Asthma plant, or more commonly known in the world of botany as euphorbia hirta, is actually a weed that is said to originate from India but can now be found in various tropical regions. If you live in a place where the climate is warm, chances are you have already seen an asthma plant — it’s that lowly weed that grows on roadsides, having hairy stems, small elliptical leaves with toothed borders, and really tiny clusters of flowers that do not have petals.
Unlike most other weeds, asthma plant is not at all useless. In fact, traditional healers use it to deal with a wide variety of health problems, such as diarrhea, boils, eye infections and asthma, of course. Also known as garden spurge, pill pod sandman, chara and tawa-tawa, depending on where you are on the planet, the leaves of asthma plant are usually made into tea which may be consumed by mouth or used topically, such as in disinfecting wounds and the eyes.
But it’s not just the leaves of the said weed that may be employed for medicinal purposes. The stem and the flowers may also be utilized in various ways to help in treating all sorts of health problems. Even the milky sap, which is produced in abundant amounts by asthma plant, is known in the field of traditional healing to have therapeutic benefits.
Let us take a look at some of the most noteworthy medicinal uses of asthma plant:
For Conjunctivitis
One of the most popular uses of asthma plant is for treating eye infections. Traditional healers commonly turn the weed into tea or decoction, and then recommended it as eye wash for those who have conjunctivitis.
For Snakebites
Asthma plant is also used traditionally to reduce the symptoms of snakebites. However, it’s important to seek medical attention right away if you’re bitten by a snake, especially if you’re not sure if it’s poisonous or not.
For Asthma
The consumption of asthma plant tea is recommended for people who are having asthma attacks. Thanks to the herb’s anti-inflammatory properties, an asthmatic can attain relief from swollen airways.
For Bronchitis
It’s not just asthma that this weed can relieve, but also bronchitis. Again, it has something to do with the fact that it is capable of reducing the inflammation of the airway which can impede proper breathing.
For Sore Throat
Drinking tea out of the leaves of asthma plant is said to help you attain relief from sore throat, courtesy of the herb’s anti-inflammatory as well as anti-microbial properties.
For UTI
Traditionally, asthma plant is recommended for somebody who is suffering from a urinary tract infection or UTI. The weed is also used to treat venereal disease because of its ability to kill off sexually-transmitted bacteria and viruses.
For Low Libido
No sexual drive? It is said that consuming asthma plant tea can help increase one’s libido. Also, the herb is known to be very beneficial for men who are bugged by premature ejaculation or PE.
For Low Milk Supply
Nursing mothers may rely on asthma plant if they are not producing enough breast milk for their babies. However, pregnant women should stay away from the herb as it may cause miscarriages!
For Worms
The intake of tea made from asthma plant is known to be very good at getting rid of parasitic worms in the intestines, thanks to its well-established antihelmintic properties.
For Diarrhea
Asthma tea is also an excellent remedy for diarrhea. In fact, it is traditionally used for treating dysentery, a severe infection of the intestines which results in watery feces with blood and mucus.
For Boils
The leaves of asthma plant may be applied on boils to facilitate the healing process because of its superb anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties.
For Wounds
Asthma plant may be boiled in water, which may be used for disinfecting wounds once cool. The same may be used for soothing mild burns as well as for keeping them from being infected.
