Medical Uses of Sensitive Plant
Sensitive Plant or touch-me-not gets its name because of its very unique and interesting characteristic of having its leaves fold up whenever they are touched or feel high heat. Note that the opening and closing of the leaves uses energy and repeated touching saps the plant of energy and weakens the plant if touching occurs too often.
Sensitive plant is native to the Americas and Australia and India, but only in the warmer climates of these continents.
The Sensitive plant is easy to identify because of its multi-compound leaves that close when touched and its pretty and distinct looking pink flowers.
Sensitive plant has a number of medical uses, some arising from the use of the plant's roots and leaves. Arthritis, other inflammations, fatigue, asthma, excessive bile secretion, leprosy, bronchitis, dysentery, various skin diseases and possibly even epilepsy and impotence and has even been shown to be helpful with the treatment of breast cancer when taken in combination with some other chemical.
To take advantage of these medical uses, dig up the small plants to get the roots of the plant. Dry the roots. Remove the surface skin of the roots and then grind into a coarse powder. Also, the leaves can be used in the same manner. See which works best for you. Sometimes the leaves are preferred and sometimes the roots, it depends on the aliment and the person.
To use the powder, use a pinch or two of powder and prepare a decoction. Take twice a day as a starting point. Dose and frequency will vary depending on exactly what you are treating. Let your results be your guide. Always start on the lower dose end before moving to higher amounts.
The list of uses of this plant is so numerous that it could be worth trying for just about anything it seems. I have listed some of the more common uses above. It seems to just about guarantee that somebody somewhere thinks this plant is helpful for any ailment you might have.
