General Information
Oxalis corniculata is a world wide weed which is almost impossible to get rid of. It is also called creeping wood sorrel, procumbent yellow sorrel or sleeping beauty, resembles the common yellow wood sorrel. It is a annual or short lived perennial plant growing only 5-11 cm tall but spreading at the roots to form a mat of growth 30 or 35 cm or more wide. It has beautiful yellow flowers. The flowers are 6-10 mm wide and have 5 yellow petals. The fruit is a capsule, 1-1.5 cm long. This plant is harvested from the wild for food, medicine, skin and various commodities.
Common Name
Common name: Creeping wood sorrel, creeping oxalis.
Hindi : Amrul.
Bengali: Amrulshak.
Malayalam: Poliyarala.
Botanical name: Oxalis corniculata.
Habitat
This plant in mainly native to Hawaii and South Europe. In Asia it is found in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, China, Indonesia, Taiwan, Japan. It is also found in tropical regions of America. In India, Bangladesh, Pakistan it is mostly found in gardens, grasslands, riversides, mountains, wastelands, roadsides. We can plant it in our home.
Using Part
This herb can be used or eaten. Leaves and flowers are usually using part of this herb.
Importance
1. Oxalis is the best herb which is rich in vitamin C. It is the best used in the treatment of scurvy and also it can make your skin brighten.
2. Smashed Oxalis is applied externally to stop the itching of ringworm.
3. The juice of the plant mixed with butter is applied to muscular swellings boils and pimples. It can reduce the pimples growth.
4. The leaves are used as antidote poisoning by the seeds of Datura, arsenic, mercury.
5. The leave juice is also applied to snake or insect bites, skin burn and eruptions.
6. This herb is very beneficial for treating influenza.
7. The leave juice is mixed with onion extract to remove warts.
8. Decoction of this herb is used for gargles.Infusion of leaves is used to cure irritation of eyes and opacity of cornea.
9. Decoction of this herb is taken orally to stop bleeding hemorrhoids.
10. Pills made with this herb. Its prickly ash can be keep in mouth to reduce gum swelling and relieve pain.
11. Infusion of this herb is also used for treating low and high grade fevers.
leaf paste is also used for relieve headaches.
12. Aqueous extract of this herb is cardio protective in nature and it is beneficial for overall health.
13. This herb is also very effective to cure symptom of diabetes.
14. Infusion of this plant can be used as a wash to rid children of hookworms .
15. The boiled whole plant yields a yellow dye.
16. Yellow, orange, red to brown dyes are obtained from the flowers and you can use this dyes for hair colouring but do not use on scalp.
17. Small quantity of this herb should be eaten everyday. Because it is useful to reduce fat.
Cautions
Oxalic acid present in leaves gives sharp flavor. The leaves should be eaten in small quantities but should not be eaten in large amount since this acid helps to bind up the proper supply of calcium. The quantity of oxalic acid will be reduced if the leaves are cooked .People with tendency to rheumatism, gout, arthritis, kidney stone should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition.
