Clitoria ternatea Linn.

Family:

Papilionaceae; Fabaceae.

Habitat:

Throughout India in tropical areas; also cultivated in hedges.

English:

Butterfly Pea, Winged-leaved Clitoria, Mezereon.

Ayurvedic:

Girikarnikaa, Aparaajitaa, Aasphota, Girimallikaa, Girikanyaa, Kokilaa,Yonipushpaa, Vishnukraantaa. (Evolvulus alsinoides Linn. is also known as Vishnukraantaa, Vishnukranti). Used as Shankhapushpi in the South.

Unani:

Mezereon Hindi.

Siddha/Tamil:

Kakkanam.

Folk:

Koyal (Punjab).

Action:

Root—cathartic like jalap. Roots cause gripe and tenesmus, hence not recommended as purgative. Used in ascites. Root bark—diuretic (infusion used in irritation of bladder and urethra). Root juice—given in cold milk to liquefy phlegm in chronic bronchitis. The root, bark, seeds and leaves—used for gastric acidity. The root is administered with honey as a general tonic to children for improving mental faculty.

The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India recommends the dried leaf in migraine, psychoneurosis and mania.

An alcoholic extract of...