Description
An erect annual herb (up to 1 m) with soft hairy stems and leaves, opposite ovate serrated leaves, small fluffy purple/blue/pink/white flowers, shallow fibrous roots, and a pungent “goat-like” odor.
Medicinal Uses
Used for wound healing, skin diseases, respiratory ailments, fever, gastrointestinal issues, pain relief, malaria, uterine infections, eye washes, and hair care.
Food Uses
Occasionally eaten as a leafy vegetable rich in protein and minerals; used for anemia, but contains toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids if overconsumed.
Ritual / Cultural Uses
Believed to offer protection against spiritual poisoning, used in cleansing and protective rituals.
Cultivation
Hardy, fast-growing, invasive; propagated by seeds, grows in any soil under sun or partial shade; leaves used fresh for medicine or teas.
