Family: Acanthaceae

Synonym:Justicia paniculata Burm.f.

Bengali/Vernacular name: Kalomegh, Mahatita (Bengali); Kalamegh (Noakhali).

Tribal name: Kalameghat (Chakma), Chirota (Marma), Gumkhahsum (Garo), Nimtita (Koch), Chorotta (Lalong), Doh-pented (Khasia).

English name: King of bitters, Green chiretta.

Description of the plant: An annual herb, erect, growing to a height of 30-100 cm; stems quadrangular. Leaves simple, opposite, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, glabrous.Flowers white, bilabiate, with rose-purple spots or markings in the lower lip in axillary or terminal racemes or panicles. Fruit a capsule, linear-oblong, up to 2 cm long and 4 mm wide, furrowed, compressed longitudinally with small seeds.

Plant parts used: Leaf, stem.

Herbal uses: Fresh juice extracted from the leaves and stems of the plant is used to take two times a day (two tea spoons amount each time) until the scabies is cured.

The juice extracted from the leaves and stems of the plant is taken for the treatment of blood dysentery.

The plant is used for the treatment of sore throat, flu, upper respiratory tract infections. 

Fresh juice extracted from the leaves and stems of the plant is taken twice a day (two tea spoons amount each time) for three days to treat fever.  

A fresh juice extracted from the leaves and stems of the plant is taken twice a day (two tea spoons amount each time) for three days to treat hook worm infestation.

Fresh juice extracted from the leaves and stems of the plant is taken twice a day for one week to treat hyper acidity.

Distribution: It is commonly found throughout the country.

Is this plant misidentified? If yes, please tell us….

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