Family: Labiatae

Other known names: Cat Whiskers, Kidney plant

Thai names: Yaa nuat maeo, Ee tuu dong

Botanical description:
Orthosiphon aristatus is a bush that grows to a height of about 2 m. It has short hairs on the stems and the blue-white flowers have hairs resembling cat’s whiskers. This plant, which is often cultivated to decorate gardens, grows exclusively in South-East Asia and since recent times in tropical Australia. It thrives on in the shadow in moist soil. As a herbal remedy only the uncultivated plants found growing wild on the edge of forest land are used due to their higher concentration of active ingredients.

Uses in Ethnic Medicine:
Both the leaves and the flowers are used. The plant is a remedy for cachexia, kidney disorders, and is used as a diuretic. Pains in the back (probably caused by kidney problems), inflation of the kidneys, kidney sand and kidney stones, nausea (sea and air sickness) diabetes and hypertension are also areas for its use.

Traditional Thai Prescriptions:
A handful of fresh flowers and leaves are infused in boiling water and several cups of the tea are consumed. Flowers and leaves can also be dried and ground into powder which is taken with plenty of water. A normal dose would not exceed 2 gr. per day.

Ingredients:
Hedargenin, ß-sitosterol, ursolic acid, glycolic acid, methylripariochromene A.

Pharmacognostic action and trials:

Action on fungi:
Orthosipon acts on neurosporia crassa.

Toxicity tests:
Orthosophon in large doses of 5g per kg body weight had no effect on the control group which was not receiving therapy in respect of their body weight, and no changes SGOT, SGPT and BUN blood tests or in the histopathology of internal organs - kidneys, liver, heart, lungs and spleen. No changes were detected in the intestines. There is no dangerous overdose.

Clinical trials have demonstrated that in 40% of patients kidney stones of a diameter of 0.5 cm can be treated with orthosiphon and they disappear within a treatment period of up to six months. In 20% of the patients other kidney complaints were cured and the patients were free of pain and discomfort.

Orthosiphon is able to reduce the blood sugar level in non-insulin dependent diabetics. The plant also acts on hypertension (high blood pressure). It reduces water and therefore as it has no side effects it can be used in place of pharmaceutic diuretics whether these are potassium saving, uricosurics, or others. It also has a significant effect on high renal blood pressure. As a consequence of treating high blood pressure, kidney stones and disorders can also be cured.