Pegaga is a small, polymorphous, creeping herbaceous plant. This plant is rooting at nodes, with sometimes has significant tap root, cylindrical and glabrous stems. It grows in the warm, low and wet areas of both hemispheres, especially abundant in the swampy areas of India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka up to an altitude of approximately 700 metres. It also can be found in Malaysia, China and Indonesia, Australia, Madagascar and southern region of US and Africa. It is easily grown as long as the land is fertile with moist soil.
This herb is formerly called Hydrocotyle asiatica, pegaga, gotu kola, antanan, brahmi, Indian pennywort, Asiatic pennywort, mandukaparni (in India). In China, it is known as di chien tsao, zhi xue cao or man tien hsing.
Pegaga, as versatile as its name, has become a medical interest since years ago. It has been used in Chinese Shennong, Indian Ayurvedic medicine for 2000 and 3000 years ago. It also was mentioned in the French pharmacopoeia since 1884; indicate that it has caught the Western Medical practitioners’ interest. Pegaga is noted to have high contents of vitamin A, vitamin C, iron and protein.
Traditionally in Malaysia, the Malay people like to take pegaga as salad and eat together with the main meal. The fragrant leaves can act as an appetizer. We can either eat it raw or cook it as part of a soup. The local people believe that pegaga will help to promote wound healing. Sometimes considered as a sedative, this plant has been known to be tonic in Malaysia.
In Madagascar and East Africa, the people believe that dried and crushed pegaga can treat bronchitis, asthma, syphilis, leprosy and as a wound healing agent. In India, the people believe that pegaga juice can be a potent brain tonic, which can improve the memory, promote concentration, increase alertness and prevent senility. They also believe that this plant can enhance verbal articulation.
In China, pegaga frequently appear as a traditional medication for the treatments of cold, urinary tract infections, dysentery, tonsillitis, pleurisy, jaundice, injuries, sunstroke, hepatitis and even as an antidote for arsenic poisoning, toxic mushroom and as an external poultice for snake bites, scabies, traumatic injuries, and herpes zoster.
Researchers are now studying the efficacy of this special herb in complementary therapy for the treatment hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. There is evidence that this herb has a possible role in reducing the effects of toxin accumulation in cells (particularly in brain and nerves). The Scientific studies have proven that this herb is can indirectly hasten the production of collagen types I and III. The production of type III collagen decreases after the age of 40. It is no surprise if pegaga find its way into beauty products where there is high demand for anti aging and sun protection products. Today canella asiatica is the active ingredient of many drugs and cosmetic preparations in Europe, U.S.A. and Japan in the field of skin care.
Conclusion
Ancient people believe that by eating pegaga, one can have long healthy life. But now, thru scientific means, more benefits have been found by eating these leaves. Multipurpose pegaga is claimed to:
· Promote wound healing after episiotomy, a surgical incision of the vulva performed to prevent tearing during childbirth (a study reported in a French medical journal in 1966 revealed that women treated with pegaga after childbirth healed more rapidly than those given standard treatment)
· Improve memory and brain function
· Improve blood circulation
· Treat skin disorders
· Improve vitality and general well being
· Help to purify blood
· Complement treatment for high blood pressure, burns, scars, periodontal disease, stress, arthritis and rheumatism
· rebuilds the energy reserves
· helps to treat symptoms of nervous breakdown
· helps to combat stress, improve reflexes, and increase mental and physical power
· reduce high blood pressure, senility, slow down ageing process
· helps the body protect itself against toxins
Reference:
- HealthToday magazine, March 2008.
- http://www.borneofocus.com/saip/vaic/Natural_Wealth/pegaga.htm
- http://adikbongsu.wordpress.com/2007/03/29/pegaga-pennywort-leaves/
- Source: IDS (Sabah), 1998 in ‘Developing the Non-Timber Forest Products in Sabah: Issues and Challenges’.
