Benefits of Black Night shade

The most popular house hold remedy for mouth – ulcers is chewing a handful of Black Night shade leaves so that the juices stay in the mouth for atleast 5 minutes and then spitting out the chewed leaves. This done for 2 to 3 times a day, cures mouth – ulcers. Black night shade is good for healing stomach ulcers also. The black night shade is a native of West Africa but now grown all over India.

The botanical name of Black Night shade is “Solanum Nigrum”

Family – Solanaceae

Vernacular names – Sanskrit – Kakamachi, Hindi – Makoi, Tamil: Manatthakkali, Telugu – Kamanchi, English – Black Night shade, Sun Berry, Wonder cherry.

Plant description

The black night shade is a small, erect and herbaceous annual plant and has a whitish tap root (the main anchoring root). Its branched stem can grow to a height of 1 metre. The plant has a spreading crown, with several arching branches. The stem and branches are soft and smooth. The leaves are altermate, ovate, slightly pubescent (covered with soft fine hair). The flowers are white, cream or violet in apical (forming a point) inflorescence (a group of flowers that grow on the same steem). The fruits (Berries) are green at first and then become juicy and black as they ripen. They contain blue or black seeds.

Parts used: The leaves, un – ripened fruits, shoots

General properties:- Alternative, Diuretic, Diaphoretic (Induces perspiration)

Expectorant (clearing phlegm)

Composition 100 gm leaves contain:-

Moisture – 82.1%, Protein – 5.9%, Fat – 1.0%, Minerals – 2.1%, Carbo – hydrates – 8.9%, Calcium – 40 mg, Iron – 20. 5 mg, Vitamin C – 11 mg, Caloritic value – 68

Uses

1. For mouth and stomach disorders:- The cooked leaves heal mouth ulcers, stomach ulcers and other digestive disorders. The raw juice of the leaves can be given alone or combined with other juices. It is good for colitis, flatulence and peptic ulcers. For curing stomach ulcers, take 100 – 200 ml of leaf – juice on empty stomach for 30 to 40 days.

2. For dropsy ( excessive accumulation of fluid in the body tissues). Because of its diuretic properties, black night shade is beneficial in the treatment of dropsy. It can be used as a decoction or as vegetable. An extract of the stem and leaves, in doses of 6 to 8 ml can also be given.

3. For respiratory disorders:- Eating the cooked leaves or in any other form, helps in relieving accumulated phlegm in the chest and cough. This helps asthma patients. The berries of the plant are used in treating asthma.

4. In fevers:- The leaves are useful in fevers as they induce perspiration. An infusion of dried leaves, 0.75 to 1.25 decigrams can be used. The fruits are also used in treating fever.

5. Other uses

? Regular use of black night shade reduces body heat and cools the body.

? Relieves burning sensation while passing urine.

? Improves general health. Makes a lean person strong as it improves appetite. Promotes immunity to diseases.

? It is an useful cardiac tonic. Its sedative qualities reduce excitement and tension.

? For skin disorders – The plant juice can be used internally or externally in cases of psoriasis, acne and eczema.

? Extract from plant (leaf berries) is used to treat liver and pancreas enlargement.

An useful aspect of Black night shade is, its leaves, Unripened fruit and

ripe fruits could be used as vegetable. The leaves can be cooked just like any other greens. The un ripened fruit is soaked in butter – milk and taken. The fruits are dried and then fried in ghee and eaten mixed with rice. This promotes appetite.