The Rama Mulaka plant

Paalaguttapalle, Dalitwada

(Raama mulaka – Solanum xanthoporum (L), Jaquin’s night shade / Indian solanum (E), Kandankathiri(Tml) , Kantakari (S))

My village people tell me -

1. Eashwaramma’s father-in-law’s persistant cough was addressed by eating a fry of raama mulaka fruits and nalleru (Cissus quadrangularis) chutney ground with castor oil and jeera.

2 Raama mulaka (Solanum xanthoporum) seeds are rubbed on the top of the head after applying castor oil and a regi leaf is pasted over it to address congestion.

3 To remove worms in the teeth, the raama mulaka (Solanum xanthoporum) fruit is used. Water is boiled in a small pot and a heated sickle is put over the pot and the fruits are placed on it. A coconut shell is placed over it and sealed with cowdung. A papaya leaf stalk is placed into a hole made a the top if the shell, and the steam is directed to the rotten tooth. On application of this steam the worms drop out of the teeth one by one.