Family: Convolvulaceae
Synonyms: Cuscuta elatior Choisy, Cuscuta hookeri Sweet, Cuscuta macrantha G. Don, Cuscuta megalantha Steud.,
Cuscuta reflexa var. grandiflora Engelm., Cuscuta reflexa var. reflexa, Cuscuta verrucosa Sweet, Monogynella reflexa (Roxb.) Holub
- English name: Giant Dodder
- Arabic: حامول منعكس
- Assamese: Amarlati
- Bengali: Swarna lata
- Chinese: 大花菟丝子
- Hindi: अमर बेल Amar bel, आकाश बेल Akashbel, Amarvalli
- Malayalam: ആകാശവല്ലി, Akasavalli
- Manipuri: Uri sanamacha
- Marathi: निर्मली Nirmali
- Oriya: Kolanirmuli
- Tamil: கொடியார் கூந்தல் kodiyar kundal
- Telugu: Sitamma pogunalu
Distribution: A common parasite found on many bushes and trees in hills and in plains of tropical India. A leafless yellow colored thread like complete stem parasite found on many herbs and small shrubs. Flowers small, white, sessile in lateral fascicles; Calyx 5 lobes, subequal, connate at the base, corolla lobes 5,companulate, with a ring of fimbriate lobes at the base, stamens as many as corolla lobes at the mouth of corolla throat, anthers exerted, ovary 2 celled, fruit a capsule.
Used in Ayurveda, Unani and Sidha. Whole plant juice poisonous, emetic, purgative, given for abortion, bilious- ness, fevers, jaundice and hematuria; a decoction of fruits of Emblica officinalis with roots of Solanum indicum and stems of Cuscuta reflexa given in influenza; salted plant juice given in vomiting and purulent discharge from vagina; bark extract of Alstonia scholaris with Cuscuta reflexa and bark of Rhamnus napalensis given to kill intestinal worms; plant infusion as a wash for sores; ash of burnt plant applied to treat cuts, warts and wounds; in polio, ashes ground in mustard oil and the affected part is massaged with the medicated oil; whole plant paste applied to cure swelling of the testicle, reddening of the eyes, to relieve body pain, boils and head- ache; whole plant with Centella asiatica and Vitex peduncu- laris powdered with black peppers given to avoid childbirth; Mallotus philippensis stem bark decoction together with Cuscuta reflexa , stem bark of Mangifera indica and leaves of Dendrocalamus strictus used as bath for the treatment of jaundice. Roots and the whole plant in case of fractures, dis- located bone treated by binding the plant around the affected part. Juice of the stem applied on wounds; crushed stem for jaundice; stem crushed into paste and given to girls to cure menstrual disorders. Stem and leaves juice used to kill head lice. Seeds carminative, anthelmintic, powdered seeds for stomachache and coughs; seeds pasted with water and taken against intestinal worms. Veterinary medicine, crushed whole plant to treat uterine prolapse; plant infusion fed to birds for treating poultry disease; plant paste given against diarrhea of domestic animals; crushed leaves and stem applied on bone fractures and bone dislocation. Plant fed to enemy’s livestock for killing purpose. Medico-religious beliefs, plant and turmeric crushed and massaged on the whole body of weak and thin children. [CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants]
Whole plant is used against diabetes, against hepatitis, retention of urine, hair fall and dandruff
and against laziness.
2. Method of use for hair fall and dandruff: Take 15 grams of fresh plant and add 250 mL of hair oil and heat them together gently for 10-15 minutes. Keep them in metal pot together just use that hair oil every day and keep doing that practice for 40 days.
3. Method of use against laziness: Just 2-3 grams of the fresh plant grind that and take it in fasting with butter or 15-20 days. [Medicinal Plants of Sindh : Indigenous Knowledge and Scientific Facts]
316 Published articles of Cuscuta reflexa
