Euphorbia hirta(Asthma herb or Dugadhika) is medicinal herb which is used in various countries for treatment of diseases. In India and south east Asia it is found throughout the warmer region as weed.
Traditionally this herb is used to treat female disorders, respiratory ailments (cough, coryza, bronchitis, and asthma), worm infestations in children, dysentery, jaundice, pimples, gonorrhoea, digestive problems, and tumours.
In Philippines, this herb is known as tawa-tawa and used to treat Dengue fever.
Vernacular Names
Latin Name: Euphorbia hirta, synonym E. pilulifera auct. non Linn.
Family: Euphorbiaceae
| Sanskrit: Dugadhika, Amampatchairaisi English: Bearing spurge, Asthma weed, Snakeweed, Asthma weed Hindi: Dudhi Gujarati: Dudeli Malayalam: Nelapalai Marathi: Dudnali, Govardhan | Orissa: Jhotikhuntian Tamil: Amumpatchaiyraissi Telugu: Reddinanabrolu, Nanabala, Nanabiyan Indonasia: Daun biji Kacang, Patikan kebo Philippines: Tawa-tawa, gatas-gatas or mangagaw |
Distribution of Euphorbia hirta
E. hirta is distributed throughout the hotter parts of India, Australia, Central America and subtropical parts of world. It is found in waste places along the roadsides, field as a weed.
Euphorbia hirta medicinal properties
Antibacterial, antiasthmatic, antispasmodic, anxiolytic, analgesic, antipyretic, galactogenic, antifungal, antifertility, antidiarrheal and anti-inflammatory activities.
Traditionally decoction prepared from Dudhi is used for treating
- Respiratory problems: - asthma, laryngitis, chronic nasal and bronchial catarrh
- Digestive problems: - diarrhoea, dysentery, intestinal parasitosis
- Female disorders: - in post-delivery problems, Improving breast milk quantity
Also used in: - Dengue fever, kidney stones, diabetes and in conjunctivitis