Lantana is a hairy, spiny, aromatic shrub. The leaves are ovate, acuminate, and toothed. Many flower heads are seen in peduncles, including the corollas which are about 3 cm in diameter. The corollas are white, pink, yellow or red. The fruits are ovoid on a fresh receptacle. They turn purple-black in color when they are mature. It grows in thickets, wasted lands and is also grown as an ornamental plant in some gardens.

Medicinal Use

• As a remedy for whooping cough, inflamed mucous membrane with a free discharge and pulmonary problems.
• For chronic inflammation of the skin
• Sprains
• Coughs, colds, fevers, jaundice, chest diseases and rheumatism.
• Against infection of the respiratory tract, mumps, and mouth ulcers
• As a stimulant

How to use

• The decoction of the leaves and stems, used externally, is an excellent wash for eczema or chronic inflammation of the skin
• The pounded fresh leaves are used for sprains
• The flowering tops in decoction are used for coughs, colds, fevers, jaundice and chest diseases. It is a good acid in baths for rheumatism.
• The decoction of the root is recommended for use against infection of the respiratory tract, in mumps, in gargles, and is a good mouth wash for ulcers of the mouth.

Parts Used

• The whole plant

Dose

• Normal (refer p. 153 of Amazing Healing Plants)

Internationale

• Burmese – se-hnit-yathi
• French – bois de sauge
• Gujarati – ghanidalia
• Hindi – desi lantana
• Kannada – nata hu gida
• Malayalam – arippu
• Marathi – chadurang
• Oriya – naga-airi
• Punjabi – desi lantana
• Sinhalese – katuhinguru
• Tamil – arippu
• Telugu – pulikampa

* This information is from the book Amazing Healing Plants