There are certain
medicinal plants and herbs that grow easily or found commonly in our compound
or backyard, but we seldom realize their value. The ‘Indian Mint’ or ‘Indian Borage’
is effective against fever, cough and breathing difficulty. Noted Ayurvedic
practitioner, Dr Pretty Prabhakaran
writes:-

 Scientific name:
Plectranthus amboinicus

Family: Lamiaceae

Names

Sanskrit:         Ajapatri

Malayalam:   Panikoorka/Kanjikoorka

Tamil:             Karpooravalli

Kannada:       Thottapatri

Hindi:             Pathar choor

English:          Indian Borage/Indian mint/Mexican
mint/Spanish thyme

Morphology

The plant mainly belongs
to mint family Lamiaceae, grows up to 0.5 to 1meter. The stem and leaves are
fleshy and contain water. Leaves are undivided and broad with oval shape. The
aroma of the plant is very intense. The plant can be cultivated easily by
planting the stem. Flowers are pale purplish and appear in a long, slender
spike-like raceme.

Medicinal uses

The leaves of the plant are
mainly used for fever, cough and breathing difficulty in children and also in
adults.

Internal usage

How to extract the juice?

The leaves of the plant
after proper cleaning is dipped in hot water or steamed under hot water to
extract the juice.

•          Intake of juice with honey or sugar candy will reduce fever,
cough and breathing difficulty

•          Application of the paste on the forehead and chest cures headache
and congestion caused due to vitiation of pranavaha
srotas (respiratory system)

•          Cough, throat pain, wheezing – leaf extract of adalotakam (adhatoda vasika) and panikoorka with honey

•          Steam inhalation – boil water, adding the leaves and then inhaling
the same will help remove nasal congestion and reduce discomfort like sinusitis
and headache caused due to increased kapha
dosha.

•          Abdominal problems like gastritis and indigestion can be
cured by intake of leaf extract with pure honey, ginger juice or buttermilk.

•          Nasal congestion – crush the leaves and the aroma can be
inhaled for removing the nasal congestion.

•          Insect bites –crushed leaves are applied on the affected
area to remove the pain.

•          Taking bath in lukewarm water boiled with leaves of panikoorka will reduce the chance of getting
affected by cough and fever.

•          Application of rasnadi
choornam with panikoorka swarasa
(leaf extract) will reduce the headache.