Tamil name: வெள்ளை எருக்கன்
English name: Milk weed
Scientific name: Calotropis gigantia
Family: Asclepiadaceae
This is a common shrub found everywhere in tropical India. Its flowers and leaves are used for worship in temples. The parts used for medicinal purpose are leaves, flowers, dried roots and root bark. The latex of this plant has very high medicinal values. It possesses hypertensive, antifungal, antipyretic and analgesic activities. The dried leaves of madar have aphrodisiac and purgative properties and tender leaves are used to treat migraine. Warm leaves can be tied to legs to cure rheumatism. The mixture of latex and turmeric can help to get rid of skin blemishes and boils. Ear drops prepared by heating ghee in fresh leaves can cure ear infection. Flowers are used to treat cough, asthma, indigestion and cholera. The dried latex and dried roots are used as antidote for snake bite and abortifacient. Topical application of latex can cure skin diseases and heal wounds.