Amruthaballi - A Divine Herb

This herbaceous vine of the family Menispermaceae is indigenous to the tropical areas of India, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. It is a large climbing shrub with elongated twining branches spreading extensively. A special feature is the presence of  wiry aerial roots arising from the branches. Stems are  rather succulent, creamy white to grey, deeply cleft, papery bark and rosette-like pores (lenticels).

Leaves simple heart shaped, very thin with long leaf stalks bulged at the base and apex and  arranged alternately. Inflorescence, called racemes are both  axillary and terminal; flowers tiny, greenish yellow, unisexual with male and female flowers on separate plants; stamens 6; female flowers with staminodes and carpels (3). Fruits  are called drupelets (1-3); ovoid  and scarlet coloured when ripe.

The plant flowers during the summer and fruits during the winter.
The land is ploughed, harrowed, and made weed-free.A basal dose of FYM (farmyard manure) @ 10 tonnes per hectare and half dose of nitrogen (75 kg) are applied at the time of land preparation.About 2500 cuttings are required for plantation in 1 hectare of land.No specific treatment is required before sowing.

‘Amrutha’ is an anti-aging herb. According to a legend, the herb is an “heavenly elixir” and kept the angels eternally young. Even before the  advent of modern medicines, the herb has a long history of being used in traditional system of medicines and by ayurveda practitioners in India to treat numerous disorders or diseases. This plant is having many properties like antioxidant ,antitumor ,hypoglycemic ,anti microbial ,diuretic,hepatoprotective and antipyretic property .

Guduchi is wonderful in treating skin related problems. Both external application and internal consumption is done for treating skin related diseases and Relief from allergies. Its also known to reduce the level of blood sugar levels in your body and therefore it is good diabetic patients.

You can even make Guduchi(Amruthabali) tea from it which is very easy to make and does not have any bitterness at all, in fact it is quite soothing to drink this tea. To make the tea, take a fresh stem of amruthabali and remove the leaves. For a cup of tea around 5 to 6 slightly bruised guduchi stem around 1.5 inches in length will be enough. Take around 5 pepper corns, 2 tsp of palm candy and 1/2 tsp of cumin seeds and crush coarsely in a mortar and pestle. Now add the cut cut guduchui stem and pound it till slightly mashes. Boil a cup of water in a pan and add the crushed pepper corns, guduchi, cumin seeds and palm candy mixture and let it boil. Once it reduces to half a cup, strain and drink it. This tea treats all the stomach disorders, reduces stress in the body, improves memory, is a good home remedy for fever and it is said to be an effective anticancer medicine.

Tags: herbs, amruthabali