The Amazing Okra (Lady's Finger)

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Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus Linn.) is an annual, erect, stout-stemmed, bristly herb, growing up to 2 meters. The leaves are angular, long-stalked, and coarsely toothed. The single flower located in the axiles of the leaves is pale yellow in color. The fruit is an elongated pod (capsule). It is slimy when cut for cooking. It is grown in tropical and subtropical countries.

The following are the medicinal used of this plant:

• Soothes and protects the alimentary tract.
• It acts as a softener of inflamed parts.
• Relieves flatulence and griping pains from the stomach and bowels.
• Prevents and cures spasms.
• Used as a laxative.
• Controls pneumonia, bronchitis, urinary problems, heart diseases and tubercolosis of the lungs.

The whole plant is used in the treatment with normal dosage. The following are the instructions on how to use this plant as a medicine:

• The leaves are recommended as hot poultice, asl in decoction, in cases of pneumonia and bronchitis. For the same disease, a tea of the flowers and the fruit is prepared by decoction which is taken with a little honey.
• The root in decoction is recommended for inflamed mucous membrane of the uresthra and vagina, infectious venereal diseases and other genital problems.
• The seeds are used for heart diseases. They are roasted and prepared as a tea, four to five glasses are to be taken per day.
• The unripe fruit is used for pulmonary tubercolosis.

Reference: "Amazing Healing Plants" by Dr. JC Kurian