Range. Occurs in both hemispheres from the Philippines, Indochina, and tropical Africa to Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador and Columbia. Introduced into Mexico. Found growing naturally at freshwater edges throughout Myanmar, except in very cold areas.

Uses
Whole plant: All parts are used, but particularly the leaves. For edema, the plant’s five parts are boiled and eaten. The juice is given for pox-like diseases, skin problems, and disorders of the marrow and synovial fluids. A mixture of the juice with honey is taken for smallpox. To alleviate weak liver, the broth from the whole plant boiled together with rice, water, mustard oil, and a bit of salt is ingested.

Leaf: Used in a steam bath. Preparations made from the leaves are also given for leprous sores, other skin disorders, coughing, and fever. Their juice can be taken with either cow’s or goat’s milk for urinary tract  infections and associated limb heaviness.

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Origin:
Hills of Bihar,West Bengal and Assam.

Action:
Leaf—antibilious, laxative, demulcent, antidermatosis. Used in dyspepsia, diseases of the nervous system and cutaneous affections.

1) DeFilipps, Robert A.; Krupnick, Gary A. / PhytoKeys, v. 102. - - p. 1 - 314,  2018.

2) Khare, C.P./ Indian Medicinal Plants. -- Nueva Dheli: Springer, 2007 . - p. 836.