Potato

The Potato is one of the most popular tubers found nearly everywhere in the world. It is a perennial plant that grows to approximately one metre high, has pinnate compound leaves and belongs to the plant family Solanaceae. The leaves are said to be poisonous. The flowers are found in cymose panicles and are white, pink or purple in colour. The root tips grow roundish, fleshy tubers which is the edible potato. Although there are many varieties of potatoes today, the popular one is yellowish brown in colour with several vegetative buds on the surface that can grow into new plants. The plant is cultivated in many parts of the world.

MEDICINAL USE:

* Prevents scurvy, works against spasms, helps in moving the bowels, promotes urine, can be used as a skin softener, increases milk in lactating mothers.
* Stomach acidity, stomach ulcers, and gout.
* Arthritis, itching, neuralgia, mild burns, inflammatory swelling of the skin of the hands and feet owing to the exposure to cold weather.


HOW TO USE:

* The consumption of potatoes prevents scurvy, works against spasms, helps in moving the bowels, promotes urine, is a skin softener and increases milk in lactating mothers.
* It is recommended for the treatment of stomach acidity, stomach ulcers, arthritis and gout. For these ailments, the juice of the raw potato is used in doses of 3 cups a day.
* For external use, the grated raw potato is applied topically in cases of arthritis, itching, neuralgia, mild burns, and chilblain or inflammatory swelling of the skin of the hands and feet owing to the exposure to cold weather.

PARTS USED:

The Potato tubers.

DOSE:

As indicated above.

Normal Dosage For:

Adults: 4 or 5 cups a day.
Aged 6 to 9 years: 2 cups a day
Aged 2 to 5 years: 1 cup a day
1 to 2 years: 1/2 cup a day
Below 1 year: 1/4 or less cup a day

A Useful Table for Quick Measurements:
1 tbsp = 5 grams (green herb)
1 dessertspoon = 2 grams (dry herb)
1 teaspoon = 25 drops
1 cup = 16 tbsp


1 litre = 7 or 8 cups