Common Name: Indian Patchouli

General Information

Pogostemon heyneanus is a large, straggling, evergreen perennial plant with stems that are woody at the base. It can be erect, but is often semi-scandent, producing long horizontal branches up to 1.5 metres long[, ].
The plant is related to the better known patchouli (Pogostemon cablin), but is considered to be inferior to that species. It is widely cultivated for its fragrant leaves, especially in India, but mostly on a minor scale[, ]. The cultivation for its essential oil has been largely abandoned[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines.

Habitat

Moist regions at elevations up to 1,800 metres, especially in the montane zone[]. Thickets, old clearings, coconut plantations and stream banks, at elevations from sea-level up to 1,800 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	1.50 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants can flower all year round[].
The leaves have a faint, pleasant scent[].

Edible Uses

The dried herb is used in the preparation of a country spirit[].

Medicinal

The leaves are antiasthmatic, carminative, diuretic and stomachic[, ]. They are used in the treatment of stomach and skin diseases, to treat coughs and asthma[]. They are generally given with the seeds of tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) in cases of scanty urine and biliousness[]. They could possibly be used in the treatment of cancer[, ].
The powdered dry leaves are used as a cephalic snuff in native medicine[].

A decoction made from the roots is sometimes used in the treatment of dropsy[].

Other Uses

An essential oil is distilled from the leaves[]. It is much inferior to patchouli oil (from Pogostemon cablin) but small quantities are occasionally produced in India for local use or as an adulterant for patchouli oil[]. One of the most important sources of patchouli oil, which is extracted from the dried tops[]. It is very rich in volatile terpenoids[].

The leaves are placed amongst clothes to impart a pleasant smell and also to repel insects[, ].

The crushed leaves have been used to wash clothes[].

Propagation

Seed -
Cuttings of half-ripe wood 5 - 10cm long[].

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