Question 1

What is Heliotropium indicum used for in Ayurveda?

Accepted Answer

In Ayurvedic medicine, Heliotropium indicum is primarily used for skin conditions such as boils, ulcers, and wounds, where fresh leaf paste is applied topically. It also appears in traditional formulations for fever, cough, and joint inflammation. Classical use involves carefully prepared small quantities, often combined with other herbs, given the plant's alkaloid content.

Question 2

Is Heliotropium indicum safe to use?

Accepted Answer

The plant contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can be harmful to the liver in large or prolonged doses. Traditional Ayurvedic practice uses it in controlled quantities and specific preparations. Anyone considering therapeutic use should consult a qualified Ayurvedic physician rather than preparing or consuming the plant without expert guidance.

Question 3

What does Heliotropium indicum look like?

Accepted Answer

It is a bristly, erect annual herb growing to around 20–60 cm tall, with rough, ovate leaves and a distinctive curling flower spike — called a scorpioid cyme — bearing small white to pale violet flowers. The coarse, hairy texture of all above-ground parts is one of its most recognisable features in the field.

Question 4

Where does Heliotropium indicum grow in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

It grows across the low country wet and dry zones, particularly on roadsides, field margins, and disturbed ground. It prefers open, sunny habitats and tolerates poor soils well, making it a common sight along village paths and the edges of agricultural land throughout the island.

Question 5

What family does Heliotropium indicum belong to?

Accepted Answer

Heliotropium indicum belongs to the Boraginaceae family, a large family of flowering plants that includes borage, comfrey, and forget-me-nots. The characteristic bristly stems and leaves, along with the coiled flower spike, are shared traits of many plants in this family.

Question 6

Does Heliotropium indicum have any scientifically studied medicinal properties?

Accepted Answer

Laboratory research has reported antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing activity in extracts of the plant. One of its alkaloids, indicine-N-oxide, was studied as a potential antitumour compound in clinical research decades ago. While results are promising for several traditional applications, large-scale clinical trials remain limited.

Question 7

What is the Sinhala name for Heliotropium indicum?

Accepted Answer

In Sri Lanka, Heliotropium indicum is commonly known as 'Etteriya' or 'Eraminiya' in Sinhala. It is also referred to by related folk names in different regions of the island, reflecting local variation in vernacular plant naming traditions.