ASTHMA HERB – Herbal Medicine

EUPHORBIA HIRTA = EUPHORBIA PILULIFERA = CHAMAESYCE HIRTA ou PILULIFERA

EUPHORBIACEAE

Plants of the genus euphorbia are a large plant family which includes numerous herbaceous plants, some with the appearance of cacti as well as trees.
The majority of euphorbias contain latex which flows when the plant is injured, this latex is sometimes caustic or toxic, it contains terpenes.
Euphorbias also have a particular floral structure (cyathium), an inflorescence which contains the male and female parts and which, after fertilization, will give a trilobed capsular fruit (tricoque).

Euphorbia hirta or pilulifera is probably native to Australia (or the Indian subcontinent).

This small, discreet plant with little demands on the quality of the soil, resistant to sun and drought, is now present in all tropical or equatorial regions.

It has many local names: misnamed or ti-lait in the Antilles, or jean robert herb in the islands of the Indian Ocean, asthma herb in many English-speaking countries, yerba de la golondrina in Spanish-speaking countries but tripa de pollo in Puerto Rico, and very numerous appellations in Africa depending on the country and ethnic groups, some examples: adododo or akololo in Ivory Coast, dabadablé or homgoelem in Senegal and Mali, laganzu or ikondo wola in Congo, akponyon or nyahounayira in Benin, aidinono in Madagascar, mwache in Swahili…In India, dudhi in Indi and chara in Sanskrit, tawatawa in the Philippines.

Euphorbia hirta or pilulifera was part of the European pharmacopoeias, it is still cited as a medicinal plant in Europe but its use has become rare.
On the other hand, it is a medicinal plant widely used in Africa and Asia (India, Philippines, Indonesia) because it can treat rather tropical diseases such as amoebic dysentery and dengue fever.
All parts of euphorbia hirta are medicinal: whole plant, roots, latex

EUPHORBIA HIRTA PILULIFERA INDIAN EUPHORB ASTHMA HERB AMIBIAN DYSENTERIA DIARRHEA ASTHMA BRONCHITIS ANTALGIC SEDATIVE CALMING

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND PROPERTIES

EUPHORBIA HIRTA PILULIFERA WHOLE PLANT

Extracts of the whole plant contain:

tannins,
flavonoids: notably quercitrin known for its anti-amoebic properties
traces of essential oil,
mineral salts,
a small quantity of saponosides (foaming product) ,
there are no alkaloids (often toxic substances).

Latex contains potentially toxic or caustic phorbol derivatives

This plant therefore does not contain any pharmacologically very active substance apart from quercitrin, however pharmacological studies show that extracts of euphorbia hirta or pilulifera are:

antidiarrheals (treats DYSENTERY),
antipyretics (lowers FEVER),
anti-inflammatories (rheumatic PAIN),
calming and mild analgesics (anti-pain), promoting the onset of sleep,
active on bronchial ASTHMA (improvement of breathing and reduction of anxiety),
diuretics (increase urine volume),
galactogenic (increases the volume of breast milk, promotes the “rise” of milk),
mild antibiotics, particularly on intestinal bacteria.

Toxicological studies show that euphorbia hirta or pilulifera which does not contain alkaloids and very few saponosides can be considered as a non-toxic plant except at very high doses where it causes digestive or neurological disorders.

USES

TRADITIONAL USES

DIARRHEAL INTESTINAL DISORDERS, AMEBIAL DYSENTERY

It is the most widespread use and has been verified by some clinical studies and especially by its effectiveness in traditional medicine.

Some simple examples of dosage:

a handful (child) or two handfuls for adults of fresh or dry plant in a liter of water, boil over low heat for 10 to 15 minutes (DECOCTION), leave to cool, drink this decoction, distributing the dose (1/ 2 liter) during the day. Renew the decoction to make the treatment last at least 3 days.
diarrhea in infants when modern medications are not available: leave a handful of lightly crushed fresh plant to macerate cold in 1/2 liter of milk for 2 to 3 hours. Give one to two teaspoons 3 times a day,
50 to 60 g of dry euphorbia hirta or pilulifera powder, mix a tablespoon of this powder in food (watery gruel) 4 to 6 times a day

RESPIRATORY DISORDERS, ASTHMA, BRONCHITIS, COUGH

Euphorbia hirta has bronchodilator, soothing and cough-reducing properties (analogous to codeine).

This plant cannot be compared to modern anti-asthma products that are much more powerful and can alleviate an asthma attack in minutes.
On the other hand, it can be used as a basic treatment to prevent the onset of asthma attacks, or in cases of chronic bronchitis with emphysema (COPD), to try to prevent exacerbations of the disease.

Examples of dosage:

30g of dry plant per liter of water, decoction for 10 to 15 minutes, use this herbal tea as a drink during the day (1 to 2 liters per day),
a handful of fresh plant in 1.5 liters of water, decoction of 10 to 15 minutes, to consume during the day.

In Western medicine other medicinal plants were often associated with euphorbia hirta to calm asthma and asthmatic bronchitis: lobelia, grindelia.

OTHER USES

The use of euphorbia hirta or pilulifera

as a DIURETIC and in case of urinary infection
as ANTALGIC, anti-inflammatory, to reduce FEVER, to soothe the pain and cramps of DYSMENORRHEA (menstrual pain)
or as a plant CALMING,
uses the whole plant fresh or dried in an aqueous decoction as in the previous examples and at the same dosage.

EXTERNAL DECOCTION:

in a sitz bath to calm a hemorrhoidal outbreak or to heal and soothe the pain of an anal fissure,
in application with a compress on an inflamed varicose vein,
also on the breasts to promote MILK SECRETION.

LATEX is classically used to treat inflammation-infection of the eye, but I do not recommend it.
You can apply fresh latex to an ordinary wart but you must repeat this application several days in a row to hope to make the wart disappear.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

WARNING Euphorbia hirta has a latex which can cause an allergic reaction in people allergic to the natural latex of the rubber tree, the use of euphorbia hirta or its extracts is therefore not recommended in these patients.

SOME RESEARCH IN PHARMACOLOGY

Euphorbia hirta and onchocerciasis (FILARIOSIS)
The ethanolic (alcoholic) extract and its soluble fraction in ethyl acetate have anti-filarial properties, the crude ethanolic extract is the least toxic (on cultured kidney kidney cells). monkey).
Euphorbia hirta and DENGUE FEVER
A study in the Philippines shows that aqueous extracts of euphorbia hirta help fight viral infection and stabilize the number of blood platelets which can drop dangerously in this viral infectious disease and cause serious hemorrhages.
The essential oil of euphorbia hirta (present in small quantities) is repellent for MOSQUITOS (including anopheles) and perhaps contributes to the bronchodilator effect which soothes asthma attacks.

WHERE TO FIND EUPHORBIA HIRTA OR PILULIFERA?

When you live in tropical-equatorial regions it is quite easy to find this plant in nature in the wild or in cultivated plots or in your garden.
However, you have to make sure that it is the right plant because the small euphorbias look similar, but you can compare with the many photos of this plant on the internet.
On the internet we find suppliers of euphorbia hirta or pilulifera particularly in India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Vietnam, in the form of dry plant, plant powder, capsules of plant powder and also homeopathic mother tincture (alcoholic) in Europe..

CULTIVATION OF EUPHORBIA HIRTA or PILULIFERA

This small euphorbia, present in all warm regions of the globe, is annual or perennial depending on climatic conditions.
It spreads by seeds and once established in a growing plot it reseeds naturally.

It is not an invasive plant but it is quite persistent.

It grows in full sun or in a shaded area, if possible on loose soil for better development.

It can be harvested almost all year round except when the dry season is prolonged.
Once harvested, it can be used fresh, but also dried to preserve it and crushed after complete desiccation.

ABSTRACT

EUPHORBIA HIRTA OR PILULIFERA MEDICINAL PLANT FROM WARM REGIONS
This small euphorbia is traditionally used to calm bronchial asthma and treat amoebic dysentery and more generally diarrheal disorders.
It soothes pain and is slightly sedative. It is a diuretic, anti-inflammatory plant, which reduces fever and reduces menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea).
It is sometimes used in Asia to reduce the effects of dengue fever.
It is very easy to grow.

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