The medicinal plants of Myanmar
Author
DeFilipps, Robert A.
Deceased
Author
Krupnick, Gary A.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1357-4826
Department of Botany, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, PO Box 37012, MRC- 166, Washington, DC, 20013 - 7012, USA
krupnick@si.edu
text
PhytoKeys
2018
2018-06-28
102
1
341
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.102.24380
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.102.24380
1314-2003-102-1
AA226A35FFF8FFBC37621A40C2518C67
1306325
Terminalia citrina (Gaertn.) Roxb.
Names.
Myanmar
:
kya-su
,
hpan-kha-ngai
.
English
: black chuglam, citrine myrobalan.
Range.
From India to the Philippines. Found growing naturally all over Myanmar, especially in Taninthayi.
Uses.
Fruit
: Of its five tastes - sour, astringent, bitter, savory, and hot - astringency is the strongest. Eaten raw, it stimulates bowel movements and can cause diarrhea; eaten boiled, it can cause constipation. The juice is consumed to promote longevity; it is also used for treating sore eyes and is considered good for the voice. A mixture of powder made from the fruit and honey is licked to cure gas. Pounded it is smoked in a pipe as a remedy for asthma; consumed in a blanc mange-like confection, it alleviates intermittent diarrhea and diarrhea caused by indigestion. For burns, a mixture of ground fruit, water, honey and sesame seed oil is applied topically. The powder can be used as a toothpaste to whiten teeth and cure tooth diseases. Liquid from boiling the fruit with
sha-zay
(resin from
Acacia catechu
) is used as a mouthwash to strengthen the teeth; liquid from boiling it in water until the water is reduced to one-fifth the starting volume is given with honey to for various disorders of the mouth and palate; and liquid from fruit boiled with water and reduced to one-fifth the starting volume is used to wash flesh-eroding sores. Crushed fruit is applied to the head for migraine headaches. Liquid from soaking it in water overnight is used the following day as a rinse to cool the eyes and strengthen vision. Fruit powder is rolled with juice from
mu-yar gyi
(
Adhatoda vasica
=
Justicia adhatoda
) leaves to form seven pellets, which are dried in the sun; the pellets are then rolled in honey and licked to stop vomiting and bleeding. The powder licked with honey, or rolled together with jaggery into pellets, is taken as a remedy for acid stomach. Boiled in cow urine, fruit is given as a cure for anemia and other debilitating diseases.
Note.
In Indonesia a decoction made from this species and
"adaspoelasari"
is taken as a treatment for abdominal illness; in the Philippines, the fruit is considered an astringent, and a decoction is used in treating thrush and obstinate diarrhea (
Perry 1980
).
Reference.
Agricultural Corporation (1980)
.