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Local Name : More popularly known as Emas/Mas cotekOther Name Used in Different location in Malaysia : Delima sudip (Central and South West Malaysia), Serapat angin (East Malaysia like Trengganu) , Telinga beruk ( East Malaysia like Kelantan), Telinga gajah (East Malaysia like Kelantan), Telinga kera, (Northern West Malaysia) Continue Reading »

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Have you heard of this Malaysian herb call Dukung Anak or in English ” to carry a child”.

Sound astonishing but if you look at this plant/herb, you can actually see row of bead-like berries on the stems underneath the leaves - that’s how it has been accredited with such name.( There are also the red  bead-like berries dukung anak which is smaller size than the usual one)More details as follows:Scientific name: Phyllanthus niruri Linn (P fraternus Webster)Local Names: Pokok Dukung Anak, Amin buah, Keman jolokCharacteristics:Grows on open, abandoned land and by the roadside or anywhere around the garden and even in pots with other plants.Parts Used: The entire plantTraditional use: Continue Reading »

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Local Name:Sambung NyawaScientific Name:Gynura procumbens Other Name:
Dawn Dewa, Leaves of the Gods, Googoolipid, Mollucan spinach,Sambung nyawa, Daun Dewa, am Akar, Akar sebiak, and Kelemai merah, bai bing cao Family:Asteraceae

Introduction:

• Sambung Nyawa means “extending life”
• Sambung Nyawa is a herb commonly consumed in the South East Asian region like countries in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.
• It is easily planted by cutting a branch from the herb. The soil requirement should be moist and with adequate drainage.

Common Uses: Continue Reading »

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You have heard earlier about Dukung Anak /”To carry a child”, now what about this RODENT tuber which is translated as “rat with a tail”shape or in Chinese popularly known as laoshu yu.

Some more details of it:

Scientific name:Typhonium flagelliforme

Part used: the entire plant (roots, tuber and leaves)

Characteristic: has smooth dark green leaves shaped like a broad arrowhead with whitish leaf petioles and tubers.

Traditional use:

• according to researches, it is effective as anti-tumor, anti-viral and
• its effect on cancer cells- able to destroy cancer cells.
• cancer users who consumed them find that their stomach may feel bloated and some even complained of severe pains. There may also be some mild diarrhoea and flatulence as well as lethargy and numbness in certain parts of the body. Women may find their menstrual cycles disrupted. These effects gradually disappear in a few days and patients will find that they are more energetic and their appetites improved.
• so far there is no case on anyone dying or suffering adversely even after taking its juice three times a day for up to six months and there are people who have been taking it for three to four years ( source-CancerCure)
• however, once a person is on this herb, the diet should be changed to consuming more fresh fruits, vegetables and juices and to avoid meat and dairy products, processed foods, refined oils, oil and fried food and do more steaming and boiling.

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Local Name: Pegaga

Scientific name: Hydrocotyle asiatica Linn (Centella asiatica (L.) Urba)

Characteristic: A creeper and a herbaceous plant with long runners and red flowers

Parts Used: Leaves and roots

Traditional Use:

• In ancient traditions, pegaga was used to detoxify the blood formula and aid skin condition.
• Research on pegaga in 1949 indicated the plant’s success in accelerating healing and relieving inflamation on leprosy sores and ulcers.
• Its other medical uses include treating skin diseases, asthma, hypertension, poor appetite, poor blood circulation, kidney stones, leg cramps,rheumatism and dizziness.
• To treat dizziness, boil the leaves with green beans then leave it overnight in the open. Eat the leaves and beans with some sugar the next morning.
• When the leaves are boiled with onions and drunk, it is effective for treating rheumatism, water boiled with the roots is taken as tonic. To treat typhoid, pound the leaves finely and apply to the forehead
• Water in which the roots have been soaked is used for bathing by mothers after childbirth.
• The roots when boiled are sometimes used by Malays as a decoction or douche to treat vaginitis and vaginal thrush.
• Ayurvedic medicine recommends pegaga for treating asthma, anaemia and other blood disorders, to reduce inflammation and fever. It consider the herb a “balancing” tonic, that increases energy while it relaxes the body, it is held to be effective in combating insomnia and making one calm for yoga and meditation.
• According to scientific study, it is also said to improve intelligence and memory retention. The study reveal that tablets made from this plant when taken orally over 12 weeks by mentally retarded children, produced significant capabilities in them Madasiatic acid and brahmic acid have been isolated from the plant
• also known as pennyworth, jin chian cao ( in Chinese), valarai (Tamil), brahmi (Sanskrit), khulakudi (Hindi) and artaniyya-e-hindi (Arabic)
• the Malays normally usually take as Pegaga as ulam ( raw ).

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Local Name: Hempedu Bumi or Pokok cerita

Scientific name: Andrographis paniculata Nees

Characteristic:Grows wild in the open. Also now been cultivated for medicinal purposes.

Parts Used: Leaves or the entire plant

Traditional Use:

• When the plant is boiled and drunk, it helps to lower hypertension.
• Tastes very bitter but being used traditional as a tonic like drinking tea
• Also used for treating tonsilities, flu,fever and chest pain
• It further acts as a strong anti-oxidant, protecting the liver and digestive system;
• It is effective in cases of cardiovascular diseases
• Also used as a pain killer against snake bites
• When combined with Misai Kuching (Orthosiphon grandiflorus), it is effective for treating diabetes
• Laboratory and clinical trials have demonstrated its effectiveness in cases of liver damage, poor liver function and hepatities. The primary active constituent, andrographolide, has been found to produce a stronger choleretic and hepatoprotective effect than silymarin from milk thistle
• Also based on scientific study, the bitter taste is due to furanoditerpene which is andrographolide and neo andrographolide. It suppose to help protect the body from bacterial attack.
• However, the consumption of Hempedu Bumi if consumed on a long term basis is believed to cause impotence.

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Like the other herbs like Dukung Anak ( To carry a child), Rodent Tuber ( Rat with a tail), there is another plant called Misai Kuching which means cat whiskers. Well you look at this herb-plant, you can see the flowers resemble those of the whiskers of a cat!

Some more details:

Local Name: Misai Kuching, Remujung

Scientific name: Orthosiphon grandiflorus Boldingh

Characteristic: A herbaceous plant which grows on damp soil. Now popularly cultivated for medicinal purposes. It has bluish flowers and looks like cat’s whiskers.

Parts Used: Entire plant.The leaves are popularly consumed as tea.

Traditional Use:

• A traditional preparation for the relief of joint aches and stiffness,
• The plant is said to be effective treatment of arthritis, gout and rheumatism.
• Misai Kuching has a long history of use in Asia as a safe and effective herbal diuretic, blood purifier and in treating hypertension and kidney stones.
• Used regularly, it helps to remove excessive metabolic waste and acids from the body.
• Also known to be effective for diabetic treatment when Misai Kuching is combine with Hempedu Bumi.
• Also, at times the plant is boiled with pokok temu lawak (Curcuma Xanthorrhiza) for eliminationof stones in the bladder.

Based on scientific study there are two types of flavone have been discovered in Misai Kuching which 5-hydroxy-6,7,3,4-tetramethoxyflavone and 4,5,6,7-tetramethoxyflavone. One other separated compound is isosinensetin

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