Botany
Barau-barau is a spreading undershrub. Stems are 30 to 70 cm high. Leaves are smooth, obovate-oblong or elliptic, the smaller ones broadly lanceolate, averaging 10 to 15 cm long, the larger ones being about 5 cm wide, with pointed tip, finely granular margin and with short stalks. Spikes are about 3 cm long, in few-branched terminal panicles, upon a 3- to 5-cm long peduncle. Flowers are minute. Fruit is white, juicy, 5 to 8 mm in diameter, with a relatively large seed.
Distribution
- Widely distributed in forests at low and medium altitudes from central Luzon southward to Palawan and Mindanao.
- Occurs in India to Western China and southward through Malaya.
Constituents
Constituents
Properties
Plant has a camphoraceous odor and bitter, aromatic taste.
Considered febrifuge, sudorific and stimulant.
Parts used
Flowers, roots, leaves.
Uses
Culinary
Flowers used to scent tea in China.
Leaves used to make a drink in Malaya and Indonesia.
Folkloric
- In Java, an infusion of the powdered root and the bark of Cinnamomum culilowan used to treat puerperal eclampsia.
- Infusion used in fever accompanied by debility and suppression of the function of the skin.
- Tea made from leaves and roots has a sudorific action.
- Infusion of flowers and leaves used to treat coughs.
- Roots are boiled, then powdered, rubbed over the body for fever.
- Also used for malarial fevers.
- Bruised roots used as poultice for boils and carbuncles.
Others
Others
Studies
• Studies: Studies
Availability
Wild-crafted.
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