Indian Pennywort (Khulakudi or Brahmamanduki)
Indian pennywort is a perennial wild creeper which grows horizontally. Indian pennywort is indigenous to India .It was known to Sanskrit writers from ancient times. This plant is found throughout India both in the plains and hilly tracts. It can be easily grown in one’s kitchen garden.
Healing Power and Curative Properties:
The herb corrects the disorders of nutrition, –and restores the normal function of the system. It also increases the secretion and discharge of urine.
All parts of the creeper are used both for therapeutic and culinary purposes.
1. Improving memory:
The leaves are considered beneficial in improving memory.
The paste (wash, dry and grind) of the leaves taken with milk in small doses for this purpose helps in correcting disorders.
2. Dysentery in Children:
It is e an effective remedy in the early stages of dysentery in children. Three or four leaves can be taken with cumin and sugar in addition to applying a paste of the leaves on the navel.
3. Bowel Complains:
In case of bowel complaints among children, half a cup of an infusion of its leaves with fenugreek (methi) can be taken, in a single dose.
4. Skin Disorders:
Finely ground paste of the leaves can be used for skin diseases like chronic and persistent eczema, chronic ulcers and syphilitic sores. To check fever associated with these diseases, the juice of the leaves should be taken thrice a day in doses of 1 to 5 drops.
Other Uses:
The leaves have culinary purposes too and can be used for making soups, raw chutney, tea, juice and chapattis (mixed with wheat flour).