Lajvanti (Touch Me Not, Chui Mui)

Mimosa pudica is also known as “touch me not plant” or “sensitive plant.” It is so called because the plant responds when exposed to touch, its leaves closes and after some time it re-opens. It reacts when the force is applied in a plant knowing or unknowingly, it is sensitive to animals, to light at the time of day, daily dew, insect contact, etc. Mimosa pudica name derives from the two Latin words “Mimosa” for “mimic” means to the sensitivity of the leaves and “Pudica” means “shy” shying away or shrinking These plants are native to South America and Central America.

Common Indian Names: Lajvanti and Chhui-mui

According to Ayurveda text, it has properties such as pungent, cooling, vulnerary, alexipharmic and its root is bitter in taste.

It has been narrated as “sparshaat sankochataam yaati punashcha prasruta bhavet” that means a plant which overlap itself when touched and expands its leaves once again after a while. All the five farts of plants such as roots, stem, leaves, flowers and fruits are used as folk medicines for health.
Why do leaves of touch me not plant droops when we touch it?

There are several theories given behind the sensation of touch me not plant. It is believed that the potassium drifts from the motor neuron to the intercellular spaces after a stimulant of Mimosa.

The researchers suggested that potassium may be an osmotic agent who may be responsible for the decreased turgor pressure causing seismonastic in Pulvinar during reaction.

It was also found that the outflow of the potassium in pulvinar in Mimosa cell’s increases substantially during seismonastic response thereby increasing potassium levels in the external solution and decrease in potential was also discovered.

Ayurveda Uses of Lajvanti:

• In Ayurveda it is used as antiasthmatic, stimulant, pain-killing and antidepressant remedy.
• Whole plant is crushed and used for itchiness and itch related diseases.
• Its roots are used for leucoderma, angiopathy, metropathy, ulcers, dysentery, swellings, jaundice, bronchial asthma, small pox, strangury, fevers.
• Its leaves are used for hydrocele, hemorrhoids, fistulous withers, scrofula, pinkeye, cuts and bleeds.
• Whole plant is used for vesical calculi, for dropsy, rheumatoid arthritis, myodynia and uterine tumors.
• It is used for itching and other skin infection, its juice is boiled with 1/4 of gingely oil and prepared oil is externally applied over the affected area.
• The leaves are boiled in water and given for the pain in hip and pain over the kidney area.
• The plant leaves are used for diabetes; the juice of this plant is given to the dose of 25-30ml in early morning.

Medicinal Uses:

Piles: Mimosa pudica perennial has been used as a remedy for bleeding piles for many years. It is a well-known antidote. It is very easy to use, just crush the leaves into a fine paste and apply like a plaster which will calm the burning and the bleeding. It works as the good remedy because of its amazing wound healing properties.

Ulcers: It is important herbal medication for ulcers; a study on Mimosa pudica’s impact on ulcers was promising. The research in rats with artificially induced ulcers indicated that, 1mg dose of ethanol extracts had very efficiently reduced the ulcers.

Healing Activity: The leaves of Mimosa Pudica were traditionally used for treating wounds. The extract was made by grinding the leaves with little water and extract juice was used on the wounds.

Diarrhea: Uses of Mimosa pudica for the healing of diarrhea has been used as the traditional remedy. The study in albino rats was carried out by inducement diarrhea using castor oil and was treated with ethanol extract; it was found to be very effective in curbing diarrhea.