Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants
Acalypha hispida
Genus: Acalypha
Botanical name: Acalypha hispida
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
Sanskrit:
Hindi:
English: Cat’s tail, Red hot cat tail, Chenille plant
Malayalam: Puchavalan, Vattattali
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
The plant originated in Oceania, but has become naturalized to multiple countries in North America, including the United States, Mexico, and Belize. It can grow to be five to twelve feet (1.8-3.7 meters) tall, and have a spread of three to six feet (0.9-1.8 meters), with potted plants being the smallest in growth. The plant has become somewhat domesticated, due to the nature and colour of its flowers. It can be grown from seeds as well as from cuttings. It can be kept either as an outdoor plant or as a houseplant.
The herb is used to cure tooth and earache. In homeopathy the herb is used as remedy for sever cough associated with bleeding from the lungs, haemoptysis and incipient phthisis. The paste of leaves is applied to burns; with lime juice it is useful in early causes of ring worm. The powdered leaves are used for bedsores and maggot-infested wounds.