CLERODENDRON INFORTUNATUM
Plant Introduction:
It is a kind of shrub. Height of the plant is generally 4 ft or more. The whole plant is covered with yellow or red hairs. Leaf blades are 4-8 inches long, hastate and acuminatic; petiole is 1-4 inches long and peduncle is 6-12 inch having several branches. The types of plant which are generally found in the garden, bear white or red flowers. Florescence and fructification take place in the end of winter or during the summer.
Growing Places: West Bengal, Bihar, Chittagaon, Chhotanagpur, etc.
Name
In Sanskrit-Ghantakarna: Bhandir;
Bengali-Ghentu,
Bhant, Hindi-vata;
Marathi-Kori;
English-Latin:-
Clerodendron Infortunatum.
Family: Leguminoceae.
Pharmaceutical use: leaves and the bark.
Time of collection: During the end of winter.
Chemical Composition: Resinous matter, bitter principle, Tannin, alkaloid.
Therapeutic Action: The leaves and root may be used in the treatment of the skin diseases and tumour. The leaves may be administered in substitution of Chirata. Fresh juice of leaves is anthel-mintic, febrifuge in Malaria of children.
Leaves and flowers: Very effective antidote for scorpion sting.
The bud: very effective antidote for snake poisoning.
Opinions of different Physicians (Symposium)
Physicians in Hindu Medical Science (or Ayurved) have advised this shrub as an useful remeday for chronic fever, diseases of heart and intestinal worms.
According to Dr. U. N. Kanjilal-The white and red flowers of ihis shrub are useful in the treatment of several diseases. Dr. Rheede proclaimed that principle of leaves had shown anthelmintic action and the root extract had been found successful in removing colicky pain.
Dr. Bholanath Basu said that the leaves of Ghentu are ideal substitute for Chirata and the bitter principle acts as an anthelmintic and is a tonic (Pharm. India).
Dr. U. C. Dutta realised that the shrub was very effec-tive in curing chronic skin diseases. Dr. J. R. Thorton, Brigadier Surgeon, says that it is a beautiful bitter tonic, effective in case of constipation too. Application of the extract by means of clysterpipe, into the anus, reduces worms. The hypothesis has been supported by other six medical officers.
Dr. G. Watt, in his "Dictionary of Economic Products" and Dr. W. Dymock, in the "Pharmacographia Indica" have specially mentioned the effectiveness of this drug.
Dr. R. N. Khory (Mat. Med. of India) says-It is a bitter tonic, anteperiodic and vermifuge, also a good laxatio, a decoction is some times given as a rectal enema for worms,
also given as a bitter tonic during convalescence from acute diseases.
R. N. Chopra says-It is a laxative, cholagogue and anthel-mintic, used in scorpion-sting and snake-bite.
Symptoms
Head: emptiness; giddiness marked by existence of intes-tinal worms; sunken eyes; dim-stightedness.
Mouth: salivation, sometimes red in colour; coated tongue; affected teeth. The patient gnashes his teeth in sleep.
Stomach and Abdomen: Tremendous appetite; seeks food always and does not get contented even after having a meal; poor digestive power; pain surrounding the navel; struggles in pain; enlargement of the belly.
Stool: Diarrhoeic or constipated bowels containing thread like intestinal worms; creeping sensation in the anus; itching; dysentery.
Urine: Discharge of urine in bed due to intesitinal worms. Frequent tendency to discharge of urine.
Hands and legs: Thin hands and legs; difficulty in move-ment; pain in the limbs.
Dose: 5-10 minims
