DESERT ROSE

Nama tempatan/Common names: Sabi Star, Kudu, Fu Kwai Fa, Desert-rose.
Nama Saintifik:/Scientific name: Adenium obesum
Famili/Family: Apocynaceae
Genus/Genus: Adenium
Spesis/Species: A. obesum

LEMON BASIL: KEMANGI

Setahu saya ada dua jenis pokok kemangi yang biasa ditanam di taman rumah, satu jenis berbunga ungu dan satu lagi bunganya warna putih.  Kedua-dua pun boleh digunakan untuk masakan dan juga sebagai ubat.

Berikut adalah maklumat tentang pokok kemangi:

Nama Tempatan: Kemangi

Nama Saintifik: Ocimum sanctum Linn
Nama Lain: Cemangi
Famili: Lamiaceae /Labiatae

Kegunaan
Tumbuhan ini beraroma dan banyak digunakan dalam masakan.  Ia juga digunakan dalam perubatan tradisional.
Air rebusan daun kemangi diminum untuk menangani masalah pernafasan, batuk dan bronkitis yang kronik. Kaedah yang sama juga digunakan untuk merawat masalah gastrik. Untuk asma pula jus dari daunnya diminum.
Rujukan: http://www.melur.com/

ENGLISH VERSION
As far as I know, there are two types of lemon basil (kemangi) that are commonly found in Malaysian gardens.  One type has purple flowers while the other has white ones.  Both types are used in cooking as well as traditional medicine.

Here is more information about the lemon basil:
Common names; Kemangi, Lemon Basil, Cemangi
Scientific name: Ocimum sanctum Linn
Family: Lamiaceae /Labiatae

USES:
The aromatic plant is used in cooking, especially as a garnish.  It is also used in traditional medicine. 
The boiled water of the lemon basil leaves aresaid to help ease breathing difficulties, gastric, coughs and chronic bronchitis.  The juice of the leaves are recommended for those suffering from asthma.
Reference: http://www.melur.com/

DUKUNG ANAK (PHYLLANTHUS NIRURI)

This morning I had a call from the Media teacher of SMK Pangkalan TLDM, she had called to ask me about a plant called Dukung Anak. The teacher, Puan Noraini, said that the daughter of her friend was suffering from eczema (a kind of skin disease) and someone recommended her to use this herb as a cure.

Actually, I am very familiar with this plant and it is also very easy to find as it grows wild. We have a lot of it growing in the Herb Garden and also many parts of the school grounds. In the above pictures, you can see some of the Dukung Anak plants growing in the Herb Garden. However, I insisted that Puan Noriani come see me in school so that I could show her the plant. Sometimes, some plants look similar, so I do not wish for the young girl to be treated with the wrong type of herb.

Anyway, I did suggest using the leaves of the Inai plant as another alternative herbal cure for the skin problem. From what I know the Dukung Anak Plant is more known to treat illnesses like hepatitis, urinary disorders and fevers. In Papua New Guinea, the fresh leaf juice or fresh root juice are taken orally for venereal diseases.

SOME INFO ABOUT THE DUKUNG ANAK
THE Malays call it pokok Dukung Anak. They believe drinking the juice of the plant (including its roots) can cure, among others, yellow fever, anaemia, asthma, dysentery and to a certain extent, diabetes.
While its effectiveness in curing these ailments has yet to be proven, one thing for sure is that the plant, which goes by the scientific name of phyllanthus niruri, can indeed cure Hepatitis-B.
Sources: http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/86021/novalab_invests_rm3m_on_herbal_cure_for_hepatitisb/index.html
http://www.pharmainfo.net/reviews/phyllanthus-niruri