Medicinal qualities of plants traced from their appearance, shape and colour

Abstract

Human beings have always had recourse to nature for life and health. From time immemorial, plants have played a significant role as protective and curative agents. At present of about 75% of our medicines, we rely on the curative properties of plants. Many medicinal herbs are stamped as it were, with some clear indication of their uses. The inner qualities and healing powers of the plants might also be revealed by external sign. Appearance of plants or their parts points to the ailment they treat. It is believed that from the outward shapes and qualities of things we may know their inwards virtues. Methodology: The curative properties of plants might be revealed by external signs. This appears to hold true from the cases examined in various plants. During different work shop and in research period it is found that the red colour of gum, flowers and wood cure diseases or ailments related to blood, burns and sunstroke. The white colour latex would help cure complaints about milk production or flow of milk. The white flowered variety of Clitoria ternata cure leucoderma, a skin disease in which the skin develops while colouration. Yellow sap, extract, wood or plant itself would cure yellowing of body or jaundice. Plants bearing spines would cure scorpion sting, snake bite or ant bite. Tubercles raised on bark are thought to be beneficial in treating pimples.