1000 Indian Medicinal Pl\nTs. 



long, entire or distinctly crenate above the middle, glabrescent 

 above, grey pubescent beneath. Flowers small. Panicles upto 

 12in. long. Catyx xViin-, 5-toothed. Corolla very hairy in 

 the throat l-^in., middle lobe of the lower lip the largest. 

 Stamens 4, didynamous, exserted. (3 vary 2-4 celled, 4 ovuled ; 

 style filiform, shortly 2-lobed. Fruit a succulent drupe 

 supported by the more or less accrescent calyx, i-Jin. 

 diam., globose, black when ripe. Endocarp normally 4-celled 

 (Kanjilal). 



The branches are apt to be attacked by Cuscuta reflexa 

 (Dodder), says Gamble. 



Uses: — " Sanskrit writers mention two varieties of Nir- 

 gundi — that with pale blue flowers is called Sindhuvara (Vitex 

 trifolia), and that with blue flowers is called Nirgundi. The 

 properties of both are identical, but the latter is generally used 

 in medicine. The root of V. Negundo is considered tonic, 

 febrifuge and expectorant. The leaves are aromatic, tonic 

 and vermifuge. A decoction of Nirgundi leaves is given with 

 the addition of long pepper in catarrhal fever with heaviness 

 of head and dullness of hearing. A pillow stuffed with the 

 leaves of Nirgundf is placed under the head for relief of head- 

 ache. The juice of the leaves is said to have the property of 

 removing foetid discharges and worms from ulcers. An oil 

 prepared with the juice of the leaves is applied to sinuses and 

 scrofulous sores 1 ' (Hindu Mat. Med.). Dr. Fieming remarks 

 that the leaves are discutient, and are useful in dispersing 

 swellings of joints from acute rheumatism and of the testes 

 from suppressed gonorrhoea. The people of Mysore are in the 

 habit of treating febrile, catarrhal and rheumatic affections by 

 means of a vapour bath prepared with this plant. Roxburgh 

 also mentions the use of the decoction of the leaves as a bath 

 in the puerperal state of women in India, and Ainslie states 

 that the Mahomedans smoke the dried leaves for the relief 

 of headache and catarrh. The dried fruit acts as a vermifuge 

 (Pharm. Ind ), 



Dr. Hove (1787) states that the Europeans in Bombay call 

 it the fomentation shrub, and that it is used in the hospitals 



