THUTHI HERB (BOTANICAL NAME: ABUTILON INDICUM)

Thuthi herb is called as Country Mallow in English, Atibalaa in Sanskrit, duvvena Kayalu in Telugu, Pettaka in Malayalam and Kanghi, Kakahi in Hindi.

It grows in hot temperate regions of India.  It is a perennial shrub,softly tomentose and up to 3 m in height. The plant isfound in India, Sri Lanka, topical regions of America and

Malaysia.

It is found as a weed in sub-Himalayan tracts,hills up to 1200 m and in hotter parts of India.

The leaves are ovate, acuminate, toothed, rarely subtrilobate and 1.9-2.5 cm long. The flowers are yellowin color, peduncle jointed above the middle. The petioles8-7.5 cm long;stipules 9 mm long; pedicels often 2.5-5mm long, axillary solitary, jointed very near the top; calyx12.8 mm long, divided in to middle, lobes ovate, apiculatand corolla 2.5 cm diameter, yellow, opening in the evening. The fruits are capsule, densely pubescent, with

conspicuous and horizontally spreading beaks. The stemsare stout, branched, 1-2 m tall, pubescent. The seeds are

3-5 mm, reniform, tubercled or minutely stellate-hairy, blck or dark brown. The leaves, flowers and root of this plant have immense medicinal value.

Thuthi keerai is a well known Tamil home remedy for constipation.  Alternative systems regard constipation as the root cause of almost all diseases that afflict mankind.  ‘Fast food’ culture has pervaded the Indian food domain and has replaced healthy eating habits.  Excessive consumption of these tasty but nutrition less foods leads to malnutrition.  Also these lack essential fibres that aid digestion. Needless to say, constipation cuts short longevity.  Thuthi keerai helps in overcoming constipation.  Fresh, clean leaves of the greens can be cooked with green gram and ghee.  This preparation is taken with rice regularly to cure constipation.

Haemorrhoids find an excellent remedy in thuthi leaves.  Siddha and Ayurveda texts state that frequent consumption of food high in sour and hot taste (foods which contain excessive amount of chillies, tamarind, etc) jeopardizes gas in the intestines and can cause haemorrhoids.  The number of haemorrhoid sufferers is on the increase the world over.  Stress in workplace, lack of exercise, seated in a place for long periods of time etc can cause haemorrhoids.  Constipation and haemorrhoids are closely related.  Constipation leads to haemorrhoids. Thoroughly cleaned thuthi leaves are cut to small pieces.  Green gram, garlic, shallots are sautéed in ghee and added to the cut greens and cooked.  This is then ground to a fine paste.  This paste taken twice or thrice a week takes care of the painful haemorrhoids and helps in gradual reduction of its intensity.

Thuthi keerai is a rich alkaline food that neutralises acidity in our body.  Our body should be in an alkaline state for it to function effectively and keep premature aging, joint paints, exhaustion and various adverse conditions at bay.  Thuthi  is  an  alkaline  food  par excellence.  One way to benefit from this alkaline storehouse is to clean the leaves and wash them.  The leaves are then cut to small pieces and added to boiling water.  Garlic, shallots, pepper and salt are added to this boiling water as required.  The water is then allowed to cool.  This green steeped water is taken regularly to neutralize acidity.

Thuthi is also used as a diuretic.  Rasam made of thuthi leaves is an excellent diuretic and when taken regularly takes care of urinary retention and other such complications. 

It also relieves stomach ulcer.

Water steeped with thuthi leaves is a well known remedy for diseases of the gums. This can be used as a mouthwash.  Regular gargling after brushing the teeth with this thuthi mouthwash can safeguard you from gum diseases and the like.

The roots of the plant are considered asdemulcent, diuretic, in chest infection and urethritis. The infusion of the root is prescribed in fevers as a coolingmedicine and is considered useful in strangury,haematuria and in leprosy. The leaves are found to be good for ulcer and as a fomentation to painful parts ofthe body. The decoction of the leaves is used intoothache, tender gums and internally for inflammationof bladder. The bark is used as febrifuge, anthelmintic,alexeteric, astringent and diuretic. The seeds are used in piles, laxative, expectorant, in chronic cystitis, greet.

In traditional medicine, various parts of the plant are used as a demulcent, aphrodisiac, laxative, diuretic, sedative, astringent, expectorant, tonic, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, and analgesic and to treat leprosy, ulcers, headaches, gonorrhea, and bladder infection.