Doctorbush is a multipurpose medicinal herb of family Plumbaginaceae. It is native to South Asia and is distributed throughout most of the tropics and subtropics. It grows in deciduous woodland, savannas and scrublands from sea level upto 2000 meters altitude. In India, it is widely distributed from Central India to West Bengal, Southern India Maharashtra.
Doctorbush is a perennial herb which attains the height of 0.5-2 m (1.6-6.6 ft). Leaves are simple, alternate, elliptical or oblong, ovate-lanceolate measuring 0.5–12 cm long with a tapered base and hairy margin. Stipules are absent and petioles are 0–5 mm long, narrow with small auricles in young leaves. Inflorescence is of terminal raceme type, many flowered and about 6-30 cm long. The white flowers borne in axillary and terminal elongated spikes. Usually the flowers are regular, bisexual, sweet scented, pedicellate and pentamerous. Flowers have tubular calyx measuring 7-11 mm long and 5-ribbed having glandular trichomes which secrete a sticky mucilage. The flower blooms year round and pollination occurs by insects. Flowers are followed by oblong, five furrowed, capsule which is 7.5–8 mm long that contains single seed. Seeds are oblong, reddish-brown to dark brown measuring 5-6 mm long. Roots are smooth, straight, unbranched or branched and about 30 cm long and 6 cm in diameter. It is light yellow when fresh and turns reddish-brown on drying.
Roots
Roots are stout, friable, cylindrical, blackish-red about 30 cm or more in length. It is yellow colored when fresh and reddish-brown when dry, slightly branched or straight unbranched. Roots impart a strong, characteristic odor with a bitter and acrid taste.
Stems
Stems are spreading, somewhat woody, striate, terate and glabrous. It is about 0.5-2 m (1.6-6.6 ft). The bark is thin and brown.
Leaves
Leaves are simple, alternate, ovate or oblong, about 8 cm long and 3 cm broad. Petioles are narrow and amplexicaul at the base and dilated into stipule-like auricles.
Flowers
Flowers are white, about 10-25 cm long, bracteate, axillary or terminal elongated spikes, and bisexual. The calyx is covered with sticky and stalked glands. Corolla is white, slender, and tubular.
Fruit
It is an oblong, five furrowed capsule that contains a single seed. Seeds are oblong, 5-6 mm long and reddish-brown to dark brown.
Traditional uses
- The entire plant promotes digestion.
- The plant is helpful for gastric diseases, diarrhea, and skin disorders such as herpes.
- Milky sap is applied topically for skin problems such as boils and ringworm.
- Roots are used for phlegm, gas, bile problems, blood purification, and deworming.
- It is used as a cure for leucoderma, dysentery, bloating, lung diseases, aches, pain, wasting, and ringworm.
- Apply the mixture of crushed roots, vinegar, milk, and salt topically as an aid for leprosy and other skin infections.
- Root juice is used to induce sweating.
- It is an aid for infections, skin diseases, intestinal worms, scabies, leprosy, hookworm, ringworm, acne, dermatitis, ulcers, and sores.
- In West Africa, leaves or roots are crushed with lemon juice and used as a vesicant and counter-irritant.
- Take the root infusion orally to treat shortness of breath.
- Take root decoction with boiled milk for treating inflammation in the mouth, chest and throat.
- In Rodrigues and Mauritius, root decoction is used for treating dyspepsia and diarrhea.
- Root juice is used for internal piles.
- In Nigeria, roots are used with vegetable oil to treat rheumatic swellings.
- In Ethiopia, root, leaves or bark powder is used for treating rheumatic pain, tuberculosis, syphilis, gonorrhea, wounds and swellings.
- In Southern Africa, the root paste in milk, vinegar and water for treating influenza and blackwater fever.
- Take root infusion orally to treat shortness of breath.
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