Phyllanthus niruri : Benefits and guide on how to grow it
Introduction to Phyllanthus Niruri aka Bhumi amla
Practised for more than 5000 years, Ayurveda (Indian traditional medicine) is a holistic healing system. Ayurveda emphasizes the use of vast herbal remedies. Phyllanthus niruri, also known as Bhumi amla, is a source of these herbal remedies.
Bhumi amla is botanically known as Phyllanthus niruri. It belongs to Phyllanthus, a genus of spurges, and to the Euphorbiaceae family.
It is called Bhumi amla because of its small stature and its tendency of spreading its branches very low and parallel to the land (bhumi). it can be found abundantly mostly in the rainy season. In essence, it is a field weed, and its genus contains 600-700 species that differ only slightly in their characteristics.
Maharishi Charaka (Maharishi meaning : Hindu Sage; He is considered one of the major contributors to Ayurveda) categorized Phyllanthus niruri as follows (Sanskrit words):
Kasahara: alleviates cough,
Swasahara: relieves asthma,
mootrarogahara: cures urinary disorders,
Kaphapittahara: relieves the kaphapitta dosha,
Kaamalaahara: cures jaundice,
Bhava prakasa Nighantu: cures cough and blood disorders.
The maharishi (meaning : Hindu Sage), in his book titled “Charaka Samhita” (written in 1st century ce), described Phyllanthus niruri as being effective in treating asthma, stimulating the liver, improving digestion, increasing appetite and producing laxative effects.
The leaves of Phyllanthus niruri taste a little bitter and are utilized as an astringent. However, the “transformatory” or “reactionary effect” (Vipāka: medical term used in Ayurveda) is sweet in post digestion.
As far as phyllanthus niruri morphology is concerned, the plant grows between 50 and 70 cm tall. It has smooth bark that is light green in colour. It has tiny, smooth fruits that contain seeds. Its flowers are not particularly bright in colour (pale green in colour).
Some of the phyllanthus niruri common name are chanca piedra, bahupatra, seed-under-leaf, stone-breaker, gale of the wind, Shatterstone, carry me seed, Niruri, Phyllanthus, Dixie Leaf-flower, Surinam bitters.
Ayurvedic home Remedies and Benefits of Phyllanthus Niruri
Phyllanthus niruri benefits were documented in ayurveda several centuries ago. Following are some of the ayurvedic phyllanthus niruri medicinal uses:
You can boil 10g of its dried fruits in 400ml of water until the mixture reaches a quarter of its volume and then strain. Intestinal ulcers may be treated with this mixture when taken one hour before breakfast and dinner.
50 grams of P. niruri leaves can be boiled with 200 millilitres of water. The water then can be used for gurgling purposes as a remedy for mouth ulcers.
To treat breathlessness is also one of the many phyllanthus niruri uses. 10gm of the bark is powdered with 1 teaspoon of rock candy (misri) or honey, either to be consumed or applied to the nostrils.
Old chronic wounds are treated with its juice (the whole plant crushed) mixed with rice-washed water, which heals the inflammation. The juice is also called panchang in Sanskrit.
15-20 black pepper seeds can be mixed with 15 grams of the whole Phyllanthus niruri plant. This mixture is ground to a fine powder. 5 grams of this powder can be taken three times a day to cure diabetes.
A mixture of 10ml of its fruit juice is mixed with a pinch of cumin seeds and sugar and used as a remedy for urinary inflammation and other urinary disorders.
Another way of applying the plant to cure wounds is by boiling the plants leaves and applying the water to the wound. This procedure also gives some relieving effects.
Additionally, the leaves of Phyllanthus niruri can be dried and ground into powder. This powder can also be applied to the wound to heal it.
It also helps in relieving abdominal pain. 20 grams of raw leaves can be boiled in 200 ml of water. The leaves are then strained and can be consumed (2 teaspoonfuls) every day.
In order to treat irritated skin, the dried leaves of P. niruri can be powdered and mixed with a pinch of salt. The mixture can be applied directly to the itch.
In a pot of 400ml of water, 50 grams of the whole plant is boiled until it is one-fourth of its original volume. Thereafter, 5 grams of fenugreek powder is added to the mix. In order to treat diarrhea, the mixture is taken a few times a day.
It can also be used as a remedy to relieve problems related to cough. 50 grams of the whole plant is boiled in half a litre of water. The water is boiled till 1/4 of water is remaining in the vessel. One teaspoon of this mixture can be taken every day to heal the cough.
In order to get relief from jaundice, a paste of its raw fruits can be taken with butter milk.
To heal eye problems, its fruits are rubbed inside a copper vessel with some rock salt (singha namak) and applied to the outside of the eyes.
*None of the remedies mentioned above shall be administered without the proper consultation with a doctor. These remedies are age old ayurvedic remedies.
Stone Breaking Mechanism of Phyllanthus Niruri
Bhumi Amla has diuretic properties and is alkaline in nature. In patients with hyperoxaluria, it reduces urine oxalate and increases magnesium and potassium excretion.
As a result of regular consumption of Bhumi Amla, urinary calculi can be reduced. Additionally, it is less expensive than the prescribed alternative, potassium citrate.
Some studies conducted in 2010 showed that Bhumi Amla was found to inhibit the formation of stones by loosening the ureters, which helped in the expulsion of the stones through urine. Furthermore, it helps the patients urinate more.
In a study, out of 56 participants with kidney stones who took Bhumi Amla daily for 4.5 grams, 2/3 of them showed a reduction in size and number of stones.
Vitamin C is found in abundance in Bhumi Amla. Vitamin C has the characteristic property of converting cholesterol in the liver into bile.
Bhumi Amla, when consumed in appropriate amounts, reduces cholesterol levels and the likelihood of gallstones. Although Bhumi Amla has been used for centuries to reduce gall stones, there is no scientific basis for its use.
Guide to grow Phyllanthus Niruri
Farming Phyllanthus Niruri commercially
Soil requirement for Phyllanthus Niruri farming
It is found that Phyllanthus Niruri is adapted to a variety of soils, including alkaline, acidic, and natural soils. The plants also prefer calcareous soils with good drainage and a light texture.
Plants of the Phyllanthus Niruri are technically weeds and they thrive in tropical conditions. It is circum-tropical in nature. The plant, however, cannot survive in dry conditions or low temperatures, but waterlogging does not damage the plant.
Preparation of land for farming of Phyllanthus Niruri takes place between April and May. The soil is brought to a fine tilth by doing one deep cultivator and then 2-3 tillings. Beds of 30-40 cm size are enough for farming Bhumi amla.
*A must Read: Various types of soils
Nursery raising and transplanting the seedlings in the farm
Seeds are used to propagate the plants. On one hectare of land, about 1 kg of seeds is sufficient for transplanting seedlings. Seeds are sown in nursery beds that are well prepared for raising seedlings. Seed rate of 400 grams per acre or 1000 grams per hectare is advisable for farming Phyllanthus Niruri.
During bed preparation, combine well decomposed farm yard manure with topsoil. Because the seeds are so small, they are mixed with dry soil or sand to ensure a uniform distribution of seeds on the nursery bed. The nursery bed is then covered with a thin layer of soil.
As long as the seeds have germinated, appropriate moisture is maintained in the beds.
Transplanting occurs at a horizontal and vertical spacing of 15 cm each for seedlings that are roughly 15-30 days old and about 10 cm tall.
The establishment of seedlings depends on appropriate irrigation immediately after transplanting. An improved yield of herbage is obtained by transplanting seedlings.
A climate temperature of 30 – 33 degree Celsius is good for sowing Phyllanthus Niruri seeds.
Weed control for Phyllanthus Niruri farming
Regular hand weeding is required every month to keep the field free of weeds. Commercial herbicides should not be sprayed since they can degrade the crop and cause residual effects in the soil.
*A must Read: Herbicide resistance in weeds
Manure, Fertilizer and pesticide for Phyllanthus Niruri farming
Pesticides and chemical fertilizers shall not be used on medicinal plants. Depending on the species requirements, organic manures such as Farm Yard Manure (FYM @5-10tonnes), Vermi-Compost, Green Manure, etc. may be used. In order to prevent diseases, bio-pesticides can be prepared (either individually or in combination) from Neem (kernel, seeds, and leaves), Chitrakmool, Dhatura, or cow’s urine.
It is not necessary to fertilize the crop with N, P, and K. Pest control can be achieved by spraying Nuvacron @0.2%. Sulfex @0.25% can also be applied to the field to prevent the crop from diseases.
*A must Read : Complete guide to types of fertilizers
Irrigation requirements to farm Phyllanthus Niruri
There may not be a need for irrigation on lands where it rains frequently during the rainy season. Nonetheless, one irrigation every two weeks is required in areas where there is barely any rainfall. However, the plant is not affected by waterlogging.
Rainfall of 25-30 cm is recommended for Phyllanthus Niruri farming.
Harvesting the Phyllanthus Niruri crop
Harvest takes place when the rainy season is over and the plants are green and herbaceous. As the active constituents of Phyllanthus Niruri are concentrated more in the leaves, a higher leaf mass is needed for extraction. Harvesting is most suitable during September, when plants contain the most leaves.
A climate temperature of 20-23 degree Celsius is good for harvesting of Phyllanthus Niruri.
Growing Phyllanthus Niruri in home garden
Phyllanthus Niruri aka bhumi amla is a weed. As suggested by one of its many names, “gale of the wind“, its seeds propagate in the wind. It is likely that you have this plant in your garden already and you have not noticed it uptill now.
One can buy its seedlings from a local nursery or can even grow it directly by using its seeds in a garden or flowerpot.
No special care except for regular watering is needed to grow Phyllanthus Niruri in your home garden. The plant will mature in about 3-4 months.
*A Must read : Different types Mushroom farming
Different names of Phyllanthus Niruri in Indian local languages
Phyllanthus niruri in Assamese : Holpholi, Poram-lokhi
Phyllanthus niruri in Bengali : Noar, Hazarmani
Phyllanthus niruri in Hindi : Chalmeri, Harfarauri, Bhuiaonla, Jangli amlai, Jangli amla
Phyllanthus niruri in Kannada : Kirunelli, Nela Nelli, Kempukiranelli
