Dronapushpi is Sanskrit name of plant Leucas cephalotes. It is a medicinal herb that grows as a weed in India and many South East Asian countries. The folk use of this herb is for treating scorpion stings, snake bite, cough, fever etc. The whole plant has fever educing and insecticidal properties. The leaves are applied externally on snake bites and scorpion stings. To know more about this medicinal herb, read on.
Taxonomical classification of Leucas cephalotes/Dronapusphi
- Kingdom:Plantae, Plant
- Subkingdom:Tracheobionta, Vascular plant
- Super division:Spermatophyta, Seed plant
- Division:Angiosperma
- Class:Dicotyledonae
- Sub-class:Gamopetalae
- Series:Bicarpellatae
- Order:Tubiflorae
- Family:Labiatae
- Genus:Leucas
- Species:Leucas cephalotes
Related species that is known as Dronapushpi:Leucas aspera
Vernacular names of Leucas cephalotes/Dronapusphi
- Sanskrit:Dronapushpi, Chitrapathrika, Chitrakshup
- Hindi:Goma madhupati
- Punjabi:Guldor
- Bengali:Darunaphula, Hulkasha
- Gujarati:KulnnphulSindhi:Kubo
- Maharashtra:Bahuphul
- Marathi:Tumba
- Telugu:Thummichittu
- Tamil:Thumbai
Common Indian names:Goma, Thummichittu, Paada-malar, Thumbai, Thumbe (Trade name)
Part used:leaves, flowers
Plant description
annual, branched, erect plant reaches up to a height of 15-60 cm;Leaves sub-sessile, linear, obtuse, pubescent up to 8.0 cm long and 1.25 cm broad, with entire or crenate margin;petiole 2.5-6 mm long;Flowers white, sessile small, in dense terminal or axillary whorls;bracts 6 mm long, linear, acute, bristle-tipped, ciliate with long slender hairs;
Distribution of Dronapushpi/Goma/Thumbai
Leucas cephalotes/Dronapusphi is found throughout India and in the plains of Bangladesh, South East Asian countries, Mauritius, java and Philippines.
Constituents of whole plant
The whole plant contains Alkaloid, Glycoside, ? -Sitosterol and Flavonoid.
Dosage:Whole plant freh juice —5 -10 ml juice;1–3g powder for decoction.
Traditional medicinal uses
Dronapushpi is a weed that grows on wastelands. Medicinally, it has antimicrobial, insecticidal, fever reducing, larvicidal and inflammation reducing properties. It is useful in skin diseases. In malarial fever, the leaves juice is given. In some part of country, the decoction of whole plant is used for curing fever. The juice removes toxins from body. The leaves juice is applied externally for skin diseases and swelling. In cod and cough, the leaves juice is recommended.
Scorpion sting
In scorpion sting the plant is used internally as well externally. The leaves juice (few drops) is mixed with honey and taken orally.
Topically, the leaves juice is applied on place of sting.
Snake bite
The folk remedy is to put few drops of whole plant in nostrils.
Skin diseases, removing blood toxins
Skin diseases mainly occur due to toxins in blood. Dronapushpi plant has ability to flush the toxins from body.
In skin diseases, whole plant of Dronapushpi is used. The plant is dried. Five grams of dried powder is taken with three grams Neem/Margosa leaves in 2 glass water. This is boiled till volume reduce to one fourth. Then it filtered and taken two times a day.
Abnormally heavy bleeding at menstruation
The leaves of plant are taken a handful. These are washed and then ground to make fine paste. This paste is mixed with lemon juice and sesame oil/til oil (edible). The preparation is eaten empty stomach every morning for a week.
Asthma, cold, cough
The leaves juice of plant is taken in dose of 1-3 teaspoons.
Excessive thirst
The flowers (2 tablespoon) are boiled in water (150 ml) till volume reduces to half. This is filtered and taken thrice a day.
Cough, leucorrhoea
The leaves of plant are cooked and eaten with rice.
Skin diseases (itching, patchy skin, psoriasis, scabies etc.)
The paste of leaves is applied externally at the affected body areas.
Cough, congestion, blockage of nose, headache due to cough, Sinusitis, Migraine, Phlegm
The juice of leaves is put in nostrils as drops. For this purpose, the leaves juice is extracted and mixed with two times water. Then the diluted juice is put in nostrils (4 dops) for 3-4 days.
The flowers are heated in til/sesame oil and applied on head.
Fever (acute, chronic), Allergy
The decoction of plant (2-3 grams in boiled in two glass water till water reduces to one fourth) is used
This medicinal herb should be used in recommended doses only. It is hot in potency and heats up body. Avoid its use in excess. The leaves juice can be diluted for putting in nose of oral use.