Health benefits of Siam Weed

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Siam weed Quick Facts
Name: Siam weed
Scientific Name: Chromolaena odorata
Origin Warmer parts of south-eastern USA (i.e. southern Florida and Texas), Mexico, the Caribbean and tropical South America
Colors Brown or black
Shapes Narrow and elongated, black or dark brown seeds (achenes) that are 4-5 mm long and topped with a ring (pappus) of white to brownish coloured hairs (5-6 mm long).
Health benefits Serves as Vertigo Medicine, Maintains or protects the, Reproduction Organ, Cure Foot Rot, Reduces Blood Pressure, Good for Stomach’s Health, Helps with Clotting, Prevents Cervical Cancer, Helps with Ulcer, Decreases Cholesterol Levels, Used For Diabetes, Maintains Heart Health, Relieves Pain
Chromolaena odorata commonly known as Siam weed is a tropical and subtropical species of flowering shrub in the Asteraceae / Compositae (Aster family). The plant is native to the Americas, from Florida and Texas in the United States south through Mexico and the Caribbean to South America. It has been introduced to tropical Asia, West Africa, and parts of Australia. Common names include Communist Pacha, Armstrong’s weed, baby tea, bitter bush, butterfly weed, Christmas bush, chromolaena, devil weed, eupatorium, Jack in the bush, Jack-in-the-bush, kingweed, paraffinbush, paraffinweed, Siam weed, turpentine weed, triffid weed, hagonoy, archangel and devil weed.

Siam weed is regarded as one of the most harmful weeds present on earth. It is generally regarded as poisonous to animals and thus not recommended as a livestock feed. Many efforts are being made for the control of this weed. But, none of them have provided any significant success. It has been utilized  in  the  traditional  medicinal  systems  for  its  curative  properties  for centuries. Some of the current studies have revealed its medicinal properties which have led to an enhanced image of this plant as a medicinal herb.  It showed anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, analgesic, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic and many other relevant medicinal properties in a considerable scale. It is used to treat unspecified medicinal disorders, as animal food, a poison and a medicine, has environmental uses and for food.

Siam Weed Facts

Name Siam weed
Scientific Name Chromolaena odorata
Native Warmer parts of south-eastern USA (i.e. southern Florida and Texas), Mexico, the Caribbean and tropical South America (i.e. French Guiana, Guyana, Surinam, Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay, Brazil and northern Argentina). It has been introduced to tropical Asia, West Africa, and parts of Australia
Common Names Armstrong’s weed, baby tea, bitter bush, butterfly weed, Christmas bush, chromolaena, devil weed, eupatorium, Jack in the bush, Jack-in-the-bush, kingweed, paraffinbush, paraffinweed, Siam weed, turpentine weed, triffid weed, hagonoy, archangel, devil weed
Name in Other Languages Afrikaans: Sekou toure, Acheampong, Jabinde, Matapa, Mighbe, Paraffienbos
Assamese: Bagh dhaka bon, Jarmani bon, Jarmoni-bon, Koli bon, Nogor bera
Australia: Butterfly-weed, devilweed, hagonoy,  jack-in-the-bush
Belize: Yaxhatz
Bengali: Assam lata, Bana maṭamaṭiẏā (বন মটমটিয়া)
Bodo: Bangri lewa
Bolivia: Sisi cayaya
Burmese: Pi hcaut (ပိစပ်)
Cambodian: Kantreang’khaet, Tonoor
Caribbean: Bushy thoroughwort, Christmas rose, guérit-tout, guérit-trop-vite, hemp agrimony, jack-in-the-bush, tonka bean
Central African Republic: Apollo, bokassa, jabiinde
Central Khmer: Tontrean khe t (ទន្ទ្រានខេត)
Chamorro: Masigsig
Chinese: Fei ji cao (飞机草), Xiāngzé lán (香澤蘭)
Chuukese: Otuot
Colombia: Varejón de caballo
Congo: Comilog, Diabantou, Kalamana, Kalamilebe, Matapa mbala, Rwandais, Yhombi, lantana of Ngouabi
Cote d’Ivoire: Sekou toure, indépendance
Cuban: Rompezaraguey
Dominican Republic: Niquibey, rompesaraguey
El Salvador: Chimuyo
English: Christmasbush, Jack in the bush, Siamweed, Bitter bush, Butterfly-weed, Devil weed, Hagonoy, Jack-in-the-bush, Paraffin-weed, Triffid weed, archangel, awolowo weed, paraffin bush, sam-solokh, White snake root, Common Floss Flower
Filipino: Agonoi, huluhagonoi
French: Herbe du Laos, Eupatoire odorante, Fleurit-Noël, languè a chat
German: Siam kraut
Guam: Kesengesil, Masigsig
Haitian: Lang-chat
Hindi: Bagh dhoka, Tivra gandha (तीव्र गंधा), ashoke lata, Eupatorium, Sam-solokh
Honduras: Crucito, rey del todo
Indonesian: Rumput putih, Rumput golkar, Kirinyuh, Kopasanda, fausse ramie, Siamweed
Irula: Madras poo, Naadukadi chedi
Japanese: Himawarihiyodori (ヒマワリヒヨドリ)
Kapampangan: Malapasi
Karbi: Kal bun
Kosraean: Mahsrihsrihk
Laos: Nha flang, nroj pawm thsis
Malay: Herba, Kapal terbang, Pokok Kapal Terbang
Malayalam: Communist pacha, kam’myuṇisṟṟ pacca (കമ്മ്യുണിസ്റ്റ് പച്ച), Venappacha, Assam pacha, kamyūṇisṟṟ pacca (കമ്യൂണിസ്റ്റ് പച്ച)
Malaysian: Fausse ramie, Maeanum, Pokok german
Mexico: Chiguapatzle, cihuapatli, crucito, xtokabal
Micronesia, Federated states of: Floss flower, mahsruhsrihk, otuot, wisolmat en rehwei (Pohnpei)
Mizo: Tlangsam
Myanmar: Bizat, taw-bizat
Nepali: Barnmara,  Aule Banamaaraa (औले वनमारा), Banamaasuwaa (बनमासुवा)
Nicaraguan: Crucito olorosa, Garrapata
Nigerian: Bienqua
Palauan: Kesengesil, ngesngesil
Panama: Hierba de Chiva, Paleca
Peru: Chisca
Philippines: Agonoi, daladay, devil weed, gonoi, hulohagonoy,  huluhagonoi, lahuneri, malasili, talpuspalad
Pohnpeian: Masigsig, masikisik, wisolmat, wisolmat en rehnwel
Portuguese: Picão
Puerto Rico: Cariaquillo Santa Maria, Santa Maria
Russian: Khromolena dushistaya (Хромолена душистая)
Saint Lucia: Jack in the bush
Sanskrit: Ropani, Seekhrasarpi
South Africa: Amstrong’s weed, Armstrong weed, eupatorium, isandanezwa, kingsweed, paraffienbos, paraffin weed, parrafinbush, triffid weed, turpentine weed
Spanish: Cariaquillo Santa Maria, Chiimuyo, Crucito, Eupatorio oloroso, Hierba de chiva, Rey del todo, paleca, cuarina de monte, niquibey, chismuyo, paleca, langa chata, Santa María, alfombrilla de altura, bejuco lila, candelilla, Canutillo, crucetilla, crucita olorosa, cruz de campo, cruz-quen, cruz-quen, curarina, curarina de monte, garrapata, lila, mejorana, suplicio, tocabal, tocaban, tres putas, vara negra, xtokabal
Sri Lanka: Mile-a-minute
Tangkhul: Sheleirung
Thai: Sab suea (สาบเสือ)
United States Virgin Islands: Geritoo
Vietnamese: Co hoi, Yen-bach, Bớp bớp
Plant Growth Habit Upright or sprawling, rapidly growing, herbaceous semi-woody to woody perennial shrub
Growing Climates Croplands, neglected pastures, forest margins, disturbed rainforests, cultivated lands, forest clearings, wastelands, along forest trails, fence rows, roadsides, waterways, bush land, riparian zones, disturbed sites, agricultural areas, natural forests, planted forests and grasslands
Soil Grows in many soil types but prefers well-drained soils. It does not tolerate shade and thrives well in open areas
Plant Size Usually growing 1.5 to 3 m tall in the open, however it may reach greater heights (6-20 m) when climbing over trees and other taller vegetation
Root Shallow, fibrous abundantly branched root that does not penetrate beyond 20-30cm in most soils
Stem Stems are smooth, round, fairly brittle, base becomes woody when old.
Twigs Twigs are slightly striolate longitudinally, pubescent, opposite-decussate
Leaf Leaves are simple, oppositely arranged leaves are 5-12 cm long and 3-7 cm wide and are triangular or egg-shaped in outline (i.e. ovate) and have a pointed tip (i.e. acute apex). They are hairy (i.e. pubescent) on both surfaces and have coarsely toothed (i.e. serrated) margins
Flowering season December-March
Flower Small flower-heads (capitula) do not have any petals (ray florets) and are borne in dense clusters at the ends of the branches (in terminal panicles). These flower-heads are about 10 mm long and 3 mm wide and are pale pink or pale mauve in color (sometimes appearing whitish when older) and consist of numerous (15-30) tiny flowers (tubular florets).
Fruit Shape & Size Narrow and elongated, black or dark brown seeds (achenes) that are 4-5 mm long and topped with a ring (pappus) of white to brownish coloured hairs (5-6 mm long)
Fruit Color Brown or black
Seed Seeds are dark, 4 to 5 millimeters, narrow and oblong, with a parachute of white hairs which turn brown as the seeds dry
Propagation By seeds and vegetatively from cut basal shoots
Flavor/Aroma Pungent, aromatic odor
Plant Parts Used Leaves, flower
Lifespan 10-year life span
Season Throughout the year
Health Benefits
  • Serves as Vertigo Medicine
  • Maintains or protects the Reproduction Organ
  • Cure Foot Rot
  • Reduces Blood Pressure
  • Good for Stomach’s Health
  • Helps with Clotting
  • Prevents Cervical Cancer
  • Helps with Ulcer
  • Decreases Cholesterol Levels
  • Used For Diabetes
  • Maintains Heart Health
  • Relieves Pain

Plant Description

Siam weed is an upright or sprawling, rapidly growing, herbaceous semi-woody to woody perennial shrub that normally grows about 1.5 to 3 m tall in the open, however it may reach greater heights about 6-20 m when climbing over trees and other taller vegetation. The plant is found growing in croplands, neglected pastures, forest margins, disturbed rainforests, cultivated lands, forest clearings, wastelands, along forest trails, fence rows, roadsides, waterways, bush land, riparian zones, disturbed sites, agricultural areas, natural forests, planted forests and grasslands. The plant grows in many soil types but prefers well-drained soils. It does not tolerate shade and thrives well in open areas. The plant has shallow, fibrous abundantly branched root that does not penetrate beyond 20-30 cm in most soils. Many paired branches grow off the main stem. The base of the plant becomes hard and woody while the branch tips are soft and green. It has soft stems but the base of the shrub is woody. In shady areas it becomes etiolated and behaves as a creeper, growing on other vegetation.

Stems

The slender stems are generally yellowish-green and somewhat hairy (i.e. pubescent), but become woody towards the base of the plant. These stems grow up to 7 m or more in length and several are usually produced from the plants long-lived root-stock (i.e. crown). They are much-branched, with the side (i.e. lateral) branches usually being produced in pairs in the leaf forks (i.e. axils).

Leaves

The oppositely arranged leaves are 5-12 cm long and 3-7 cm wide and are triangular or egg-shaped in outline (i.e. ovate) and have a pointed tip (i.e. acute apex). They are hairy (i.e. pubescent) on both surfaces and have coarsely toothed (i.e. serrated) margins. These leaves are borne on stalks (i.e. petioles) up to 6 cm long (usually 10-15 mm), and give off a strong pungent, aromatic odor when crushed.

Flowers

The small flower-heads (capitula) do not have any petals (ray florets) and are borne in dense clusters at the ends of the branches (in terminal panicles). These flower-heads are about 10 mm long and 3 mm wide and are pale pink or pale mauve in color (sometimes appearing whitish when older) and consist of numerous (15-30) tiny flowers (tubular florets). These tiny flowers are 10-12 mm long and are surrounded by several layers of overlapping slender bracts (an involucre) 8-9 mm long. Each flower-head (capitulum) is borne on a stalk (peduncle) 10-30 mm long. Flowering normally takes place in between December and March.

Fruit

Fertile flowers are followed by narrow and elongated, black or dark brown seeds (achenes) that are 4-5 mm long and topped with a ring (pappus) of white to brownish coloured hairs (5-6 mm long).They are mostly spread by the wind, but can also cling to fur, clothes and machinery, enabling long distance dispersal. Seed production is about 80000 to 90000 per plant. Seeds need light to germinate. The plant can regenerate from the roots. In favorable conditions the plant can grow more than 3 cm per day.

Health benefits of Siam Weed

Siam weed consists of carbohydrate, protein, lipid, fiber, calcium, magnesium, iron, as well as flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, and more. Today, we are trying to understand more about the plant by looking at some of its health benefits. Listed below are some of the well-known health benefits of Siam weed

1. Relieves Pain

Siam weed can be used to relieve body pain. You have the option of drinking its juice to find relief from internal body pain, such as back pain. You can also use it as an analgesic for joint pain by crushing the leaves and rubbing them on the affected area. 

2. Maintains Heart Health

Siam weed also help to maintain your heart health by preventing several heart diseases. Including Siam weed to your diet can help to protect your heart and keep it healthy.

3. Used For Diabetes

Siam weed can be quite beneficial for those with diabetes as it helps to reduce blood sugar levels, allowing them to cope with their condition better. It can also be taken by those looking for a way to prevent diabetes. One study on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats suggested that extract of Siam weed can help in reducing glucose, HOMA, lipid profiles. As well as significantly improving glucose and insulin tolerance, glycogen content, glucose uptake by skeletal muscle, serum insulin and HDL-c levels.

4. Decreases Cholesterol Levels

High cholesterol levels in the body are very bad and can lead to heart problems. Boiling Siam weed in water and drinking it is a sure and effective way to reduce your cholesterol levels. Research on rats suggested the anti-cholesterolemic effect of aqueous extract of the leaves of Siam weed. Research concluded that Siam weed may be beneficial in lowering cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular complications.

5. Helps with Ulcer

Siam weed can help in dealing with ulcer effectively, as it helps kill Helicobacter Pylori, which is a bacterium that causes ulcer. It also helps to prevent the possibility of a relapse.

6. Prevents Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is one of the diseases that are quite dangerous for women. The use of Siam weed is very effective in the fight against cervical cancer due to its anticancer effect or property.

7. Helps with Clotting

Siam weed is considered as one of the powerful clotting agent and can help to stop bleeding in very little time. Due to this reason it is often used as a form of local first aid. Just rubbing the leaves on fresh injuries and wounds would help to stop the bleeding and would also sterilize the wound. Many medical researchers have confirmed the wound healing abilities of Siam weed.

8. Good for Stomach’s Health

The nutrition contents in Siam weed leaves are very good for those of you who suffer from stomach-related diseases or nuisances.

9. Reduces Blood Pressure

Siam weed helps to reduce blood pressure and helps to maintain a healthy balance. This makes it very beneficial to those who are hypertensive.

10. Cure Foot Rot

Siam weed helps to cure foot rot speedily. Squeeze it in your palm and apply it on the affected area. You will see results in 3 days.

11. Maintains or protects the Reproduction Organ

The health of reproduction organs is one of the very important things that need to be aware of especially the women. The chemical and the nutritional effects loaded in Siam weed helps to maintain the reproductive organ. One can consume the Siam weed brewed water to get these results.

12. Serves as Vertigo Medicine

Siam weed is loaded with super chemical and nutritional effects and for that matter the regular consumption of its makes it very reliable for fighting vertigo diseases. You can cure the disease by drinking the Siam weed brewed water.

Traditional uses and benefits of Siam Weed

  • In Malaysia, where Siam weed is an invasive exotic, plant parts are used by traditional practitioners for treatment of burns, wound healing, skin infections, post-natal wounds, and as an anti-malarial.
  • Several medical studies have confirmed that leaf extracts have certain anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects, and are recognized as a potential source of human medicines.
  • Crushed leaves are used for kulebra, boils and tumorous inflammatory conditions in Philippines.
  • Concoction of juices of leaves and fruits of hagonoy, kalamansi, dilaw, dahon ng sili, mixed with lime and honey are used for skin diseases and boils.
  • It is used to stop bleeding and wound healing in several tropical countries.
  • Young leaves are used to treat wounds in Indonesia.
  • Aqueous extract of leaves used for the treatment of soft tissue wounds, burn wounds, and skin infections in Vietnam.
  • Juices extracted from pounded leaves, mixed with honey, castor oil, and olive oil, used for colds and flu in Antilles.
  • Tea of leaves used for bles.
  • It is used for wound healing and as anthelmintic in Nigeria.
  • It is also used for treatment of piles.
  • Tender leaves are highly medicinal in intermittent fever and dysentery; also use externally in swellings, cuts and wounds.
  • Sap from the crushed leaves applied on cut wounds for quick healing.
  • Leave aqueous extract have been used for the treatment of soft-tissue burns or skin infections.
  • Siam weed extract accelerates hemostasis and wound healing.
  • In Ghana and Benin, the infusion from fresh leaves is used to treat malaria and internal hemorrhage.
  • In Thailand, the leaves are used to cataplasm to stem external hemorrhage.
  • In Thailand, Siam weed is traditionally used to stop bleeding in Thailand.
  • Plant has many ethno-pharmacological uses, including treatment of malaria, wounds, diarrhea, skin infection, toothache, dysentery, stomach ache, sore throat, convulsions, piles, coughs and colds.
  • In traditional  medicine,  a  decoction of  the  leaf  is  used  as  a  cough  remedy  and  as  an ingredient  with  lemon  grass  and  guava  leaves  for  the treatment of malaria.

Other Facts

  • In favorable conditions the plant can grow more than 3 cm per day.
  • It is a major weed in disturbed areas and coconut plantations in Sri Lanka.
  • It is used extensively to improved soil fertility in Nigeria.
  • Each plant can produce 800,000 seeds each year, which are readily wind dispersed.
  • The leaves are used to preserve dead bodies traditionally.
  • Consumption of the liquid is good for the treatment of bilharzia.

Precautions

  • It is generally regarded as poisonous to animals and thus not recommended as a livestock feed.
  • It may cause allergic reactions.
  • This species may cause skin complaints and asthma in allergy-prone people.

Control Methods

Physical

Manual slashing, use of bush-cutter or tractor-drawn implements are commonly used methods of control. Slashing causes rapid regeneration unless followed by other methods to suppress this weed for an extended period. Manual weeding is labor intensive. Use of tractor drawn equipment is limited to areas that are accessible.

Chemical

Chemical control using herbicides applied at the seedling stage or on early regrowth has given encouraging results. Triclopyr has proven to be the most effective. However, problems in herbicide use include (a) the high cost of the chemicals and their application, (b) ecological concerns and, (c) non-compatibility in many cropping and other environmental situations.

Biological

Four insects have been released for biological control, the weevil Apion brunneonigrum, the fly Melanagromyza eupatoriella and two moths, Mescinia parvula and Pareuchaetes pseudoinsulata.  Of these, only the last has become established, fairly readily in Sri Lanka, Guam and other Micronesian islands, but with some difficulty in India and Sabah (Malaysia) and it has since spread unaided to the Philippines and Brunei. It failed to become established in Thailand, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa.  It has produced spectacular defoliation and death of many plants in Guam and striking but sporadic defoliation in Sri Lanka.  In India, populations have built up but damage has seldom been great.  Where established, it is heavily attacked by a range of predators and these are believed to have prevented successful establishment in several countries.

References:

https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=37034#null

http://www.hear.org/pier/species/chromolaena_odorata.htm

https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/23248

https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/EUPOD

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromolaena_odorata

https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/57443-2

http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/gcc-24352

https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/chromolaena_odorata.htm

http://www.stuartxchange.com/Hagonoy.html

https://weeds.brisbane.qld.gov.au/weeds/siam-weed

https://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/32547

http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Siam%20Weed.html

https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=CHOD

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The information on this website is only for learning and informational purposes. It is not meant to be used as a medical guide. Before starting or stopping any prescription drugs or trying any kind of self-treatment, we strongly urge all readers to talk to a doctor. The information here is meant to help you make better decisions about your health, but it's not a replacement for any treatment your doctor gives you. If you are being treated for a health problem, you should talk to your doctor before trying any home remedies or taking any herbs, minerals, vitamins, or supplements. If you think you might have a medical problem, you should see a doctor who knows what to do. The people who write for, publish, and work for Health Benefits Times are not responsible for any bad things that happen directly or indirectly because of the articles and other materials on this website www.healthbenefitstimes.com