2. Aadu Thina Paalai (Aristolochia bracteolata)

🌿 Standard Herb Documentation Format

1. Basic Identification

  • Tamil Name: ஆடு தீண்டாப் பாளை / ஆடுதின்னாப்பாளை
  • Common Names: Worm Killer Plant, Ishwar Mul (Hindi), അടുതിന്നപ്പളാ (Malayalam), గడుగ గుడుప (Telugu)
  • Botanical Name: Aristolochia bracteolata
  • Family: Aristolochiaceae
  • Growth Habit: Creeping vine
  • Habitat: Dry scrublands, village hedges, uncultivated fields
  • Seasonality: Year-round
  • Visual Traits: Broad ovate leaves, twining stems, tubular greenish-purple flowers

2. Traditional Classifications

  • Siddha Classification: Used in vermifuge and anti-venom formulations; considered bitter and heat-generating
  • Ayurvedic Rasa-Guna-Veerya-Vipaka: Bitter (Tikta), pungent (Katu), hot potency (Ushna), pungent post-digestive effect (Katu Vipaka)
  • Spiritual Use: Not commonly used in rituals; known more for its protective bitterness (goats avoid it)

3. Medicinal Uses

  • Primary Actions: Anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, anti-fungal
  • Conditions Treated:
    • Respiratory: Not primary use
    • Digestive: Intestinal worms, dysentery, gastric disturbances
    • Skin: Boils, fungal infections, insect bites
    • Reproductive: Not recommended due to toxicity
    • Nervous system: Not documented
    • Others: Snake bite (external application), joint pain
  • Postpartum / Pediatric Use: Not recommended
  • Contraindications / Warnings:
    • Contains aristolochic acid (nephrotoxic, carcinogenic)
    • Avoid internal use without expert supervision
    • Not safe for pregnant women or children
    • Restricted in EU/USA for internal formulations

4. Preparation & Dosage

  • Internal Use:
    • Decoction (கஷாயம்): Leaves soaked in hot water for 2 hours, filtered, and consumed in small doses (15–50 ml) — only under supervision
  • External Use:
    • Paste (மசை): Applied on boils, bites, and fungal patches
    • Oil (தைலம்): Occasionally used in scalp applications for dandruff
    • Steam / Bath: Not commonly practiced
  • Typical Dosage: 15–50 ml decoction (under supervision); paste as needed externally

5. Culinary / Cultural Integration

  • Edibility: Not edible; toxic if consumed unsupervised
  • Pairing Herbs: Neem (external), turmeric (paste), Thulasi (for comparative charts)
  • Folk Beliefs / Proverbs: “ஆடு கூட தீண்டாத பாளை” – a metaphor for something intensely bitter or avoided even by animals

6. Visual & Deployment Assets

  • High-Resolution Image: Twining creeper, broad leaves, tubular flower
  • Tamil Poster Caption:
    ஆடே தீண்டாத பாளைநஞ்சுக்கும் நுணுக்கமான மருந்து, ஆனால் கவனத்துடன் மட்டுமே.”
  • Voiceover Script (30 sec):
    ஆடு தீண்டாப் பாளைபாம்பு கடி, குடல் பூச்சி, தோல் நோய்களுக்கு மருந்தாக பழங்குடி மரபில் பயன்படுத்தப்படும் மூலிகை. ஆனால் இதில் உள்ள அரிஸ்டோலோசிக் அமிலம் நச்சுத்தன்மை கொண்டது. உள்பயன்பாடு நிபுணரின் ஆலோசனையுடன் மட்டுமே.”
  • Comparative Chart Tags: vs. Aristolochia indica (Eswara Mooligai), vs. Neem (external skin use)
  • QR Code / Source Link: Optional for supplier verification or digital outreach