Coleus, Makandi
Country Borage
Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, vol. 46 (1819)Botanical name:
Coleus forskohlii (syn. C. barbatus, Plectranthus forskohlii, P. barbatus)
Parts used:
Primarily Root; also the Leaf
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Pungent
Uses:
1. Clears Wind, Stops Spasms:
-Spasms, Cramps, Convulsions
-skin diseases with Itching
-Hypertension (proven effect)
-Glaucoma (proven effect)
2. Moves the Blood, Clears Stasis, Benefits the Heart:
-improves Heart function, Congestive Heart Failure, Myocarditis
-Cerebral vasodilator
-Chronic Wounds
-recently proven effective to prevent Metastasis
3. Stops Cough and Wheezing:
-Cough, Bronchitis, Bronchial Asthma, Wheezing
-Hay-fever
4. Warms the Kidneys, Promotes Urine: (Leaf, Unani):
-Edema, Fluid retention, Obesity
-Infertility
-Hypothyroidism, Depression
-Gravel, Stones (Leaf, Unani)
5. Warms the Stomach, Moves Qi:
-Indigestion, gas, bloating (leaf, in infusion)
-abdominal masses, abdominal distention, Spleen diseases
-as an aid in Constipation and Hemorrhoids
6. Externally:
-leaf juice is applied around the eye to relieve Glaucoma (Unani)
-juice relieves conjunctivitis
-leaves applied to the head relieve headache
Dose:
Root in Decoction: 5–12 grams;
Root in Powder: 2–6 grams
Correctives:
Decoction of Dolichos biflorus
Substitutes:
For Stones: Jews Stone, Saxifrage
Main Combinations:
1. Heart conditions:
i. Coleus with Hawthorn
ii. Coleus with Emblic Myrobalan, Arjuna
2. Cough, Wheezing, with Adhatoda vasica, Long Pepper, Ephedra
3. Glaucoma,
i. Coleus with Cannabis
ii. Coleus with Emblic Myrobalan, Triphala, Boerhaavia, Chrysanthemum
Cautions:
1. Large doses irritate the Urinary system
2. Avoid in Hypotension and Peptic Ulcers.