1052 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



Uses : — Demulcent, and mildly astringent. The seeds have 

 been found serviceable in febrile, catarrhal, and renal affections, 

 but their chief use is in diarrhoea and clysenter}^ Moistened 

 with water, they form a good emollient poultice. 



The seeds yield to water a good deal of mucilage, and form 

 a cooling demulcent drink which is prescribed in cases where 

 emollients are required. A slight degree of astringency and 

 some tonic property may be imparted to the seeds by applica- 

 tion of a moderate degree of heat, and it is said that this 

 remedy cures the chronic diarrhoea of European and native 

 children on the failure of other medicines. (Bentley and 

 Trimen.) 



The crushed seeds made into a poultice with vinegar and 

 oil are applied to rheumatic and gouty swellings. With the 

 mucilage a cooling lotion for the head is made. Two to three 

 drachms moistened with hot water and mixed with sugar are 

 given in dysentery and irritation of the intestinal canal to 

 procure an easy stool. The decoction is prescribed in cough. 

 The roasted seeds have an astringent effect, and are useful in 

 irritation of the bowels in children and in dysentery. 



1028. P. Psylium. Linn, h.f.b.l, iv. 707. 



Habitat: — North-Western Punjab; Peshawar and South of 

 Bannoo; Tarki, N, of Indus. 



Scapigerous herbs, annual, erect, strict, glandular-pubescent. 

 Stem leafy, 4-8in. Leaves opposite, linear or linear-lanceolate, 

 flat, obtuse, l-ljin., with fascicles in their axils, hence appearing 

 whorled ; margin entire, with a very few glandular tubercles ; 

 bases, ciliate. Peduncles in the upper axils. Scapes usually 

 shorter than the leaves. Spikes ovoid, i-fin. ; bracts acute, 

 lower elongate, hispid. Sepals oblong, subacute. Corolla very 

 small. 



Use :— The seeds are used like those of P. Major, Linn. 



N. 0. NYCTAGTN^L 

 1029. Boerhaavia diffusa, Linn., H. F. B. I., iv 

 709 (a variety of B. repens), Roxb. 49. 

 Sans. : — Punarnava ; Sothaglmi. 



