Orthosiphon

Orthosiphon
Orthosiphon
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Orthosiphon
Species
Orthosiphon thymiflorus flower in Talakona forest, in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, India.

Orthosiphon is a medicinal plant native to South East Asia and some parts of tropical Australia. It is an herbaceous shrub which grows to a height of 1.5 meters. Orthosiphon is a popular garden plant because of its unique flower, which is white and bluish with filaments resembling a cat's whiskers. In the wild, the plant can be seen growing in the forests and along roadsides.

Common names in Southeast Asia are Misai Kucing (Malaysia), Kumis Kucing and Remujung (Indonesia), and Yaa Nuat Maeo (Thailand). The scientific names are Orthosiphon stamineus Benth, Ocimum aristatum BI and Orthosiphon aristatus (Blume).

Contents

Medicinal uses

Orthosiphon thymiflorus herb in Talakona forest, in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, India.

Orthosiphon is used for treating the ailments of the kidney, since it has a mild diuretic effect. It is also claimed to have anti-allergenic, anti-hypertensive and anti-inflammatory properties, and is commonly used for kidney stones and nephritis. Orthosiphon is sometimes used to treat gout, diabetes, hypertension and rheumatism. It is reportedly effective for anti-fungal and anti-bacterial purposes.


How To Cure

In Malaysia, people eat the leaves raw. They take a few leaves, heat them with water to make the water bitter, then mix it with tea bags.

Research

Orthosiphon began to interest researchers early in the 20th century, when it was introduced to Europe as a popular herbal health tea.

Commercial products

Orthosiphon is available in many products treating for detoxification, water retention, hypertension, obesity or kidney stones. It comes in tablets, capsules, tea sachets, bottled drinks, raw herbs, dried leaves or extracts.

External links

Media related to Orthosiphon at Wikimedia Commons


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Orthosiphon — aristatus Systematik Asteriden Euasteriden I …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Orthosiphon — Orthosiphon …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Orthosīphon — (O. Benth.), Pflanzengattung aus der familie der Labiatae Ocimoideae Moschosmeae; Arten in Südamerika, Ostindien etc …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Orthosiphon — Benth., Gattung der Labiaten, Stauden oder Halbsträucher, selten Sträucher mit meist sechs , seltener zwei bis vierblütigen Scheinwirteln in meist verlängerten Ähren. Etwa 30 Arten in Indien und im Malaiischen Archipel, zahlreicher im tropischen… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Orthosiphon —   Orthosiphon O. stamineus …   Wikipedia Español

  • Orthosiphon — Orthosiphon …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Orthosiphon — ID 58096 Symbol Key ORTHO7 Common Name orthosiphon Family Lamiaceae Category Dicot Division Magnoliophyta US Nativity N/A US/NA Plant Yes State Distribution N/A Growth Habit N/A …   USDA Plant Characteristics

  • Orthosiphon aristatus — Orthosiphon aristatus …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Orthosiphon stamineus — Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked) …   Wikipedia

  • Orthosiphon aristatus — Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked) …   Wikipedia

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