Phyllanthus urinaria L.

Family : Euphorbiaceae

Origin : Tropical East Asia

Description

An erect, annual or perennial herb 30 to 60 cm tall. Leaves disticous, closely placed, oblong-elliptic 6 to 13 mm long and 2.5 to 6.0 mm wide, apex apiculate, base rounded, stipules peltate. Flowers minute axillary, yellowish-white; male flowers pedicelled and fascicled, female solitary and sessile; sepals 0.8 to 1.0 mm long. Fruits capsules globose, scarcely lobed, echinate. Seeds 1.5 mm long, trigonous and rounded.

Habitat
Wastelands and in cultivated fields of the Indian plains.

Parts Used : Leaf, stem and plant

Herb Effects
The plant has astringent, deobstruent, stomachic, carminative, diuretic, febrifugal, antiseptic, cooling properties, antidropsical, antigonorrheic and antibacterial (plant).

Active Ingredients
Quercetin, quercitrin, rutin and astragalin (stem and leaf).

Medicinal Use
To treat dropsy, gonorrhoea, frequent menstruation, anemia and diabetes and as a poultice for skin ulcers, sores, swelling and itchiness (whole plant); used in jaundice and gonorrhoea (decoction of leaves); in treating kidney and gall stones, the lowering of viral load in hepatitis disease (Dried leaves).

Dosage
Tincture: 1 - 3 ml / daily.
Infusion: 1 - 2 cups / day (1 - 2 teaspoons / cup) .

Reference