Oleander Nerium (Aruli)
Dr. N.K.
MANOHARAN
In
this article, we are going to look at whether the Oleander Nerium, which we
call Aruli, is a medicinal plant or a poisonous plant. The word
"Oleander" refers to a genus of flowering shrubs and small trees
known as Nerium. Generally, oleander plants have lanceolate leaves. It is large
and attractive, and flowers are available in a variety of colours, including
white, pink, red, and yellow. They produce abundant flowers from spring to
autumn. Arali plants are always a
beautiful sight, no matter the weather. Usually found in many colours, it is
often used to enhance the beauty of gardens. It can be said that North Africa
and the Mediterranean are the habitats of Arali. Sorghum grows best in warm,
tropical climates. It is believed that this plant was cultivated by Arab and
Greek gardeners in the 12th century.
Around
1840, Mr. Joseph Osterman, a merchant, brought pink and white Aruli plants to
Galveston from Jamaica. His sister grew many seedlings of this plant and
distributed them to her friends and Neighbours, so that it spread all over the
island. History Later, many horticulturists in Galveston and Texas developed
many varieties of this plant. One of them, a vanilla-scented plant called
"Mrs. Isadore Dyer," was named in honor of Joseph Osterman's sister.
However, a hurricane in 1900 uprooted all the vegetation there, and they all
died. But all that was left after the storm were the easy-to-grow sedge plants.
The area became known as "Oleander City" after the hurricane. Nerium
is the only species of the evergreen genus Nerium in the
Apocynaceae
family. The peculiarity of this plant is that it can grow in any climate. Arali
plants are now available in various colours like yellow, red, crimson, white,
and violet. Various varieties are available in our nurseries. But for one
thing, it is one of the most dangerous of all cultivated garden plants. These
plants are usually grown as ornamental plants and, as such, are widely used in
temples for puja. In Sanskrit and Hindi, this plant is known as Karaveera,
Raktakaravi, Ashwaghna, Ashwamaraka, and Hayamaraka.
New
seedlings can be grown from seed or from cuttings. According to research done
by Delhi University, Glycosides extracted from the root and leaves have been
found to act on the heart muscle and increase its contraction and expansion, and
the root bark has also been found to have the power to increase the
contractility and expansion of the lungs. Medicines should be taken only in the
smallest doses as required; otherwise, the opposite effect may occur.
The
wonder is that even though it is a deadly poison, it is also used as a
medicine. Sushruta rules that it is helpful in the treatment of leprosy and that
eating it directly can cause death. It is not a myth that if they were female
babies, then the fruit of this would have been crushed and those babies
destroyed. It is said that it is still happening in some places. Whatever it
is, this cruel, uncivilized, shameful, and disgraceful act has been found, and
the culprits are wanted and expected to be punished. It is said that if one
consumes 20 grammes of Arali root, one will die, so no one should try it. At
low doses, it speeds up the contraction of the heart muscle, and at high doses,
it slows it down. Karaviradi ointment for reported cancer treatment contains Arali.
It is a plant with highly poisonous stems and leaves. Even small amounts can
cause serious poisoning. If it is burned, even the inhalation of fumes can
cause poisoning. According to Ayurveda, Arali is pure if cooked in cow's milk.
If the skin of the young aril is kept dry in the sun, the poison in it will
disappear after a few days. Even a single leaf of the plant can cause vomiting,
diarrhoea, and excessive salivation in children. Since domestic animals can be
fatal if they eat its leaves, it should be kept away from animals and also from
our children, or find a place where they cannot reach it.
It is best to avoid growing this plant in
public places as much as possible. Be extremely careful when walking in parks,
residential areas, etc. Its root bark has the ability to intensify lung
contractions and remove mucus buildup in the lungs. Muscle spasms, cardiac
arrhythmias, and reduced blood flow can all lead to death in some cases. All
parts of the plant, including the leaves, stem, flowers, and sap, are full of
toxic substances known as cardiac glycosides.
These substances are capable of causing
serious health problems such as heart attacks and digestive problems. Despite
this, this plant needs good sunlight to grow well. Pruning at regular intervals
is essential to maintaining the shape of the plant as well as good growth. This
article ends by reminding you of the strange fact that oleanders are widely
used in landscaping due to their excellent ability to survive drought and
saline soils, yet according to Greek mythology, this plant is associated with
the god Apollo and is believed to bring good luck and protection. Anyone who
knows more about this plant, please leave a comment. Needless to say, it is
beneficial to others, especially in households with children and those who
raise pets. Read the next article to learn about the benefits and harms of the
medicinal plant. Shatavari
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