Madar plant

Scientific name of Madar plant: Calotropis gigantea

Name of Madar plant in different languages:

English: Sodom Apple, Milkweed, swallow-wort, Crown flower

Hindi: Madar मदार

Malayalam: Erukku-എരുക്ക്, Chitterikku- ചിറ്റെരിക്ക്

Plant Description:-

The crown flower or Madar plant is a large shrub growing at a height of 4 m tall. Leaves are pale or grayish green, oval in shape, and size 5-6 inches long and 2.5-4 inches wide, flowers are in clusters of waxy white or lavender in color. The stem is milky and gray in color.

Leaf Arrangement

Shape-Ovate	Margin-Entire	Venation-Reticulate

Useful plant parts:

Root barks, flower, root, leaf, latex

Medicinal uses:

To treat diseases like fevers, rheumatism, indigestion, asthma, elephantiasis, cough, cold, eczema, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.

Chemical content:

Uscharin, Calotoxin, Calactin, and Calotropin

Ayurveda medicinal uses of Madar plant

1. Wound Healing: The latex of the Madar plant is applied topically to wounds for its wound-healing properties.
2. Anti-inflammatory: It is used to reduce inflammation in conditions like arthritis and joint pain.
3. Respiratory Disorders: Madar is used in respiratory conditions like asthma and bronchitis due to its expectorant properties.
4. Pain Relief: It is believed to have analgesic properties, making it useful for pain management.
5. Digestive Disorders: In some traditional practices, it is used to address digestive issues, though this use should be approached with caution due to its potential toxicity.
6. Skin Disorders: It may be applied topically for skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis.
7. Cardiac Tonic: In certain Ayurvedic formulations, it is used as a cardiac tonic to support heart health.
8. Antimicrobial Properties: Some preparations use Madar for its antimicrobial effects.

It’s important to note that Madar contains potentially toxic compounds and should be used with caution. It is traditionally used under the guidance of experienced practitioners who understand its appropriate dosages and methods of preparation to minimize any potential harm.

Ayurveda properties

Madar plant is one of the ingredients in Ayurveda medicines like-

• Dineseladi Velichenna
• Prabhanjana Vimardhanam Kuzhambu