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East Indian Rosebay Herb - Benefits And Healing Power

Botanical Name: : Ervatamia coronaria

Indian Name: Chandi or taggar

Description and Composition

East Indian Rosebay is a small perennial shrub. It has a round stem of about 25 cm's diameter, with a greyish white, rough, cracked, silvery bark. It grows up to two metres in height The plant has numerous branches forming a dense crown. It has long, simple, elliptic leaves, dark green in color. The flowers are large, soft white and very delicate with a sweet fragrance. The plant produces a thick milky juice when any part is cut. East Indian Rosebay contains alkaloids, tabernaemontanine and coronarine, a crystalline resin alcohol, caoutchouc and some other substances.

Benefits and Healing Power of East Indian Rosebay

The leaves of the plant do not have any prominent taste. When crushed, they turn soapy. The cellulose content is very soft. It is used in curing worms and certain skin disorders.

• Intestinal Worms :- The root of the plant is anthelmintic and is used for killing intestinal' worms. The milky juice of the plant too has similar property and is used for this purpose.
• Toothache :- For allaying toothache, the root of the plant is chewed.
• Eye Disorders :- The herb is beneficial in the treatment of several eye disorders. A paste of the plant made with water and lime juice or the latex of the plant mixed with lime juice can be applied to clear opacity of the cornea of the eyes. The juice or the milk from the leaves, either by themselves or mixed with charcoal of the plant, can be used with beneficial results as a soothing application in opthalmia, that is, inflammation of the eye.
  The juice of the flowers mixed with some bland oil such as refined coconut oil can be used with gratifying results for sore eyes and inflammation of the cornea.
• Skin Disorders :- East Indian rosebay is valuable in certain skin disorders. The juice of the leaves is a soothing application in skin irritation and wounds. The herb is useful as a local anodyne and relieves pain. The latex mixed with the juice makes a soothing dressing for wounds. It also prevents inflammations.