Witnessed by: Ayurveda · Unani
Indian mallow (Abutilon indicum), of the Malvaceae family. Downy perennial undershrub with heart-shaped leaves and yellow flowers; native range: pantropical weed of India, Africa and Southeast Asia; common on wasteland and roadsides. Globally recognized as atibala in Sanskrit, kanghi / jhampi in Hindi, musht-ul-ghaul in Arabic, and country mallow, Indian abutilon in English. The part used is root, seed and leaf. Softly velvety leaves and mucilaginous root, near-tasteless and slimy, faintly sweet, with disc-shaped seed capsules like a folded comb.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
INDIAN MALLOW
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Indian mallow
- Scientific name
- Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet
- Family
- Malvaceae
Form
- Part used
- root, seed and leaf
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Ayurveda
- sweet (madhura)
- Unani
- sweet · bland
Temperature
- Ayurveda
- cooling (sheeta)
- Unani
- cold & moist (1st degree)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Unani
- kidneys · bladder · intestines
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Ayurveda
- balya (tonic), vrishya (aphrodisiac), mutrala (diuretic), vata-pitta-hara, brimhana (nourishing), vedanasthapana (analgesic)
- Unani
- mulattif (demulcent), mudir-e-baul (diuretic), musakkin (anti-inflammatory), mulaiyin (laxative)
Cautions
- Contraindications
- heavy kapha and mucus-laden states; sluggish digestion
- Toxicity
- low; the bland demulcent is well tolerated
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