Weeds of medicinal importance and their utilization as a way of management.

Abstract

Weeds are a gift of nature having beneficial and/or harmful effects. However, a number of weeds have specific medicinal values for which they can well be used for herbal remedies from several ailments of human and pet animals such as Abelmoschus moschatus (used as cardiotonic), Andrographis paniculata (used for therapeutic purpose), Calotropis gigantea (used for pile, cough, dropsy, skin diseases, etc.), Solanum xanthocarpum (used for bronchitis, asthma, etc.), Solanum nigrum (used in liver disorders and swellings), Eclipta alba (used as hair tonic and also in liver/spleen disorders), Ocimum sanctum (used for cough and cold treatments of children), Leucas aspera (used against snakebite), Achyranthes aspera (used against dysentery, cough, toothache, stomachache, piles and skin eruptions), etc. Similarly, there are a good number of weeds which can be used for curing animal ailments, e.g. Achyranthes aspera, Cassia fistula, Commelina beghalensis, Datura alba, Phyllanthus niruri, Parthenium hysterophorus, etc. All these indicate that the weeds need to be managed properly.