Pill-Bearing Spurge

Euphorbia hirta syn. E. pilulifera

COMMON NAMES

• Asthma Plant
• Pill-Bearing Spurge

Pill-bearing spurge - erect annual or perennial plant growing to 20 in (50 cm), with pointed oval leaves and clusters of small flowers.

PARTS USED

Aerial parts.

USES

A specific treatment for bronchial asthma, pill-bearing spurge relaxes the bronchial tubes and eases breathing. Mildly sedative and expectorant, pill-bearing spurge is also taken for bronchitis and other respiratory tract conditions. Pill-bearing spurge is most often used along with other antiasthmatic herbs, notably grindelia, and lobelia. In the Anglo-American tradition, pill-bearing spurge is taken to treat intestinal amebiasis.

HABITAT AND CULTIVATION

Native to India and Australia, pill-bearing spurge is now widespread throughout the tropics. The aerial parts of the plant are gathered when it is in flower.

CONSTITUENTS

Pill-bearing spurge contains flavonoids, terpenoids, alkanes, phenolic acids, shikimic acid, and choline. The latter two constituents may be partly responsible for the antispasmodic action of this plant.

USUAL DOSAGE

Infusion: pour a cup of boiling water onto 1/2-1 teaspoonful of the dried leaves and let infuse for 10-15 minutes. This should be drunk three times a day.
Tincture: take 1 - 2ml of the tincture three times a day.

COLLECTION AND HARVESTING

Gather the aerial parts while pill-bearing spurge is in flower.

COMBINATIONS

For the treatment of asthmatic conditions pill-bearing spurge will combine well with grindelia and lobelia.

COMMENTS