Orthosiphon aristatus or cat’s whiskers is a perennial herb of Lamiaceae family that grows up to 1 m tall. It has peculiar flowers that resemble cat’s whiskers.
The white, 2-lipped flowers are hairy with 5 cm-long, whisker-like stamens. Flowers are arranged in a conical-shaped inflorescence (6-10 cm long).
Leaves are dark green, smooth and lighter green on the bottom with a toothed leaf margin.
The plant’s main medicinal use includes being used as a diuretic.
It is mainly taken to stimulate urination. According to traditional medicine, bladder or kidney pain, gout, rheumatism and arteriosclerosis can be treated by drinking a decoction of it’s leaves boiled in water. In Vietnamese folk medicine, a plant infusion is used to treat influenza, hepatits, rheumatism, jaundice and fever, as well as stimulating urination. In India, this plant is used to treat diabetes in combination with the herb Andrographis paniculata.
The plant requires full sun moderate water and can be propagated by stem cutting.
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