Pankaj Oudhia’s Notes on Gossypium arboreum L. [Kirtikar, Kanhoba Ranchoddas, and Baman Das Basu. "Indian Medicinal Plants." Indian Medicinal Plants. (1918)].
Pankaj Oudhia’s Notes on Gossypium arboreum L. [Kirtikar,
Kanhoba Ranchoddas, and Baman Das Basu. "Indian Medicinal Plants." Indian Medicinal Plants. (1918)].
Pankaj Oudhia
Introduction
Based on Ethnobotanical
surveys since year 1990 in different parts of India Pankaj Oudhia has
documented vital information about Medicinal Plants mentioned in the famous
publication by Kirtikar and Basu (1918). Through this research document Pankaj
Oudhia has tried to present original document with additional notes. For
complete paper with pictures, Interactive Tables, Video and Audio clips please
visit pankajoudhia.com
For original publication by Kirtikar and Basu (1918) please visit https://archive.org/details/indianmedicinalp01kirt
173. G. arboreum, Linn, h.f.b.i., i. 347.
Roxb. 520.
Vern : — Nurma, deo kapas. (H.) ; Budi Kaskoin, bhoga
kuskom (Santal.) ; Manna, radhia, nurma (N.-W. P.; ; Kapas
(Pb.) ; Deva Kapusa (Mar.) ; Sainparuthi (Tarn.); Patti
(Tel).
Habitat : — Plains of India, in gardens, but generally
cultivated.
Arborescent or shrubby plant, rarely an herb. Branches
purple, pilose. Leaves nearly glabrous, one-glandular, deeply
palmately 5-7-lobed, lobes linear oblong, mucronate, con-
tracted at the base, often with a supplementary lobe in the
sinus. Stipules ensiform. Flowers purple, rarely white.
Bracteoles nearly entire, cordate, ovate, acute. Petals
spread-
ing ; staminal-tube antheriferous for its whole length.
Capsule
about 1 in., oblong, pointed. Seeds free, covered with white
wool overlying a dense, green down. Cotton not readily separ-
able from the seed.
Uses : — In Bombay, the root is used in the treatment of
fever, [Pankaj Oudhia’s Comment: Through
Ethnobotanical surveys I have collected information about over 30,000 Fever
Formulations in which Cotton roots are added as secondary and quinary
ingredients. Most of these Formulations are in use by the Traditional Healers.
Please see Tables Cotton-1 to Cotton-100 for details.]
In the Konkan, the root, rubbed to a paste within the juice
of patchouli leaves [Pankaj Oudhia’s Comment: Also
with other herbs.], has a reputation as
a promoter of granula-
tion in wounds, and the juice of the leaves, made into a
paste
with the seeds of Vernonia anthelmintica [Pankaj
Oudhia’s Comment: Judicious use is required.], is applied to eruptions
of the skin following fever. In Pudukota, the leaves ground
and mixed with milk, are given for strangury (Dymock).
The petals squeezed and soaked in human or cow's milk,
N. O. MALVACEJL. 193
are used as a soothing and effective application for
conjunctivitis
of infants (Dr. Thompson in Watt's Dictionary). [Pankaj
Oudhia’s Comment: Also with medicinal weeds like Argemone and Euphorbia but
with care i.e. under supervision of expert Healers.]
The cotton is a very useful external remedy in burns, scalds,
and some other surgical diseases. The seeds exercise some
good
influence over gonorrhoea, gleet, chronic cystitis,
consumption
and some catarrhal affections. The fresh young capsules and
shoots have been observed to produce good effects in some
cases
of dysentery and gonorrhoea [Pankaj Oudhia’s
Comment: Agree. The Healers use it with medicinal weeds from cooton
fields as well as from surroundings.].
The control of the seeds over
gonorrhoea and gleet is more manifest when combined with
some other drugs, a prescription for which is given below.
Take of the cotton seeds, from two to four drachms ; fruit of
Cuminum eyminum (cumin seeds), from one and a half to
three drachms ; fruit of Pimpinella Anisam, (anise seed),
from
one to two drachms ; and the siliciovs concretion of Bambusa
arundinacea (tabshir) [Pankaj Oudhia’s Comment: Or
Vanslochan], from fifteen to thirty grains. Bruise
and rub all these ingredients well in a stone mortar, with
three
or four ounces of water and pass the liquid through cloth.
This
draught is to be used four or five times in the twenty-four
hours, according to the severity of the symptoms (Moodeen
Sheriff). [Pankaj Oudhia’s Comment: By adding
10 to 350 herbs in this basic Formulation the Healers prepare hundreds of
strong Formulations and use it successfully. Please see Tables Cotton-101 to
Cotton-200 for details.]
E-documents on Gossypium
Citation
Oudhia, Pankaj (2013).
Pankaj Oudhia’s Notes on Gossypium
arboreum L.
[Kirtikar, Kanhoba Ranchoddas, and Baman Das Basu.
"Indian Medicinal Plants." Indian
Medicinal Plants. (1918)]. www.pankajoudhia.com
Comments