Orthosiphon staminate

Orthosiphon stamineus Benth.

Other names: kidney tea, cat's mouth

Botanical characteristics. The family is labial. Evergreen shrub with greenish-violet tetrahedral, highly branched stems up to 80 cm high. Leaves oblong or elliptical, opposite. Small pale purple flowers are collected in the apical pyramidal inflorescences. Blooms in July-August. On our plantations, the seeds do not form almost.

Spread. In the wild in our country does not occur. Cultivated as a medicinal plant in the subtropics of Georgia.

Used parts of the plant. Leaves and leafy tops.
The plant contains essential oil, glycoside orthosiphonin, saponins and tannins.

Application. Has hypotensive effect, normalizes metabolism, is a strong diuretic, removes urea, uric acid and chlorides from the body.
The herb is used for arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, urine acid diathesis and gout.
Kidney tea is effective in edema caused by cardiovascular insufficiency.
Especially shown are the preparations of kidney tea for acute and chronic diseases of the kidneys and bladder: glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, kidney stone disease, with cystitis and urethritis.
The plant is beneficial for gastritis with a low acidity of gastric juice, as well as for cholecystitis and liver diseases.

Preparation. 1-2 tablespoons are insisted with 2 cups of boiling water (in a thermos); The next day, infusion is taken in 3 divided doses for 20-40 minutes before meals.