JERUJU/ ACANTHUS ILICIFOLIUS

Botanical name/ Nama sains: Acanthus ilicifolius Syn. A. ebracteatus
Common name/ Nama biasa: Jeruju, Jeruju puteh, Sea holy. ngueak plea mo (Thailand)
Family/ Famili: Acanthaceae
Origin/ asal: Malaysia, South east Asia and Mediterranian
Plant height/ Ketinggian pokok: 1.5- 2 meter

Facts about the plants./ Fakta pokok jeruju:

• Hidup dikawasan berlumpur dan tebing sungei

• Prickly leaves/ Daun nya berduri

• Some traditional medicine practice will usually prescribe the fruits of jeruju for patients with serious illness such as terminal cancer./ Ada pengamal perubatan tradisional yang merawat pesakit serius seperti kanser mengunakan biji pokok jeruju.

Medicinal uses/ Khasiat perubatan:

• In China it was used to treat cancer, hepatitis, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, ashma, gastric pain and malignancy./ Di negeri china ianya digunakan untuk merawat, kanser, hepatitis, bengkak hati dan limpa, bengkak kelenjar’ lymph glands’, gastric dan sakit yang tidak mungkin sembuh.

• Leaves, seeds and roots used as vermifuge/ Daun, biji dan akar digunakan sebagai ubat cacing

• Poultice of the leaves are used to treat wounds of poison arrows/ Daun yang ditumbuk digunakan untuk merawat luka panah beracun.

• Young leaves are boiled together with bark of Cinnamomum culitlawan and drink for flatulence. /Daun muda dan kulit pokok Cinnamomum culitlawan direbus untuk ubat buang angin (K. Heynes, Nutt. Plant.Ned.Ind.ed.1927p. 1377)

• Leaves are used to treat rheumatism/ Daun digunakan untuk rawat sengal tulang

• Whole plant to treat kidney stone/ Seluruh pokok digunakan untuk merawat batu karang.

• Relieves pain/ Penahan sakit

• Purify blood/ membersih darah

Use as animal fodder/ Kegunaan sebagai makanan ternakan:

• Chopped can be used as animal fodder/ Daun yang dicincang boleh dijadikan makanan binatang ternakan

Use as desiccant:

• In Indonesia, the entire plant are dried and placed in rice container as dessicant to keep the rice dry .

• The dried plants have high salt content which attract moisture.

Tea drinks/ Dibuat teh:

• Tea from jeruju leaves are believes to be good in relieving pains and to purify blood./ Teh yang dibuat dari daun jeruju dipercayai boleh menghilangkan sakit dan membersih darah.

References:
I.H.Burkill- A dictionary of the Economic Products of the peninsula Malaysia
Dr. Cheung Siu Cheung- Chinese Medicinal herbs Of Hong Kong Vol. 1
http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/sea_holly.htm
http://www.aims.gov.au/pages/reflib/fg-mangroves/pages/fgm-2223.html