Chinese Hibiscus

Originating from China and the Pacific islands, the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Malaysia National flower has been accredited with wonderful therapeutic properties. It has been widely used in the traditional medicine of both the chinese and Indians. In the Philippines, the flowers are a household remedy and are used in all kinds of inflammation whilst in the Ayurvedic medicine, the flowers are uses as a heart tonic and a blood purifier.

The leaves and young flower buds of hibiscus are used as a poultice for treating boils and swelling. The Red flowers are used to regulate menstruation but when combined with papaya seeds, they can caused abortion.

A decoction of the roots is used to treat fever and venereal diseases. The flowers is also used as an exspectorant for bronchitis. The leaves and flowers are used to treat skin diseases, mumps.

To the Indians, the flowers are used for curing gastric ulcers as the flowers are said to possess a soothing effect on the mucous membrane that line both the respiratory and digestive tract. It is also believed to possess aphrodisiac properties and used as a brain tonic. The chinese used it to treat minor stomach, intestinal and kidney problems. For the ladies, it is used internally to improve complexion and considered as good blood purifier.

Pharmacology studies have been done using rats. There is no apparent toxicity. In mice, oral administration of the benzene extracts of hibiscus flowers at a dose level of 1g/kg body weight from day 5-8 of gestation led to termination of pregnancy in about 92% of the animals. The glycoside constituents isolated from hibiscus exhibit hypotensive effects (lowering of blood pressure) in dogs at dosages of 40-80 mg/kg. Blood pressure remains low for 1-2 hours.

Hibiscus has been marketed as herbal remedies, teas and cosmetic. In the cosmetic industry, hibiscus is used as contouring lotion for inhibiting fat production and stimulation of fat breakdown.