Nilam Health Dictionary

Kurz.

Synonym: E. viride (Forsk.) Alston. Justica ecbolium Linn.

Family: Acanthaceae.

Habitat: Northeastern Peninsular India.

English: Blue Fox Tail Nail Dye.

Siddha/Tamil: Nilambari.

Action: Plant—used in gout and dysuria; decoction of leaves for stricture. Roots—given in jaundice, menorrhagia and rheumatism.... ecbolium linneanum

Royle.

Family: Papaveraceae.

Habitat: Western Himalayas from Kashmir to Kumaon, between 3,300-4,500 m.

English: Blue Poppy.

Folk: Gul-e-Nilam (Kashmir), Gudi, Kunda, Kanderi (Punjab), Kalihaari (Himachal).

Action: Plant—diuretic. Root— narcotic.

In Garhwal Himalayas, the whole plant is used as a blood purifier and to reduce blood pressure. The natives apply the plant paste externally in rheumatic pains as anodyne.

Meconopsis horridula Hook, known as Tasargaun in Tibet, is used for cardiac and respiratory disorder.

Meconopsis napaulensis DC., synonym M. wallichii HK. (temperate and alpine Himalaya from Nepal to Bhutan at 2,700-5,200 m) also exhibits narcotic properties. The roots gave alkaloids— protopine, magnoflorine, cryptopine, coptisine, allocryptopine, rhoeadine, papaverrubines E and D, corysamine and2-methyl-6-methoxy-l,2,3,4-tetra- hydro-beta-carboline.... meconopsis aculeata