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Botanical Name
Leonotis Leonurus.
Family
Labiatae
Other
Names
Wilde dagga
(Afrikaans); wIld dagga (English); Umunyane (Zulu); Lebake (Sotho); Umfincafincane (Xhosa); Umhlahlampetu
(Shona)
Parts Used
Mainly the leaves and stems, sometimes also the roots.
Description
This attractive plant is a shrub of two to five metres in height,
All parts of the plant have a strong smell. The leaves are long and narrow,
toothed in the upper half and distinctly hairy. Bright orange, tubular flowers
are borne in characteristic rounded groups on spikey bracts. The hairy flowers
resemble lion’s ears, hence the name “leonurus” (which means lion’s
ears).
Overview and
Mythology.
Even though the name of dagga is attached to this herb it has
hardly any narcotic properties and is not used as a substitute for cannabis.
It has been used by the Africans since early times. Sometimes smoked instead
of tobacco but is not a pleasant substitute.
Constituents.
Volatile oil
Diterpenoids (labdane type lactones). A typical
example of the bitter principle is marrubiin, which has been isolated. There
is evidence that premarrubiin actually occurs in the plant and that marrubiin
may be an artefact derived from premarrubiin. Also appears in Horehound.
Resin which is said to have narcotic properties
Dosage
Recommendations
4 to 10 gms per cup of
boiling water.
Medicinal
Actions
Alexeteric,
Antihelmintic, Anti convulsant, Bronchial dilator, Emmenagogue, Hepatic,
Mildly Narcotic, Purgative, Tonic
Applications.
Leaf, Stem, Root [sometimes], Tincture.
Used
in the following internal illnesses
Asthma
Boils
Coughs and Colds
Epilepsy- {tips pf leaves are smoked}
Headaches
Hemorrhoids-[Decoction of leaf and stem]
Hepatitis
High Blood PressureHigh Blood Pressure
Influenza and Bronchial ailments.
Jaundice [using whole plant]
Laryngitis
Normalizes female reproductive parts.
Skin Diseases-Eczema, Itching
For Snake bites and other bites - taken internally and the leaf applied into
the fang punctures.
Tonic
Tuberculosis as a pure tincture
External
Medicinal Use
Added to the bath Wild dagga alleviated itches and muscular
cramp
Applications.
Tincture, decoction of leaf and twigs
Energetics.
Bitter, Cool, Dry, Pungent.
Contra
indications and side effect
None known
Use During Pregnancy And Lactation.
Avoid during pregnancy
Interactions
with Other Drugs
None known
Doctrine of signatures
Hairy leaf and stem like the cilia in the bronchial system.
Astrology
Falls under the influence of Mars---rules Aries and
Scorpio.
Chakra
3rd and 5th chakra are influenced by this ancient
evolved herb.
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