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Health Remedies - Elephantiasis (Lymphatic Filariasis) |
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Elephantiasis is a disease that is characterized by the thickening of the skin and underlying tissues, especially in the legs and genitals. This is caused most commonly by the Wuchereria bancrofti parasite, but also can be caused by Brugia malayi and Brugia timori. The parasitic worms are transmitted to the human body through the bite of a mosquito. Elephantiasis causes swelling of the lymphatic vessels. There is an abnormal accumulation of watery fluid in the tissues (edema) causing severe swelling. The skin usually develops a thickened, pebbly appearance and may become ulcerated and darkened. Fever, chills and a general feeling of ill health (malaise) may be present. Symptoms of elephantiasis usually appears only many years after infection. |
Useful
herbs |
Adiantum lunulatum |
Fruits are used in leprosy, fever and erysipelas; for strangury and fever due to elephantiasis (roots); in treating blood diseases and burning sensation |
Anacardium occidentale |
For diarrhea, dysentery, colic, as an internal and external antiseptic against bacterial infections, for all kinds of stomach ulcers, for ear and eye infections and
to stop bleeding and heal wounds. For calluses, corns, and warts, cancerous ulcers, and even elephantiasis (fruit bark juice and the nut oil); dysentery, fever, inappetence, leucoderma, piles, tumors, and obstinate ulcers (fruit); for sore throat (leaf decoction) |
Calotropis gigantea |
Toothache and laxative (plant juice); altering secretion of stomach acids, in the treatment of skin diseases, asthma, elephantiasis and leprosy (flowers); paralysis, arthralgia, swellings and intermittent fevers (leaves). The tribals of South Rajasthan apply latex in the treatment of Guinea worm disease (Joshi, 1991). |
Clitoria ternatea |
To treat oedema, mental disorder, goiter, vitiligo, snake-poisoning, toothache, eye disease, as aphrodisiac, filaria, leprosy (plant juice); dysentery, severe bronchitis, asthma, consumption, ascites and abdominal enlargement. |
Cymbopogon citratus |
Colds, cough, as a depurative agent, indigestion, elephantiasis, fever, headache, hypertension, leprosy, malaria, mouth sores, neuritis, painful menstruation, pneumonia, rheumatism, ringworm, sprains, toothache, gingivitis, pyorrhea, for cleaning teeth. A fomentation of leaves is good for immediate relief of colds. It makes human bodies healthy, with its carminative and anticholeric properties. Chinese use the grass to treat colds, headache, intestinal problems, eczema and reduce high blood pressure. |
Cyrtomium fortunei |
In the treatment of hookworm, tapeworm, ascariasis, filiariasis, acute infectious hepatitis, various bleeding ailments, as a preventative for influenza and measles (decoction) |
Datura metel |
Ophthalmia (seed decoction); asthma (flower); swolen areas and in rheumatism (leaf); to treat fever, worms, cracks in feet, filaria, chronic coryza, rabies, alopecia, skin diseases, boils, pain in breast and insanity (root, fruit and leaves); in the treatment of epilepsy, hysteria, insanity, heart diseases, fever with catarrh, diarrhoea, skin diseases and asthma (plant). |
Dichrostachys cinerea |
In rheumatism, urinary calculi and renal troubles (root); applied to the eyes in cases of ophthalmia (shoot); for snake-bites and scorpion stings (plant). to treat dysentery, toothache, elephantiasis, vermifuge, snake-bite, leprosy, syphilis and gonorrhoea (bark). |
Eclipta prostrata |
Tetanus, baldness, long-term skin diseases, in enlargements of the liver and spleen (as a tonic and deobstruent) (plant); in catarrhal jaundice (plant juice and "aromatics"); as an antiseptic in cattle wounds etc. and in syphilis (root), removes worms, cough and indigestion, good remedy for dental disorders. Various local traditions and Ayurveda employ its parts for elephantiasis, migraine, pyorrhoea, chronic dysentery, oedema, nervous weakness, anorexia, gum troubles and to remove intestinal worms.This plant invigorates sex and consumed for fertility. It is an antidote for poisons. |
Lannea coromandelica |
Indigestion, toothache and debility (bark decoction); sprains and body aches (leaf); as a lotion for bruises, wounds, sores, and ulcers (due to leprosy) (bark); in asthma and as a cordial to women during lactation (gum); in sprains and bruises, local swellings, pains of body and in elephantiasis (boiled leaf) |
Pimenta racemosa |
Used to treat adenopathy, cancer, chest cold, diarrhea, dyspepsia, edema, elephantiasis, fever, headache, nausea, pleurisy, pneumonia, rheumatism, toothache, varicosis and vertigo. |
Psoralea corylifolia |
Skin diseases, vitiligo, poisoning, for conception, caries, deafness, filaria, wound, as rejuvinative, febrile diseases, premature ejaculation, impotence, lower back pains, frequent urination, incontinence, bed wetting etc. It is also used externally to treat various skin ailments including leprosy, leucoderma and hair loss. |
Vernonia cinerea |
Useful for the purifying the blood, bile and semen, used as a specific for leucorrhoea, menorrhagia, and in the treatment of chronic skin diseases, dysuria, strangury, bladder stones, piles, worms and haematological disorders (plant); for the treatment of amoebiosis, humid herpes, eczema and ringworm and for the extraction of guinea worms, elephantiasis (leaf juice); to treat fevers, rheumatism and conjunctivitis (flowers); effective against roundworms and threadworms, leucoderma, psoriasis and other chronic skin diseases (seeds). |
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