Panikoorkka

Malayalam: Panikkoorkka

Tamil:Karpooravalli, Omavalli

Botanical name:Coleus Aromaticus

Its a well known herb in Kerala. As its name indicates its a medicine to fever. Its a medicine to children. Decotion of its leaves are excellant remedy fever. It has a nice aroma. It can be propagated easily through planting stems.

Arootha plant

Kadukka

A small fruit used as a medicine against cough and ulcer. Kadukka, nellikka and Thannikka are called thriphala in Ayurveda.

Punyaha Chunda

Thanks to yr comments Vishnu. He gave me the name of this plant.

Shots taken from our family friend's home at Thammanam, Kochi. He told that this is a medicinal plant. Fruits are like small tomato. Leaves are like Chunda plant.

Poovarasu

Flower of Poovarasu. Yellow flower will change into pink colur after some time.

Poovarasu is an ever green tree with high medicinal value. This is used for furniture making also. Yellow beautiful flowers are main attraction of this tree. Its leaves, barks and flowers are used in Ayurveda medicines. Its mainly used in medicines for skin diseases, jaundice and cough.

Kurunthotti

Kurunthotti is an effective herb for Arthritis. 'Kurunthottikkum vathamo' (vatham means arthritis) is a famous adage in Kerala. It is a smll shrub with tiny leaves. Its roots, stem and leaves are used for making medicine.

Mullan cheera

A variety of Cheera like pacha cheera with green leaves, but they have thorns in the stem. This leafy vegetable is a medicine to urinary infection.

Velicheera

Erukku

A plant is favourite of Sri Mahadeva, this plant is very common in Siva temples. Attractive and peculiar flowers. Its milky juice in the stem and leaves is used as a medicine for leprosy.

Mailanchi

Mailanchi plant
Mailanchi leaves

A shrub very common in Kerala. Its good for the skin and makes hair more attractive. It is the main ingredient of henna. Its a custom in Kerala to apply Mailanji paste on the bride's hand. 'Mailanchi kalyanam' is very special for muslims. Hindus also celebrate mehndi in a colurful way.

Mehndi has now became an instant ritual. We can have it from lady's shops as small cones. But I like the traditional one prepared at home. In my childhood it was a day long process. First we have to collect mailanji leaves, after washing it thoroughly we will make this a paste using 'Ammikkallu'. We can add stem of 'Plavila' for better colouring. After that everyone will draw one's own design in their hand. After one hour we can wash the hands. Then the most interesting portion of the story begins..comparison of colour ...It was very natural and also funny having some friends with a ball of mailanji paste.

In some areas of Kerala Mailanchi is planted as hedges. Its a soothing to see a green fence with lot of cosmetic and medicinal use.

Malayalam name:Mailanchi

English name:Henna

Scientific name:Lawsonia Insermis

Sanskrit:Nakharanjaka

Hindi:Mehndi

Medicinal use of Mailanchi
Dashapushpam

Athachamayam

Changalam peranda and Amruthu

Leaves of Amruthu

Changalam Peranda

Its a medicinal creeper plant. Used in Ayurvedic medicines. Its a favourite food for elephants.