Common Name:

General Information

Swertia petiolata is a herbaceous perennial plant with stems that are branched above; it usually grows around 15 - 90cm tall[, , ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine..

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - Himalayan regions of eastern Afghanistan, northern Pakistan, northwest India and western Nepal

Habitat

Montane to the alpine zone; at elevations from 2,500 - 5,500 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.60 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Swertia species are generally plants of moderate to high elevations where they are often found on damp slopes and humus-rich, peat mosses. They grow best in areas with cool summers and perennial species are generally cold-hardy to temperatures down to around -15°c[].
Swertia species generally grow well in humus-rich soils in damp, open woodland, by streams or in bog gardens[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The entire plant is used in Tibetan medicine, it is considered to have a bitter taste and extremely cooling potency[]. It also has anti-inflammatory, febrifuge and liver tonic activities[]. The plant is used in the treatment of diseases such as scleritis, inflammation of the liver, high blood pressure, inflammation of the stomach[].

The root of the plant is bitter and is used as a household tonic. It is also said to have cooling, anthelmintic, antipyretic, antiperiodic, and laxative actions[].
An extract of the root is used to treat eye pain[].
A paste made from the root is used as a treatment for ophthalmia[].

A decoction of the leaves is used in the treatment of scleritis, stomach inflammation, and as a liver tonic[].

The plant is used in the treatment of diabetes, stomach pains, liver disorders, typhoid, cancer, pneumonia, and malaria[] A decoction of the plant is used to treat leukoderma, inflammations, pain in the body, urinary discharges, ulcers, asthma[].
The powdered plant is an effective remedy for bronchitis, leucorrhea, piles, bad taste in the mouth, vomiting during pregnancy, irregularity or infrequency of passing faeces, as well as stomach burn[].
The plant is applied topically to treat wounds[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow in trays in spring in a humus-rich medium in temperatures not exceeding 10°c[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in early summer.
Division of large clumps in spring, taking care not to damage any taproots[].