514 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



N. 0. ROSACE. 



459. Primus Amygdalus, Baill, h.f.b.i., n. 313. 



Syn.: — Amygdalus communis, Linn. Roxb. 403. 



Var.: — Amara. 



Vern.: — Karda-badam (H.J ; kadven-badam (MJ 



Vo,v.\ — Dulcis. 



Vern.'.—Mitha baddm (H.) ; Gode badam (M.) 



Habitat : — Cultivated in the cooler parts of India. 



A middle-sized tree-wood light brown, moderately bard. 

 Leaves greyish when full grown, oblong-lanceolate, serrulate, 

 petiole equal to or longer than the greatest width of leaf, sti- 

 pules fimbriate. Flowers white, tinged with red appearing before 

 the leaves from scaly buds on last year's wood, peduncles much 

 shorter than the campanulate Calyx. Drupes velvety, pericarp 

 dry, when ripe, separating into 2 valves, stone compressed with 

 shallow wrinkles and minute holes. 



Use: — The author of the Makhzan notices the use of the 



burnt shells as tooth-powder, and of the unripe fruit as an 

 astringent application to the gums and mouth. Bitter almonds 

 are described by Mahomed an writers as attenuant and detergent ; 

 they are recommended both internally and externally for a 

 variety of purposes. As a plaster made with vinegar, they are 

 used to relieve neuralgic pains ; as a collyrium, to strengthen the 

 sight; in emulsion with starch and peppermint to allay cough. 

 They are also considered to be lithontriptic and diuretic, and of 

 use for removing obstructions of the liver and spleen ; applied 

 to the hear], they kill lice : as a suppository, they relieve pain in 

 difficult mensturation ; as a poultice, they are a valuable appli- 

 cation to irritable sores and skin eruptions. The root of the 

 tree is described as discutient and alternative ; it is used both 

 internally and externally (Dymock). 



The juice of almonds mixed with sugar is used in coughs. 

 Almonds mixed with figs are used as a laxative and to relieve 



pain in the bowels. (Dr. Emerson.) 



