Pluchea Indica
(Pluchea indica [L.] Less.)

Tribe: Asteraceae (Compositae)
Simplisia Name: Plucheae Folium Plucheae Radix .

Description
Pluchea indica generally grows wild in the dry areas on the hard and rocky soil, or planted as a hedge plant. These plants require sufficient sunlight or a little shade, mostly found in coastal areas near the sea to a height of 1000 m above sea level.
Small plants, grow up, reach 2 m high, sometimes more. Many branches, finely ribbed, soft-haired. Short-stemmed leaves, the position of alternate, ovate leaves strands of the breech, tapering rounded tip, serrated edge, to the gland, 2,5-9 cm long, 1-5.5 cm wide, bright green color, fragrant when crushed. Compound interest, out of the armpit and the tip of the leaf stalk, branches of flowers are numerous, yellowish-white color to violet. Fruit small, tough, chocolate with white corners. Seeds small, whitish brown. Propagated by stem cuttings is quite old.

Nature and Usefulness
Characteristic smell and aromatic leaves bitter taste, nutritious to increase your appetite (stomakik), helps digestion, sweat facilitator (diaforetik), reliever fever (antipyretic), and freshener.
Nutritious roots as a facilitator of sweat and Conditioning (demulcent).

Chemical content
Leaves contain alkaloids, flavonoida, tannins, essential oils, chlorogenik acid, sodium, potassium, aluminum, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. While the root contains flavonoids and tannins.

Portion used
Leaves and roots. Use fresh or dried.

How to Use
Leaves or roots as much as 10-15 g of boiled and then drunk.
For external use, leaves finely chopped then dab on a sore spot like a stiff, scabies and ulcers.