Datura metel, Madanam, Ummam, Thorn apple, നീല ഉമ്മം

Family: Solanaceae
Vernacular names: Madanam, Ummam, നീല ഉമ്മം (Malayalam), Thorn apple (English), Dhattura (Sanskrit), Sadahatura (Hindi), Karu (Tamil)
Distribution: Paleotropics
Description: Subshrubs. Leaves entire or angled with acute lobes, ovate. Flowers purplish outside and white inside, solitary in axil, erect. Capsule spherical, covered with short spines; seeds compressed, smooth, brown.
Habit: Shrub
Habitat: Degraded deciduous forests and wastelands
Flowering & Fruiting: March-December

Parts used: Whole plant
Properties & Uses: Narcotic, antispasmodic, bitter, acrid, astringent, sedative, febrifuge and anthelmintic. The warmed leaves are used to treat guinea worms. Young and fresh leaves are used to treat amenorrhoea and mixed with lime is used to treat scabies. Fresh juice is used in painful swellings and earache. Pounded leaves are used to treat skin diseases, ulcers, bronchitis, jaundice, piles and fever.
Systems of Medicines: Ayurveda, Unani, Homeo, Modern,
Download QR Codes: PNG | SVG | EPS