What if people walk on something every day that is one of the best healing plants in the world? You can find Euphorbia hirta along roadsides, in fields, or even in your own yard. It’s a small, unnoticeable shrub. People all across the world call this plant by different names. Some of these are Australian Asthma Herb, Snake Plant, Dugadhika (in Ayurveda), and Asthma Weed. Even though most people don’t think about it, it has been utilized in traditional medicine for hundreds of years.
The Euphorbiaceae family is very big, and Euphorbia hirta is one of its members. It grows best in warm, tropical, and subtropical areas. You may find it in several places, such Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia, and other places like them. It seems simple: it’s a small plant with hairy stems, short oval leaves, and tiny flowers that grow in bunches. It does have a lot of bioactive compounds, though, like flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolic acids, tannins, and saponins. The plant is good for you since it has these substances in it that are prevalent in nature.
Euphorbia hirta has been used by traditional healers for hundreds of years to help those who have trouble breathing, especially those with asthma. This is why people nickname it “asthma weed.” People think it helps the airways in the lungs open up, which is what a bronchodilator does. This makes it easier for those with asthma, chronic bronchitis, or allergies that make them cough to breathe.
It helps with wheezing and shortness of breath by relaxing the muscles in the respiratory system. It also helps get rid of mucus in the lungs and airways, which makes it simpler to cough up phlegm while you’re sick. Making herbal tea is one way to prepare ready. You can do this by adding a teaspoon of dried leaves to boiling water and letting them steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Drinking this tea twice a day will help you breathe easier and make your throat and lungs less swollen.
Euphorbia hirta is also known to be good for the stomach. A lot of old-fashioned medications use it to cure diarrhea, dysentery, stomach cramps, bloating, and even disorders caused by parasites. The plant’s natural antibacterial properties help get rid of harmful pathogens like E. coli and Shigella, which are abundant in tropical locations and can cause gastrointestinal problems. It can also destroy parasites, therefore it can get rid of worms in the intestines.
It has astringent properties that assist the lining of the intestines get tighter and firmer. This stops you from losing too much liquids when you have diarrhea. If you make it as a decoction, which usually means boiling 1–2 tablespoons of the dried herb in water for about 10 minutes, and take it once or twice a day, it may help with an upset stomach, reduce inflammation in the gut, and bring the digestive system back into balance.
You would not think that Euphorbia hirta is good for your skin, but it is. A lot of people use it to cure things outside since it kills germs, fungi, and inflammation. For a long time, people have used it to treat skin problems like acne and impetigo, as well as fungal infections like athlete’s foot and ringworm. Most people make a paste out of the fresh leaves and put it right on the regions that pain. The medicine helps the skin’s redness, swelling, and growth of microorganisms go down. Some cultures even bathe in water with Euphorbia hirta in it to help heal cuts, burns, and bug bites, or to calm skin irritations that won’t go away. It helps cells grow back, which speeds up the healing of tissues and repairs.
The herb is also good for the kidneys and bladder. For a long time, people have used Euphorbia hirta as a natural diuretic. A diuretic is anything that makes you urinate more, which helps your body get rid of waste and toxins. People with urinary tract infections (UTIs) who have to go to the bathroom a lot and feel like they are burning may find this effect very helpful. People think it can assist with bladder pain, irritation in the urinary tract, and even prevents kidney stones from forming by stopping calcium oxalate crystals from building up. To make a simple infusion that will help you pee, soak about a teaspoon of the dry herb in boiling water for 10 minutes. Then, strain the liquid and drink it once or twice a day, preferably with your doctor’s help.
Euphorbia hirta is also good for the immune system since it makes it stronger and helps it work better. Flavonoids and phenolic compounds are powerful antioxidants that assist the body get rid of free radicals. This makes oxidative stress and inflammation less bad. Recent research on herbs has shown that Euphorbia hirta may be able to fight against some viruses, notably those that induce fever, as well as bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus. If you’re sick or getting better, drinking a cup of Euphorbia hirta tea every day could improve your immune system, lower your temperature, and make you stronger overall. One reason it is still utilized in many traditional medical systems is that it helps the immune system.
Euphorbia hirta has a lot of great qualities, but you need still be careful with it. Getting the dose right and learning how to make herbal medicines are quite vital for many of them. in’s normally safe if you use in the appropriate method and in the right amount. But if you take too much or don’t use it well, it could cause complications. If you are pregnant or nursing, have health concerns, or take prescription drugs, you should talk to a certified healthcare professional before taking it for medical reasons.
Euphorbia hirta gives us an important lesson: often the best natural cures are the ones we don’t think of. People sometimes mistake this small plant for a weed, but it shows how nature can help us heal. Over the years, this plant has helped a lot of people stay healthy by making it easier to breathe, easing stomachaches, calming down irritated skin, and boosting the immune system. A lot of people are becoming increasingly interested in herbal medicine and natural health. We should take another look at what’s sprouting on the ground. You might be walking over a green treasure that you didn’t know you have the next time you see this little bush.
