Calotropis Procera Medicinal Uses

Calotropis procera is the botanical name for a medium-sized flowering plant that is native to Africa and Asia. It also grows in Australia, Caribbean Islands, Central and South America. Its common names include giant milkweed, sodom apple, apple of sodom, dead sea apple, dumb cotton and swallow-wort

In Nigeria, it is called bomu bomu (Yoruba), tumfafia (Hausa), kayou (Kanuri) bambami, bembami (Fulani)

It is used as a medicinal or ornamental or garden plant or regarded as a weed.

It has leaves which are 10 to 20 cm long and 5 to 10 cm wide. The plant exudes a white milky sap from any cut on it hence the name milkweed.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Some of its properties are;

• Antiinflammatory
• Antioxidant
• Antibacterial
• Analgesic
• Antifungal
• Anthelmintic
• Bronchiodilator

Parts of the giant milkweed has been used to treat;

• Toothache
• Snakebite
• Elephantiasis
• Leprosy
• Digestive disorders like diarrhea, dysentery, nausea, vomitting, flatulence
• Respiratory issues like cough, sinusitis, asthma etc
• Skin disorders like ringworm, sores, stings,eczema, warts, burns
• Fungal infections
• Fever
• Gout
• Arthritis and muscular pain
• Ulcers
• Parasitic infections
• Toothache
• Ear ache and infections
• Malaria
• Jaundice

This plant has been reported as poisonous but is widely use in Africa and Asia. In Nigeria, the plant leaves are used to coagulate milk when making cheese (wara). The leaves are smoked and inhaled to treat respiratory issues. The latex is used externally for skin infections

If you have used any part of giant milkweed to treat any ailment successfully. Please share in the comment section. Also any questions and feedback.

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