Amruthaballi - The Miracle Worker
Just as the name suggests, its Amruth, truly a nectar of eternity.
With very pretty heart shaped leaves and growing as a creeper, its a very sturdy plant, grows easily from cuttings, is an ingredient in many a 'kashayams'.
The stem of the creeper becomes woody-like, tough and fibrous on aging, and gives out long branches from the base of the plant. Stem is known to have great health benefits, and is used in Ayurvedic preparations.
Known as Amruthavalli or Chittamruth in Malayalam, Amruthaballi in Kannada, Amrutha or Guduchi or even Madhuparni in Sanskrit, Gulbel or Giloy in Hindi, and Heart leaved moonseed or Heart leaved Tinospora in English, this creeper truly is a much used plant in traditional medicine. Its also known as Indian Quinine.
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| Amruthavalli leaves are heart shaped, and stem is strong and becomes fibrous as it ages |
Charaka in Charaka Samhita called this plant "The plant that kills jaundice" and "The plant that removes poison"! Indeed, regular use in small quantities delays aging.
Growing and Propagation: Cuttings can be planted directly in soil. Soil mix can be as weak as 1:10 of Compost to Soil mix. The plant sends out long strong creepers that is sturdy.
Care: A very easy plant to grow, needs no special care. Just insert a cutting on soil and water regularly. Grows well in pots as well as ground. When the creeper starts elongating, give it a support on a tree, fence or some preferably woooden support.
All images are from my Terrace Garden, grown organically on compost from wet waste from our kitchen
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| Amruthavalli creeping on an old cane chair |
Amruthavalli or Giloy can also grow from seeds. Seeds are produced typically during summer; seeds are beautiful pinkish maroon, which turn black on drying. Dried seeds can be sown to produce saplings.
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| Amruthavalli or Giloy seeds |
Medicinal properties: The stem of the plant is most potent. It helps in regulation of body temperature, purification of blood, improving digestion, improvement in overall body health, and is also useful in controlling diabetes, and cleaning kidneys. And lots more, enhanced immunity, delaying aging, throat health...
What more can we ask from one plant!
Using Amruth: Clean peeled stem is to be used.
General health: 3-4 inch long stem is to be crushed well with very little or without water, squeezed to extract the juice and drank for good health.
Against Dengue: Grind 3 inch Giloy stem with a handful Durbha (Cynolon dactylon) and papaya (Carica papaya) leaf with little water. Filter and drink.
I have used this for me and my daughter, and it worked like miracle.
Happy Growing
Make sure you grow on Compost prepared from wet waste from home
So there's something to look forward all the time...
