Abutilon indicum is a herbaceous plant that has been traditionally known for its medicinal uses. The leaves are toothed and it bears solitary yellow flowers which bloom in the evening. The seeds are dark brown or black. The whole plant including the root, bark, flowers, and seeds is used as a natural cure for various symptoms. Abutilon indicum is used for treating digestive problems like IBS. It also has tremendous health benefits for women’s health and is used as a uterine tonic.
Botanical name – Abutilon indicum
Common Name – Indian Mallow
Sanskrit – Atibala, Kantika
Tamil – Thuthi
Hindi – Kanghi
Abutilon indicum health benefits and Uses
Abutilon indicum has been used extensively as a home remedy in traditional Chinese and Indian forms of medicine. In folk medicine, the plant is reportedly used for treating fever, cough, lung disease, and urinary diseases. They are also used to treat deafness, ringing in the ears, mumps, and pulmonary tuberculosis. In Ayurveda, the whole herb is used to treat Hemorrhoids, Diabetes, and Menorrhoea.
Research has shown that the medicinal properties of Abutilon indicum include anti-inflammatory, lipid-lowering, analgesic, antioxidant and antibacterial. It is also antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, antimycotic, anti-diarrhoeal and anti-convulsant. More on the health benefits of Abutilon indicum
1. Abutilon indicum for Piles
Atibala seed paste might have health benefits for piles because of its laxative property. It helps to loosen the stools and promotes bowel movement. This helps in the easy excretion of stools thus helping to cure piles.
- The seeds are a laxative and a very effective home remedy for curing piles. Warm a few leaves on a pan along with castor oil and use this as a compress to treat piles. It eases inflammation.
- A decoction of the leaves also helps in curing constipation and thus piles. To make a decoction, take 4-5 leaves of the herb Abutilon indicum and boil it in a cup of water till it reduces to half a cup. The leaves can also be cooked and eaten as a remedy for bleeding piles.
2. Abutilon indicum for Asthma
Clinical studies done on Indian asthmatic patients have proved the effectiveness of the herb in decreasing the severity of asthmatic symptoms and improving various lung functions. It helps in decreasing the severity of some common symptoms of bronchial asthma, like cough, chest tightness, and wheezing. In the study on the efficacy of Abutilon indicum in the treatment of bronchial asthma, 30 patients in the age group 15-80 years with mild to moderate asthma were given a powder of the aerial parts of the plant. After four weeks of treatment, there was a significant improvement in various parameters of pulmonary functions in asthmatic subjects. Significant improvement was also observed in clinical symptoms and severity of asthmatic attacks. Researchers believe that the anti-inflammatory activity and mast cell stabilizing activity in A. indicum may be the mechanism responsible for the anti-asthmatic activity.
- The whole plant can be boiled down into a decoction to relieve the symptoms of lung ailments, tuberculosis, and bronchitis.
- Atibala has also been used traditionally as a home remedy to treat colds and fevers. The parts of the plant that is above the ground i.e aerial parts are simmered to produce an infusion. This is said to relieve the symptoms of colds and fevers when consumed several times each day.
3. Abutilon indicum for Arthritis
Abutilon indicum is anti-inflammatory as well as an analgesic, according to both in-vitro as well as in-vivo studies. In an in-vitro study on the anti-arthritic activity of A. indicum, various anti-arthritic pharmacological models were studied, where the herbal extract showed dose-dependent activity which was found to be better than that of acetylsalicylic acid, which is responsible for the anti-inflammatory action of aspirin. Abutilon indicum helps to manage the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis, by working on the central nervous system and by reducing inflammation in the joints.
- Take 1/2 a tsp of Thuthi powder made from the aerial parts of the plant. Mix this powder with honey or warm water and have it once or twice a day after meals to combat the symptoms of osteoarthritis. This remedy also works for UTIs.
5. Abutilon indicum for wound healing
Atibala promotes the healing of wounds and decreases swelling. Its antibacterial properties help to treat all kinds of wounds. A paste made from the Atibala powder and coconut oil helps to quickly heal and reduce inflammation.
- Take as much atibala powder as required and add coconut oil to it. Mix well and make a paste with it. Now apply this paste to the wound once a day.
- Grind the leaves of the herb with a little turmeric and apply it to wounds to treat inflammation, pain, and infections.
6. Abutilon indicum for Toothache
Atibala helps to reduce and manage toothache. To get relief from a toothache, use the decoction of the plant for gargling.
- Take half or one tsp of Atibala powder. Add 2 cups of water to it and bring it to a boil. Simmer till it reduces to half a cup. This decoction can be used to gargle twice a day to cure toothache.
- An infusion made out of the twigs of the plant is used as a mouthwash for tooth pain.
- Another home remedy for toothache and tender gums is as follows: Make a decoction by boiling the leaves in water with a little alum. Gargle with this decoction.
Abutilon indicum Leaf Benefits and Medicinal Uses
In Ayurveda, atibala leaves have medicinal properties that reduce inflammation and promote quick healing. This is mostly because of its healing nature. It is also rejuvenating and hence improves immunity. The leaves have astringent properties.
- The decoction of the leaves can be used for toothache, tender gums, and internal inflammation of the bladder.
- The juice from the leaves of the plant can also be used to treat ulcers.
- Atibala leaves may work as an immunomodulator and help increase the production of antibodies in the blood.
- A decoction made from the leaves is useful to cure gout, tuberculosis, ulcers, and bleeding disorders.
Abutilon indicum has many health benefits ranging from the elimination of threadworms to colds and fevers. Abutilon indicum benefits also include treating piles and the symptoms of tuberculosis. It is a sweet and cooling herb.
Abutilon indicum Side Effects:
Diabetic patients should monitor their blood sugar levels closely when taking this herb as it is anti-diabetic.
Heart patients should consult their doctor before having this herb.
Pregnant women should check with their doctor before consuming this herb.
The Ayur Times says, “Abutilon Indicum is LIKELY SAFE in a natural crude form of the plant parts. The dosage should not exceed 12 grams per day…….you should not use extracts of Indian mallow.”
Further Reading
Anti-inflammatory health benefits of Abutilon indicum
Antidiabetic health benefits of Abutilon indicum
Therapeutic Benefits of Abutilon indicum
Investigation into the Mechanism of Action of Abutilon indicum in the Treatment of Bronchial Asthma