Patharchur - Karpooravalli

Botanical name: Plectranthus amboinicus

Common name: Cuban Oregano, Indian borage, Indian mint, Mexican mint, Spanish thyme

Sanskrit: Karpuravalli, Sugandhavalakam

Hindi: Patharchur, Patta ajwain

Tamil: Karpooravalli, Omavalli, Karpuravalli

Marathi: Pathurchur, Patharcur

Malayalam: Panikkurkka,Kannikkurkka, Panikoorkka

Telugu: Sugandhavalkam, Karpoora valli, karuvaeru, vamu aaku

Kannada: karpurahalli, dodda pathre, Karpoora valli

Description: 

Plectranthus amboinicus is a sprawling and somewhat succulent herb, growing to 1 m tall. The plant is sometimes prostrate at base, with the branchlets rising up, densely hairy. Leaves have stalks densely velvety, like most mint family plants. Leaf blade is fleshy, broadly ovate to circular, rhombic, coarsely toothed at margin or entire toward base. Flowers are borne in 10-20-flowered, densely velvety spikes. Flower stalks are slender, up to 5 mm long.

In Singapore and China this herb is called dao shou xiang, which roughly translates as “makes the hands fragrant”. It is grown as a potherb and primarily valued for its benefits as an ingredient in medicinal tea. Plectranthus amboinicus is thought to help soothe digestion, relax spasms, and it has antibiotic, expectorant and laxative effects. The leaf juice is mixed with sugar and given to children for coughs. In Venezuela this herb is taken to expel kidney stones, and in Curacao and Aruba it’s taken to relieve headaches

This herb has therapeutic and nutritional properties attributed to its natural phytochemical compounds which are highly valued in the pharmaceutical industry. Besides, it has horticultural properties due to its aromatic nature and essential oil producing capability. It is widely used in folk medicine to treat conditions like cold, asthma, constipation, headache, cough, fever and skin diseases. The leaves of the plant are often eaten raw or used as flavoring agents, or incorporated as ingredients in the preparation of traditional food.

Decoction or juice made from leaves together with other herbs is also taken orally to control asthma. This decoction is also used to treat catarrhal infections where it clears the excessive build-up of thick phlegm or mucus in an airway or cavity of the body. Collectively, the reason behind this could be high amounts of Carvacrol and Thymol  found in the essential oil of the plant. Carvacrol and Thymol are an excellent expectorant and used to treat various respiratory disorders. It is suggested that a drink or a bath of P. Amboinicus juice/decoction can be a worthy treatment for influenza, cough, bronchitis and throat problems

Medicinal uses: 

- The leaves have many traditional medicinal uses, especially for the treatment of coughs, sore throats and nasal congestion, but also for a range of other problems such as infections, rheumatism and flatulence

- Helps to alleviate cold and cough.

- Used to reduce nasal congestion and sore throats in adults.

- Karpooravalli concoction is used to treat asthma and bronchitis.

- Helps in digestion if stomach is upset.

- Used in cooking and flavouring of dishes.

- Karpooravalli is also planted to keep aedes mosquitoes away in Tropical countries.

- In Indonesia Cuban Oregano is a traditional food used in soup to stimulate lactation for the month or so following childbirth.

- Leaf juice can be used as an external pack that heals Shingles and chicken pox boils, and also reduces the itching caused by it.