Marsh Barbel is Called:

Botanical Name: Hygrophila schulli

Tamil Name: Neermulli – நீர்முள்ளி

Malayalam Name: Voyal-chullai

Hindi Name: तल्मखन Talmakhana, Kamtakalya

Telugu Name: Kokila Kshamu

Sanskrit Name: Kokilaksha

The Marsh Barbel is from the Indian subcontinent, including Nepal and Sri Lanka, the Andaman Islands and the Nicobar Islands, as well as to Malaysia, South East Asia and parts of Africa, including South Africa, Senegal, Sudan, Cameroon, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria and Mali.

It has a few other names including Hygrophilia schulli and Asteracantha longiflolia and also has many English names including the Temple Plant. It is a member from the family of Acanthaceae. It lives in wet places. It can reach 2 meters high or more and has blue-purple flowers, look a little like violas, or wild pansies, with upper and lower “lips”.

The whole plant is used in making a number of ailments in traditional medicine systems. These include impotence and quality of sperm. Powdered seeds with milk will promote the male libido, so it is supposedly an aphrodisiac. It is also used for liver problems, including jaundice, to treat urinary tract infections and for gout and edema. It has diuretic qualities.

It contains vitamin C and flavonoids, phenolic compounds, saponins, steroid, terpenoids and cardiac glycosides.

In Ayurvedic medicine system, this plant is used for rheumatism, inflammation, jaundice and other liver problems and as a pain-killer.