Euphorbia hirta L.
Vernacular name: Asthma Weed, Dudhi (Hindi: दूधी, बड़ी दूधी)
Species Name: Euphorbia hirta L.
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Habit: Annual prostrate to ascending herb.
Stem: Much-branched, reddish to purplish, cylindrical, densely pubescent, exuding milky latex.
Leaf: Opposite, unequal at base, elliptic-oblong to ovate, 1–5 × 0.5–2.5 cm, serrulate, pubescent, short-petiolate.
Flowering: Throughout the year.
Flowers: Minute unisexual flowers enclosed in axillary cyathia forming dense clusters; glands 4, staminate flowers numerous, pistillate flower solitary; ovary superior, tricarpellary.
Fruit: Three-lobed schizocarpic capsule, 1–2 mm long; seeds ovoid, brown, finely ridged.
Uses
- Widely used in traditional medicine for asthma, cough, bronchitis, hay fever, sinusitis, dysentery, diarrhoea, acid reflux, intestinal parasites and skin issues like eczema, warts, ringworm and acne.
- The latex is applied externally for wounds and certain skin ailments.
- Also used in folk remedies as an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory herb.
- Plant is also used in some regions for joint pain and urinary tract infections.
- Large quantity of plant ingested can be toxic.
- Sap of plant can cause dermatitis.
- Herbal medicines used this plant diversely and widely. massage to alleviate minor aches.
- Plant has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and aromatic properties.
- Plant can be used as a powerful expectorant.
