The following points highlight the top three types of drugs obtained from flowers . The types are: 1. Saffron 2. Iron Wood 3. Violet.
Type # 1. Saffron:
Crocus sativus Linn., of family Iridaceae; Eng. Saffron; Hindi—Kesar. This is a herb, cultivated in Kashmir (Pampur), Bhersar and Chaubattia in Uttar Pradesh.
Uses:
The dried stigmas and tops of the styles make the saffron of commerce. It is of medicinal value. It contains the bitter principle picrocrocin. Saffron is mild stimulant, stomachic, carminative, antispasmodic, nerve sedative, mild narcotic, diuretic and emmenagogue. It is a remedy for promoting menstruation. It is also used in fevers, hysteria, flatulent colic, asthma, leucorrhoea, piles and catarrhal diseases of children.
Type # 2. Iron Wood:
Mesuaferrea Linn., of family Guttiferae; Eng. Ironwood; Hindi—Banafsha.
A tree, found in the Eastern Himalayas, Assam, West Bengal, the Western Ghats, Travancore and the Andaman Islands.
Uses:
The flowers are astringent and stomachic. The dried flowers are given in vomiting, dysentery, coughs, thirst, irritability of the stomach, excessive perspiration and bleeding pile.
Type # 3. Violet:
Viola odorata Linn., of family Violaceae; Eng. Violet; Hindi— A herb; native of Europe but now cultivated in Kashmir.
Uses:
The flowers are demulcent astringent, diuretic, emollient, diaphoretic and laxative. They are given in biliousness and lung troubles. The flowers are used for the treatment of coughs, sore throat, kidney diseases, liver disorders and infantile affections.