Kalmegh Tree

The Kalmegh plant grows till about 30 to 110 cms, particularly in shadowy and moisture-rich regions. It is characterised by a thin, dark green coloured stem with lance-shaped leaves and hairless leaf blades. The leaves measure about 8 cms in length and 205 cms in width while the fruit is shaped like a capsule. The seeds are yellowish brown in colour. Kalmegh thrives in coastal areas, wastelands, plains, hilly slopes, roadsides and farms and is cultivated in tropical Asian nations, mainly in isolated patches. This important medicinal herb grows in several parts of southern India and also in Sri Lanka. Sunny locales are considered the ideal places of growth of Kalmegh. During the months of May and June, seeds of Kalmegh are sown and the seedlings are cultivated, keeping a distance of 60 cm x 30 cm between them.

Kalmeg is one of the very important medicinal plants of traditional medicine system. It is used in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy to treat broad variety of diseases. Kalmeg has been used for liver complaints and fever, and as an anti-inflammatory and immuno-stimulant. Botanically known as Andrographis Paniculata is a bitter shrub well-known in Bengal under the name of "Kalmeg" and is the principal ingredient of a domestic medicine for infants called Alui. The Alui above referred to is made of the expressed juice of the leaves with the addition of powdered cardamoms, cloves, cinnamon etc., and is given to infants for the relief of griping, irregular stools and loss of appetite.