Herb's Introduction
Trichodesma indicum (L.) Lehm. is a well-known annual herb in traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda, commonly referred to as Indian Borage. It belongs to the family Boraginaceae. The plant is native to a broad range spanning from Afghanistan to Thailand and the Philippines, including India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. It thrives primarily in the subtropical biome, often found growing along roadsides and in stony, dry wastelands up to elevations of about 1500 meters. This herb is highly valued for its bitter and acrid taste, and its various parts—roots, leaves, and flowers—have been traditionally used to treat a multitude of ailments, particularly those related to inflammation, fever, and skin disorders. Its usage in Nepal is evidenced by its inclusion in the region's flora checklists and local names.
Name in Different Countries
Botanical Name: Trichodesma indicum (L.) Lehm. Synonyms: Borago indica L., Boraginella indica (L.) Kuntze Common Name (English): Indian Borage Gujarati: undhanphuli Hindi: छोठा कल्प (chhota kalpa) Kannada: ಕಟ್ಟೆತುಮ್ಬೆಸೊಪ್ಪು (katthetumbesoppu) Malayalam: കിലുക്കാംതുമ്പ (kilukkamthumpa) Marathi: छोटा कल्प (chota kalpa) Nepalese: कनिके कुरों (kanike kuro), ओनमोडिया झयाङ (oonmodia-jhyang), उन्मुन्ती (unmunti) Sanskrit: अधःपुष्पि (adhahpuspi), Adhomukha, Gandhapushpika, Andhaka Tamil: அதொமுகி (ato-muki), கழுதைத்தும்பை (kalutai-t-tumpai), கவிழ்தும்பை (kaviltumpai), Kalhudaitumbai. Telugu: గువ్వగుత్తి (guvvagutti) Other Local Names: Tuwi Tor, Kulpha, Andhaahuli
Terminology
The plant is referred to by its Sanskrit name, Adhahpushpi (meaning 'downward-facing flower' or 'flower facing below'), which is a primary terminology in the Ayurvedic system. In this context, it is categorized based on its actions, such as: Rasa (Taste): Acrid (Katu) and Bitter (Tikta). Virya (Potency): Cooling (Sheeta). Dosha Effect: Pacifies Pitta and Kapha Doshas, and mildly balances Vata. Chemical Constituents: The plant parts contain various active compounds, including alkaloids (like pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are important but necessitate cautious use), flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, and essential oils. The seeds contain fatty acids such as linoleic, linolenic, oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids.
Availability
Geographic Distribution: Trichodesma indicum is widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the West Himalayas. Habitat: It is generally found as a weed in wastelands, scrub forests, grasslands, and on roadsides, growing well in stony, dry soil. Harvesting: As an annual herb, it is generally available throughout the year in its native range, though the potency of specific parts may vary seasonally. Various parts, including the roots, leaves, and flowers, are collected for medicinal preparations.
External Look
Habit: It is a small, erect, spreading, and branched annual herb that typically reaches a height of about 50 cm. Stem: The stems are densely covered in rough, stiff hairs (hispid), often springing from tubercles. Leaves: The leaves are subsessile (almost stalkless), opposite, lanceshaped (lanceolate) or oblong, measuring around 2.5–8 cm long. They have an entire margin, a pointed (acute or subacute) apex, and a heart-shaped or clasping (amplexicaul) base. They are also characterized by rough hairs. Flowers: The flowers are solitary and axillary (arising from the leaf axils). The flower tube is pale blue, pinkish-blue, or white, with a limb about 1.5 cm in diameter, and the petals are pointed. A distinctive feature is the calyx (sepal tube), which is green, hairy, 5-parted, and accrescent (enlarges) to enclose the fruit. The anthers cohere to form a characteristic woolly, projecting cone. The name Adhahpushpi (downward-facing flower) may refer to the way the flower often appears to hang or face downwards. Fruit: The fruit is ellipsoid and enclosed by the enlarged, persistent calyx. It splits into four small, ovoid, smooth, one-seeded nutlets that are rough (rugose) on their inner face.
Healing Properties
Anti-inflammatory & Analgesic: Known to reduce inflammation (anti-inflammatory) and pain (analgesic), making it useful for joint swelling, arthritis, and general body aches. Antipyretic: Acts as a febrifuge, helping to lower fever and manage febrile conditions. Diuretic: Promotes the production of urine, aiding in the treatment of strangury (painful or difficult urination) and urinary tract issues. Depurative (Blood Purifier): Helps to cleanse the blood, making it beneficial for various skin disorders. Antimicrobial & Wound Healing: Exhibits activity against certain bacteria and fungi, and is traditionally used externally to promote the healing of cuts, wounds, boils, and ulcers. Carminative & Digestive Aid: Helps to expel gas (carminative) and is indicated for digestive issues like dyspepsia (indigestion), loss of appetite, and managing symptoms of diarrhea and dysentery. Emollient & Pectoral: The emollient (softening/soothing) quality is useful for external application on skin, while the pectoral action supports respiratory health, often used for cough and asthma.
Advantages
Multipurpose Herbal Remedy: Nearly all parts of the plant (root, leaf, flower, whole plant) are utilized, offering a wide spectrum of therapeutic applications. Traditional Efficacy: Highly valued in Ayurveda and various folk medicine systems for its reliable use in chronic and common ailments like arthritis, fever, and skin diseases. Phytochemical Richness: Contains key chemical compounds, including linoleic and linolenic acids in the seeds, which are essential fatty acids, and various anti-inflammatory components. Affordability and Accessibility: As a common weed found in dry and fallow lands throughout its native range, it is easily accessible to rural and tribal communities. Broad-Spectrum Activity: Modern research supports its traditional uses, showing potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic activities.
Uses
Skin Conditions: Leaf paste is famously applied externally to treat scabies, eczema, ringworm, and other skin diseases. Inflammation and Pain: Root paste or poultice is pounded and applied externally to reduce swelling and pain, particularly in conditions like arthralgia (joint pain) and rheumatoid arthritis. Gastrointestinal Ailments: Decoction or infusion of the root or whole plant is used for diarrhea, dysentery, and to relieve dyspepsia. Fever: Used internally as a febrifuge to manage various types of fever and malarial fever. Respiratory Issues: Flowers are considered pectoral and sudorific (sweat-inducing), used in remedies for cough and influenza. Urinary Problems: Acts as a diuretic, used in cases of difficulty in micturition (urination) and strangury. Gynecological Issues: Decoction of the plant is administered to treat dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation). Wounds and Bites: Leaf juice is applied for ear pains and wound healing. The root paste is also applied locally to areas affected by snake bite (as an external remedy). Chemicals: The seeds are a source of valuable fatty acids.
Using Way
The traditional methods of using Trichodesma indicum vary based on the ailment and the plant part utilized: Leaf Paste for Skin: Fresh leaves are crushed to form a paste and applied topically on affected skin areas like scabies, rashes, boils, or non-healing wounds. Root Paste/Poultice for Swelling: The roots are pounded into a paste, sometimes warmed, and applied externally to swollen joints or areas of inflammation, such as those caused by arthritis or body aches. Decoction/Infusion for Internal Use: Root Decoction: Roots are boiled in water to prepare a decoction, which is traditionally given for diarrhea, dysentery, and fever. Cold Infusion of Leaves: Leaves are soaked in cold water, and the strained liquid (cold infusion) is administered to treat internal burning sensations and difficult urination. Whole Plant Decoction: Can be used to manage influenza, cough, and dysmenorrhea. Leaf Juice for Ear Ailments: Fresh leaf juice is sometimes administered topically into the ear to relieve ear pain. Note: Due to the presence of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids (PAs) in the Boraginaceae family, which can be hepatotoxic (liver damaging) if the specific PAs are unsaturated and consumed internally in large or chronic doses, the internal use of this herb should be undertaken with extreme caution and only under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. External use is generally considered safer.
Conclusion
Trichodesma indicum, also known as Adhahpushpi or Indian Borage, is a significant medicinal herb widely distributed across South Asia, including Nepal. Its importance lies in its rich traditional history, particularly in Ayurvedic and folk medicine, where it is valued for its broad spectrum of therapeutic actions. Characterized by its hairy stem and leaves and its peculiar flowers often facing downwards, it possesses potent anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, and depurative properties. Key traditional uses include topical application of the leaf paste for skin diseases like scabies, and the root paste for joint pain and swelling. While the plant offers notable advantages in treating fever, digestive issues, and skin ailments, potential concerns regarding the presence of certain alkaloids warrant responsible and knowledgeable use. It remains a crucial part of the traditional materia medica, underscoring the need for continued scientific validation and standardized application to maximize its benefits safely.
