Thuhar (Euphorbia neriifolia) is a drug of herbal origin, which has been a part of traditional healthcare in most parts of the world for thousands of years. The specific name, neriifolia, means “Leaves like an oleander.” There are over 1500 species of Euphorbia’s’ family in the world ranging from annual weeds to trees. Euphorbia neriifolia is an herb full of spine, popularly known as ‘sehund’ or thuhar. It is also called milk hedge in English. As a significant medicinal plant, the traditional use of Euphorbia neriifolia for curing many diseases has a long history
Sehund or Thuhar (Euphorbia neriifolia) is a prickly, large, branched, erect, succulent leafless shrub that occurs in dry, rocky and hilly areas of North, Central and South India. This plant is extensively grown as a hedge plant. It is a medicinal plant with strong purgative action. For the medicinal purpose the latex of the plant are used.
The latex or milky juice is used for treating ear pain, skin diseases, warts, scabies, etc. One of the very extensive medicinal use of this plant is for otalgia (pain in ear) and otitis (inflammation of the ear), for which juice extracted from the heated leaves is used as ear drop.
Ayurvedic Properties and Action on body
Sehund is used in Ayurveda for treating varieties of diseases. It is also used to prepare many Ayurvedic medicines such as Abhaya Lavan, Citrakadi Taila, Avittoladi Bhasma, Vajrakshara, etc. For internal use, the milky juice is used in very small amount. External use on skin causes redness of the skin due to increase in blood circulation.
Although topical use is safe but all care must be taken to avoid any contact with eye.
Rasa (Taste): Tikta/Bitter, Katu (pungent)
Guna (Characteristics): Guru/Heavy, Tikshna/Sharp
Virya (Potency): Ushna/Hot
Vipaka (Post Digestive Effect): Katu/Pungent
Action on body: Laxative, Strong purgative, remove Ama, Kapha and Vata
USES IN AYURVEDA
Swelling, Gulma, Skin diseases, abdominal diseases
RECOMMENDED DOSES:125 -250 mg of the drug in powder form.
Medicinal uses of Thuhar
For the medicinal purpose the leaves, roots and milky juice obtained from plant is used. The latex or juice is purgative, bitter, acrid, pungent, abortifacient (causes abortion), promotes digestion, expectorant ( bring up mucus and other material from the lungs), febrifuge/reduce fever, carminative, stomachic and anthelmintic in action. Its topical application has rubefacient (increases blood circulation on topical application). The latex is applied externally to remove warts and eruptions on skin. The latex is very hot in potency. Its internal intake increases vata, Pitta and kapha. It should be used under medical supervision only.
Ear ach
For pain in ear, the yellow leaves of Sehund is used. The leaf is heated and then latex is extracted which is used as ear drop (3 drops).
Swelling, Boils
The leaves of the plant are heated and applied externally on the affected areas.
Haemorrhoids and fistula-in-ano
The latex is mixed with haldi and applied externally on lesion OR the leaves are steamed, crushed and applied.
Psoriasis, eczema, skin diseases
For psoriasis, extract latex of the plant. Take a thick bottom vessel and cook latex in one-fourth mustard oil (e.g. cook one liter latex in 250 ml oil) till all water is evaporated and only oil is left. This medicated oil is filtered and is applied externally on the affected skin areas.
Cracks in soles
Latex is boiled in castor oil with salt. This medicated oil is applied on cracked heels.
Burns, wounds
The latex is applied at affected area.
Skin diseases, eczema, itching
In skin diseases, the latex (only 4 drops) is added to 1-2 spoon mustard oil. This oil is applied topically on the affected skin areas.
Wart
The latex is applied directly on warts.
Obstinate constipation
The latex of the plant are used as purgative. For chronic obstinate constipation, in which many other medicines are ineffective, the latex of Sehund is used. The folk remedy is to soak Choti Harad/haritaki in latex. When haritaki absorbs latex, it is rubbed on stone and taken internally.
This has strong purgative action. So use it cautiously.
Traditional uses and benefits of Common Milk hedge (Indian Spurge Tree)
Latex obtained from the plant is diuretic, purgative, rubefacient and vermifuge.
It is used in the treatment of asthma.
Syrup consisting of equal parts of the latex of this plant with a simple syrup; administered in doses of 10 – 20 drops three times a day; has been found to relieve asthma attacks completely.
Latex is applied externally on hemorrhoids; is used to relieve sore throat and cracked lips; to treat gonorrhea; and also to remove warts and cutaneous eruptions.
Bark has been used as a strong purgative.
Mixed with black pepper, it is used in the treatment of snake bites both internally and externally.
Leaves are heated, squeezed, and the sap taken, sometimes with salt, to treat asthma, wheezing in babies, colds, and stomach upset.
Leaves are also used to treat fevers, coughs and colds, and diabetes.
Applied externally, the sap is used to treat infected nails and to relieve earaches.
The vaidhyas from ancient times used to use the milky juice exuded from the injured stems as drastic cathartic and to relieve earache.
They are used as a drastic purgative in the enlargement of liver and spleen, syphilis, dropsy, general anasarca, leprosy,
Juice mixed with ghee is given in syphilis, in visceral obstructions and in spleen and liver enlargements due to long continued intermittent fevers.
Externally the juice is applied to remove warts.
Juice is largely used with clarified or fresh butter as an application to unhealthy ulcers and
Mixed with Margosa oil it is applied to rheumatic limbs.
Turmeric powder mixed with the juice of Euphorbia neriifolia is recommended to be applied on piles.
Thread steeped in the above mentioned mixture is used in ligaturing external Hemorrhoids.
Root bark boiled in rice-water and arrack is given in dropsy.
Root mixed with black-pepper is used in scorpion- stings and snake bites, both internally and
Stem is roasted in ashes and the expressed juice with honey and borax is given in small doses to promote expectoration of phlegm.
Pulp of the stem mixed with fresh ginger is used to prevent hydrophobia.
Euphorbia is used for breathing disorders including asthma, bronchitis, and chest congestion.
It is also used for mucus in the nose and throat, throat spasms, hay fever, and tumors.
Some people use it to cause vomiting.
It is also used for treating worms, severe diarrhea (dysentery), gonorrhea, and digestive problems in India.
Tribal population of Chattishgarh region uses the milky latex as an ingredient of aphrodisiac
Juice of the plant is used in Gujarat for smearing cuts made by tapers on Borassus flabellifer (Linn) in order to prevent the palm from the attack of red weevil.
Stem or leaf juice is used in case of cough and cold mixed with honey.
neriifolia latex is one of the constituents of Kshaarasootra, which is used in Indian medicine to heal anal-fistula.
Latex or milky juice is used for treating ear pain, skin diseases, warts, scabies etc.
Latex is good for tumors, abdominal troubles and leucoderma.
It is also good for whooping cough, gonorrhea, dropsy, leprosy, asthma, dyspepsia, jaundice, enlargement of the spleen, colic and stone in the bladder.
It is use to remove cutaneous eruptions and warts. It is liable to cause dermatitis.
Milk-juice executed from injured fleshy cylindrical stems is used by Vaidyas in medicine as drastic cathartic and to relieve earache.
Juice mixed with soot (of ghee-lamp) was used as anjan in ophthalmia.
Juice is used in treatment of unhealthy ulcers and scabies.
Leaves improve the appetite, good for treatment of tumors, pains, inflammations, abdominal swellings and bronchial infections.
Juice of the leaves is accepted as a cure for earache in the Philippine Islands.
Root is used as symptomatic treatment of snake bite, scorpion sting and as an antispasmodic.
Leaf of E. neriifolia is heated and tied over the area affected with pain and inflammation.
Fresh juice from the leaf is poured inside the ears to treat earache, to defrost skin warts, and in arthritis.
Milk latex of Euphorbia neriifolia is applied over warts as part of treatment.
Oil processed from the leaf of E. neriifolia and sesame oil is used for external application to treat joint pain.
Paste of the leaf of E. neriifolia is applied over the skin to treat skin diseases.
Ayurvedic Health benefits of Common milk hedge
Ears: Heat the leaf juice of Common Milk Hedge. Use it as an Ear drop when bearable hot.
Whooping Cough: Heat 50 ml leaf juice of Common Milk Hedge. Add 10 g Salt in it. Drink 10 ml of it twice a day.
Spleen enlargement: Mix 30 ml leaf juice of Common Milk Hedge with 15 ml Clarified Butter. Heat it. Drink 10 ml of it once a day.
Oliguria: Warm the leaves of Common Milk Hedge. Tie them over Abdomen.
Warts: Apply latex of Common Milk Hedge on damaged or infected Skin.
Swelling: Massage using latex of Common Milk Hedge over Swelling.
Gout: Extract the juice from the leaves of Land Caltrops, Damiana, Castor, and Common Milk Hedge. Add equal amount of Sesame oil to it. Boil for 15-20 minutes in a tight lid container. Massage the affected area and tie with cotton cloth.
Ascaris: Grind the roots of Common Milk Hedge with Onion. Apply this paste over Abdomen.
Germs of the teeth: Grind milk hedge or caraway and rub it on the tooth. Pyllitory root can also be used in place of milk hedge or caraway. Its use destroys the germs of tooth and gets rid of acute toothache.
Hemorrhoids: Mix the fine powder of turmeric in the milk of milk hedge. Soak a yarn in this preparation and dry it in shadow. Tie the warts of piles with the help of this yarn. Blood keeps on coming from the warts of piles for 4-5 days when they are tied with this thread. Warts of piles fall down after fading. Weak patients should not use this medicine.
Fistula: Mix the milk of milk hedge, madar milk and turmeric together. Make a wick of this mixture. Keeping this wick in the sinus gets rid of fistula.
Toothache: Chew the root of milk hedge tree and keep it between the teeth. Toothache disappears by its use.
Delivery: A woman will give birth to a child easily if the milk of milk hedge tree is applied on the hand and feet.
Diseases of mouth palate: Apply the milk of milk hedge on the mouth palate. Its use provides relief in this disease. OR Apply the milk of milk hedge on the affected portion to get desired result.
Wound: Burn old milk hedge and grind its ash with water to prepare paste. Apply this paste on the boils caused by hot liquid. The victim gets a lot of relief by its use.
Arthritis: Taking the decoction of milk hedge root provides relief.
Sinus: Grind the Indian barberry with the milk of milk hedge and madar. Make a wick of this mixture. Keeping this wick in the sinus gets rid of sinus.
Elephantiasis: Grind the leaves of milk hedge tree and mix salt in it. Take 20 grams this mixture regularly to get relief in elephantiasis.
Pain in the naval: Mix sesame oil in the milk of milk hedge and apply it on the affected portion. Its use gets rid of naval pain.
Swelling of the body: Rub the juice of milk hedge’s leaves on the body to reduce swelling.
Constipation: Mix black peppers and cloves or pipal bhinga in milk hedge’s milk. Store it after drying. Take these cloves or black peppers to break constipation and makes the stomach clean. OR Mix 2 drops milk of milk hedge, gram flour, honey and milk together. Make small tablet of this mixture. Take these tablets to get rid of constipation. A person excretes stool easily after its use.
Loose motions: Envelop red yarn around the root of milk hedge tree and tie it around the waist. A person gets rid of loose motions by doing so.
Ascites: Mix myrolelans, long pepper, Indian jalap and milk of hedge’s milk together and immerse in water. Take this mixture to get relief in ascites, stomach swelling and flatulence.
Stomachache: Drink the decoction of milk hedge tree’s root. Its use gets rid of stomachache.
Moles and warts: Apply milk of tidhra milk hedge on moles and warts to remove them. OR Apply the milk of milk hedge’s thorns on the moles and warts of the face. They disappear by its use.
Side effects/warning
The plant should be handled carefully.
The latex is very hot in potency and has strong purgative action.
Latex is very irritant and can damage eyes in case of direct contact.
Plant has abortifacient properties. It may cause abortion on internal use.
This medicinal herb must be used under the supervision of Ayurvedic practitioner.
