Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/321
stemmed one, as wild in India, and adds three cultivated sorts, a red and a white-stemmed that are raised from seed, and differ only in luxuriance from the corresponding wild forms ; and lastly a large sort (B. lucida, L., and cordifolia, Lamk.), which is the most cultivated, and is always increased by slips ; it is the largest form, covering trellises and native houses, and is the most succulent, and more used as a pot-herb than the others." (J. D. Hooker).
Uses:—The juice of the leaves is used in catarrhal affections of children. (Drury). Demulcent and diuretic, useful in gonorrhœa and balanitis. (Asst.-Surg. J. N. Dey, Jeypore, in Watt, I. 404.)
1052. Basella alba, Linn. H.F.B.I., v. 21. Roxb. 275.
Eng.:—White basil or Indian Spinach.
Sans.:—Vishwa-tulasi.; Potaki; Upodika.
Vern.:—Poí, myal-ki-bháji, sufed-bachlá, safed-tulsi (H.); Sufed-bachlá-ki-bháji (Duk.); Wahlea (Mar.); Vasla-kire, Caujang kire, Vellapachalai (Tam.); Alubachehali, karu-bachchali, polam-bachchali, pedda-bach-chali (Tel.); Bili-bâsale-balli (Kan.); Basella-kíra (Mal.).
Habitat:—Cultivated all over India.
Uses:—The leaves are made into a pulp used to hasten suppuration.
The juice of the leaves, which is demulcent and cooling, is a popular application to allay the heat and itching of urticaria arising from dyspepsia, an affection which the Hindus consider to be indicative of bile in the blood. The boiled leaves are also used as a poultice.
N. O. PHYTOLACCACEÆ.
1053. Phytolacca acinosa, Roxb., H.F.B.I., iv. Roxb., 389.
Vern.:—Jirrag (Kumaon); Lúbar, búrgu, denturû, rinsâg, jirka, matazor, sarunga (Pb.).