Southeast Asia . Locally, in various northern sites as well as dykes of the Western Catchment Area. Erect, shrubby herbs up to 1.5 m tall, with many spiny, usually green stems; leaves like those of holly, leaf blade dark green, stiff, deeply lobed with sharp spines at each lobe's tip and curved in full sun, flatter in shade; with neatly organised spikes; flowers in spikes at branch tips; petals white turning brownish when older; capsules squarish and slightly flattened, exploding when ripe to send their whitish, flat seeds flying up to 2 m from the parent plant. Shaded to fully-exposed in the undergrowth and on mud-lobster mounds. From Malay folklore, the pounded seeds are used to cure boils and to prevent the condition for as many years as there are pounded seeds in the draught, the juice of leaves is reputed to prevent hair loss and the prickly leaves are used to ward off evil spirits. Rare. Traditional medicinal uses: The leaves of A. ilicifolius are used to treat rheumatism, neuralgia and poison arrow wounds ( Malaysia ). It is widely believed among mangrove dwellers that chewing the leaves will protect against snake bite. The pounded seeds of A. ebracteatus are used to treat boils, the juice of leaves to prevent hair loss and the leaves themselves to ward off evil (Malay). Both species are also used to treat kidney stones. The whole plant is boiled in fresh water, and the patient drinks the solution instead of water, half a glass at a time, until the signs and symptoms disappear ( Thailand ). Water extracted from the bark is used to treat colds and skin allergies. Ground fresh bark is used as an antiseptic. Tea brewed from the leaves relieves pain and purifies the blood (widespread in both the Old and New World ). Each capsule (300mg) contains : Acanthus ebracteatus 200-mg. Piper nigrum Linn 100 mg. Dosage : Take 1 capsule once a day at bedtime. Indication : used as diuretic |
