CHENNAI: Kidneys are the pair of organs located in the right and left side of the abdomen. The important functions of the kidneys are: clearing toxic byproducts (during the process of breakdown of proteins) such as ammonia and urea, regulating acid concentration and maintaining water balance in the body by excreting urine, controlling blood pH, secreting the enzyme renin that controls blood pressure, producing glucose or energy when the body is fasting or starving, stimulating the production of red blood cells, and so on.
These functions are very vital to keep all the other organs in the body in good health. Therefore, kidneys are called ‘the mother of organs’. Though they are called ‘mother’, one should take care of them just like children. Because of the heavy and continuous functions, they may easily get tired and lead to illness.
There are so many herbs to keep these children healthy; among these is Cat’s Whiskers, which plays a very vital role. Cat’s Whiskers is scientifically known as Orthosiphon Stamineus Benth, belonging to the Tulsi family, Lamiaceae. These are perennial herbs, which are 30-60 cm tall. The stems are slender, 4-angular, smooth or minutely hairy. They are usually reddish-brown in colour, with rooting at the nodes. The leaves are arranged in opposite directions with short stalks, pointed at both the ends. The margins are coarsely-toothed.
Inflorescence is in a close-whorled, pyramidal kind of racemes at the end of the branches, up to 20 cm long and 6 cm broad at the base and narrower towards the ends. The flowers are white or pinkish-purple, and about 3 cm long. The stamens very prominent, longer than the corolla. The fruits are in nutlet form, and are compressed. The peak period for flowering and fruiting are from April to July.
Cat’s Whiskers is often planted or cultivated in India. It is also found growing wild or naturalized alongside hedges. They are primarily found in foothills of many parts of India. The leaves are said to have diuretic properties, which increases uric acid excretion. Therefore, a tea prepared from the leaves is used for kidney and bladder diseases. This tea is popularly known as ‘java tea’. A decoction prepared from the plant is used to dissolve stones in the bladder. The whole plant (other than the root) is reported to reduce blood pressure and combat inflammation.
It also has anti-allergic properties. It is used as a remedy for capillary and circulatory disorders. It is also used in treating gout, diabetes, hypertension and rheumatism. Most of the vernacular names in different languages are just translations of its popular name Cat’s Whiskers. Poocha Meesa in Malayalm, Poonai Meesai in Tamil and Bekkina Meesai in Kannada. In Hindi, it is known as Mutri Tulsi. In Ayurveda, it is considered a substitute for Tulsi.