Indian Acalypha treatment for Scabies and other skin diseases, Expel worms from the body, Treatment for snake- bite or centipede and more

Indian Acalypha is a wild annual that grows along the roads, in gardens and wastelands. It is not an ornamental plant as it has no showy coloured flowers. The plant grows to a height of 25 to 65 cms. The leaf petioles are long and slender and the ovate leaves are about 3 to 8 cms long. The leaf margins are serrate or toothed. The flowers are borne in axillary errect spikes with the female flowers supported by conspicuous wedge- shaped bracts and the minute male flowers borne on top of the spike. The fruits are small, hairy and concealed in the bracts.

MEDICINAL USE:

* Promotes the removal of mucous secretions from the bronchial tubes.
* Promotes the flow of urine.
* Bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia and rheumatism.
* A laxative.
* Scabies and other skin diseases.
* To expel worms from the body.
* Very good agent for causing vomiting.
* Earache, syphilitic ulcers ad relieving the pain of snake- bite and irritation caused by the bite of a centipede.

HOW TO USE:

* The decoction of the leaves is used to take care of the first 3 ailments given under Medicinal Use.
* The decoction of the leaves, mixed with some common salt, works well as a laxative.
* The juice of the crushed leaves is applied externally for the cure of scabies. When it is to be used for other skin diseases, a very small quantity of white lime ( calcium chloride) should be mixed with the juice before the application.
* The powder of the dry leaves is given to children for deworming. The decoction of the leaves with a little garlic also has the same effect.
* The juice of the leaves is of great repute for causing vomiting, especially in children.
* The decoction of the leaves is used for earaches.
* A poultice (cataplasm) of the leaves is applied externally to syphilitic ulcers and also as a means of relieving pain of a non- poisonous snake- bite and irritation caused by the bite of a centipede.

PARTS USED:

The leaves.

DOSE:

Normal or as indicated above.

Normal Dosage For:

Adults: 4 or 5 cups a day.
Aged 6 to 9 years: 2 cups a day
Aged 2 to 5 years: 1 cup a day
1 to 2 years: 1/2 cup a day
Below 1 year: 1/4 or less cup a day

A Useful Table for Quick Measurements:
1 tbsp = 5 grams (green herb)
1 dessertspoon = 2 grams (dry herb)
1 teaspoon = 25 drops
1 cup = 16 tbsp


1 litre = 7 or 8 cups