghilangkan gatal )

SUMBER RUJUKAN:

http://www.tropilab.com/astmaweed.html

http://javajamu.blogspot.com/2007_12_23_archive.html

http://malaysianherbs.multiply.com/

FINGERROOT (TEMU KUNCI)

Click on the image to get a bigger picture.

I found the Fingerroot (in the above picture) when I was shopping at Tesco in Ipoh. I actually have this plant in the school Herb Garden (see second picture). Its Malay name is Temu Kunci or simply Kunci. Here is some information about this herb.

COMMON NAMES: Fingerroot, temu kunci, finger root, gazhutu, kachai, krachai, kasay, Chinese ginger, Thai ginger, suo shi, Chinese key, fingerwarr.

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Boesenbergia pandurata.

FAMILY: Zingiberaceae (Ginger family).

USAGE:

In traditional medicine in Southeast Asia, the rhizome is used for swelling, wounds and diarrhoea.Fingerroot contains a significant amount of several polyphenols as important constituents that show an antimutagenic effect (an agent that inhibits mutations).These antimutagenic phytochemicals may play an important role in the prevention of cancer.

The Malays use it for postnatal care for the nursing mother. It is supposed to help them regain their vigour and also helps with blood circulation. The fingerroot is also used as a spice for cooking.

SOURCES:

http://www.tropilab.com/fingerroot.html

http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temu_kunci

TEMU KUNCI

Saya menjumpai Temu Kunci semasa membeli-belah di Tesco Ipoh. Ia dijual dengan harga RM13.00 sekilo. Kunci yang dibeli saya hanya RM1.18. Sebenarnya Taman Herba sekolah saya ada pokok ini tetapi saya ingin menambah lagi tanaman dalamnya.

Berikut adalah maklumat tentang herba ini.

NAMA TEMPATAN: Temu kunci
NAMA SAINTIFIK: Boesenbergia rotunda (L.)
NAMA LAIN: Kunci, Fingerroot, Chinese ginger, Ao Chun Jiang (Mandarin), Gazhutu, Thai ginger, Fingerwarr.
FAMILI: Zingerberaceae

Temu Kunci adalah sejenis rempah. Ia biasanya dipanggil kunci. Rizomnya yang berbentuk panjang berbau wangi menyebabkan ia juga dijadikan ramuan dalam masakan.

Penggunaan
Rizom temu kunci berkhasiat mengatasi gangguan pencernaan. Daunnya diketahui memiliki kesan antitoksik. Temu kunci merupakan antara bahan popular yang digunakan sebagai jamu lepas bersalin.Ia mempunyai fungsi untuk melancarkan perjalanan darah dan mengembalikan kecergasan badan.

Cara menggunakan
Untuk membuat jamu yang mudah, 500g temu lawak dan 500 g temu kunci ditumbuk atau kisar bersama-sama. Airnya kemudiannya diminum segelas setiap hari semasa pantang terutamanya pada minggu pertama kelahiran.

Sumber:
http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temu_kunci
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30344835@N03/3065050038/