Medicinal herbs of Chhattisgarh, India having less known traditional uses. XXXVII. Jalpippal (Phyla nodiflora, family : Verbenaceae)

Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
© 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved

For the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, Jalpippal is valuable herb for digestive system related troubles. They frequently use this herb in treatment of dysentery and bleeding piles, internally. It is also used in treatment of diarrhoea. In general, the healers recommend this herb with Kali Mirch (Black Pipper). The healers of Bagbahera region use the dry powder prepared by whole herb as appetizer. According to them it is promising blood purifier and improves the digestion. The traditional healers of Northern Chhattisgarh use Jalpippal in treatment of Sukhandi (Marasmus) disease of small children. It is used internally with Kali Mirch and Sonth (dry ginger). The natives of Chhattisgarh are not much aware of its traditional medicinal uses. Jalpippal is not in the list of non-wood forest produces of Chhattisgarh. Botanically, Jalpippal (Phyla nodiflora syn. Lippia nodiflora) is a creeping herb; stems rooting at the nodes, much branched, clothed with appressed white hairs; Leaves opposite, sub-sessile, spatulate, rounded at the apex, sharply serrate in upper part; Flowers sessile, densely packed in long peduncled axillary heads; Corolla white or pale-pink; two lipped, upper 2-lobbed, lower 3-lobed; Fruits globose, oblong; Flowering time round the year in Chhattisgarh conditions. According to Ayurveda, Jalpippal is acrid, cooling, aphrodisiac (the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are not aware of it), anthelmintic, alexiteric and useful in diseases of heart, blood and eye, improves taste; good for ulcers, wounds, burning sensation, asthma, bronchitis, thirst, etc.

According to Unani system of medicine, Jalpippal is hot, dry, diuretic, maturant and useful in treatment of colds, fevers and urinary concretions. According to modern scientific literatures, an alcoholic extract of JalPippal leaves possess anti-bacterial activity against Escherichia coli. Leaves contain tannin and plant yields two glucoside colouring matter nodiflorin A and nodiflorin B. Jalpippal is not under cultivation as medicinal crop. During the ethnobotanical surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh I have noted that very few healers are aware of its traditional uses and most of them are over 60 years of age. Not much has been written on its traditional uses by the early workers. This article is the first written document on traditional medicinal knowledge about Jalpippal in Chhattisgarh. I personally feel that there is a need to document the detailed knowledge about it well in time.

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