2,700 m. relief in haemorrhoids (tubers
English Scented Flag. become innocuous on heating or
Ayurvedic Airakaa. drying).
Folk Pizh (Kashmir). The tubers contain carotene, folic
Action Stamens—astringent and acid, niacin, thiamine, sterols and beta styptic Used externally. sitosterol.
I-
Ulmus wallichiana Planch.
English Pale Catechu, Gambier.
Family Ulmaceae.
Habitat The North Western Himalayas.
English Himalayan Elm. Slippery Elm is equated with Ulmusfulva.
Folk Hemar, Kitamaara.
Action Bark—astringent, demulcent, emollient, expectorant, diuretic.
The bark contains 0.76% tannins.
Ulmusfulva Michx, though known as Indian or Sweet Elm, is an American plant and does not occur in India.
Powdered bark of Ulmusfulva gives a mucilage, composed of galactose, 3- methyl galactose, rhamnose and galacturonic acid residues. As a gruel it is prescribed for patients with gastric or duodenal ulcers. Coarse powdered bark is applied as poultice to burns and skin eruptions.
The mucilages cause reflex stimulation of nerve endings in the GI tract and lead to mucous secretion which protects the GI tract against ulceration and excess acidity. (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)
Uncaria gambier Roxb.
Family Rubiaceae.
Ayurvedic Khadira (related species).
Folk Chinai Katthaa.
Action Intestinal astringent. Uses similar to Black Catechu (Acacia catechu). The extract of the leaves and shoots contains tannins, mainly catechins up to 35% and catechu tannic acid up to 50%; indole alkaloids including gambirine, gambiridine; flavonoids such as quercetin; pigments and gambirfluorescin.
Gambirine is reported to be hypotensive; d-catechu constricts blood vessels. Catechins protect the liver
