Kalmegh Benefits, Uses and Safety Precautions

Kalmegh: Scientifically termed as Andrographis paniculata, this medicinal plant won the title of the King of Bitters. This medicinal plant has its mention in Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha. It is full of therapeutic properties and bioactive compounds. Kalmegh means dark clouds, and the name comes from the dark colour of the plant.

What is Kalmegh (Andrographis Paniculata)?

Green Chiretta is how local people address the Kalmegh plant. It has several medicinal properties. Though it tastes bitter, but it brings sweet results. People confuse it with Neem due to its similar appearance and taste. It is an annual plant that grows straight. In Indian Siddha, this plant has gained a huge fame due to the medicinal properties it has.

Different Names of Kalmegh

The scientific name of Kalmegh is Andrographics PaniculataNees. In Hindi, it is called as Kalmegh, Bhunimba and Kariyatu. To your surprise, it has its origin in India and Sri Lanka. Walk on the Uttarakhand hills, and witness the beauty and properties of this plant. It is also addressed as BhuiNeem due to its looks and taste. It is also known as Creat and Kalpanath.

In English, it is referred to as Creat, Green Chiretta and King of Bitters due to its taste.

In Sanskrit, it is addressed as Kalmegha and Bhunimba. In Kannada, people call it Nelabevu and Nelavemu.

Telugu locals address it as Nilavembu and Nelavemu.

In Malayalam, people call it by different names, including Kiriyattu, Nilamkanjiram, Kaakanjiram, Kriyathu and Nelavepu.

In the land of Gujarat, people call it as Kariyatu; in Tamil Nadu, it is called Nilavembu.

Bengalis call it Kalmegh, and it is addressed with the same name for trade purposes.

Where does the Kalmegh Plant grow?

Kalmegh is originally from India and is found in the hills of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and Kerala. You can also see them growing in Southern Asia due to its enriched properties.

In moist, shady plain areas that lie under tropical and subtropical conditions, this plant is grown.

Ways to Use Kalmegh

You will be surprised that this bitter-tasting plant has too many medicinal benefits to preserve; hence, all its parts have some pharmacological compounds, and the enormous Kalmegh uses associated with each part.

• You can consume Kalmegh's leaves in dried and fresh form. Even some people govern drinking the plant juice as well.
• People also make a paste with the leaves and fresh twigs and consume it in different ways.

Before starting with anything, never miss to consult a health specialist as they know more about your wellness. Before starting with any natural wellness products, you should know which herbs are good for your body. Ayurvedic Immunity Boosters are good, but stopping any ongoing medicine and sticking to a new one is something you should never do.

Recommendable Properties Of Kalmegh

Kalmegh benefits are endless, and this herb can do well for your overall health. It possesses several benefits, like:

• It might possess all the properties needed for immunity building.
• It might possess antibiotic properties.
• It might have anti inflammatory features too

Kalmegh Benefits You Should Know

Ayurveda is the earliest system of medicine which has discovered magical healing qualities in so many herbs, and Kalmegh is no exception. It has several health benefits as mentioned in Ayurveda. In countries like India, China and some other Southeast Asian countries, this herb is already very popular. Kirata tribe's bitter herb, Kalmegh, benefits are several. Exploring them in detail might help you to acknowledge andrographis medicinal uses:

1. Might Help In Infections

Though andrographis uses are huge but still it cannot be said that it is a complete antibiotic. It might help to fight infections if used with antibiotics. But yes, consult your doctor first before trying anything new, especially when you are sick.

2. Might Act Like an Anti Inflammatory Herb

It might have anti inflammation properties, which might help you to get rid of inflammation easily.

3. Might Help With Better Digestion

Kalmegh is full of laxative properties, which might further help in better digestion. It is also believed to help in bile and hence will be a help in healthy digestion. It helps in controlling stomach acidity.

4. Might Help in Mental Wellness

Kamegh might help in delivering the mental peace and soothing your brain, which you might have been hunting for some time. Anxiety, depression, dizziness and headache are common problems nowadays, and this might be a simple cure for them.

No matter how beneficial any herb is, trying it blindly is something we never advocate. Remember, your health is a sensitive matter and starting something new cannot happen without the guidance of your health specialist. Consult your doctor before you start with the bitter but beneficial Kalmegh.

Precautions While Taking Kalmegh

The Kalmegh plant may be bitter to taste in any form, but indeed, the benefits they claim are unbeatable. What else, they have no side effects! But one thing, as repeatedly mentioned, you can't skip is consulting your doctor before taking Kalmegh in any form. Sometimes, what is good even for your sibling is not designed for you and may harm you, so discussing it with your health specialist can solve any health hazards beforehand. Other pieces of advice while taking Kalmegh are as follows:

• Ladies who are expecting a child or breastfeeding their babies should not try any herbs or new medicines unless it has been suggested by experts.
• Do not try any herbs if you have any allergy problems. No matter how good Kalmegh is, it can react with your body compounds in a different way.
• People suffering from chronic disease should not try it unless their doctor shares some words on it. It might make the case worse by reacting with the disturbed body compounds.
• If you are on regular medication, try it only after your health specialist gives a green signal to use it.

Ayurveda has no side effects, but sometimes when it mixes with some other health conditions, it may not result in the way you expected. So being alert is the right way to use it.

The Bottom Line Before Declaring Kalmegh Just A Bitter Herb

All that glitters is not gold, and all that is bitter is not harmful! It is purely a miracle tree bringing unparalleled medicinal and health benefits for all. This tree can survive in any environmental condition, and thus it is a saviour to the environmental balance process too! It helps in overall wellness and brings a lush green area around you!