About This Plant
Coleus forskohlii has so many uses that I had to have it in my herb collection. It is a prime Ayurvedic herb, and there are even reports that it has edible uses! Coleus is easy to grow and produces lovely little blue flowers.
How was Forkskohlii used?
From weight loss, asthma, blood pressure, sluggish metabolism, glaucoma, and malaria, the traditional uses are too numerous to mention them all. In Ayurvedic medicine, the plant is used for heart and circulatory complaints, respiratory troubles like coughs and asthma, digestive upset, and urinary or kidney issues. But it was also used as a traditional medicine in Brazil for liver and stomach diseases. Even antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal activity is mentioned, as well as acting against syphilis, as a contraceptive, and as an aphrodisiac. It is probably best avoided in pregnancy because coleus is also an emmenagogue.
Grow Indian Coleus
How to grow Coleus forskohlii
Coleus forskohlii is an easy plant for warm climates and grows well in tropical, subtropical and warm-temperate parts of Australia, including coastal NSW and Queensland. Give it sun to part shade and well-drained soil; in very hot areas some afternoon shade is helpful. It appreciates regular water while actively growing but is reasonably drought tolerant once established. It is frost-tender, but it might be worth a try to overwinter it inside. Good drainage is important, particularly in winter, as the fleshy roots don’t like sitting in wet soil.
Botanical Chaos:
The botanical naming of this plant is a little confusing, and the whole group has had its fair share of name changes. You may find it listed as Coleus forskohlii, Coleus barbatus or Plectranthus barbatus — these names have been used for the same plant as botanists have moved species between genera and revised their classification.
Other common names:
Pashana bhedi, Forskolin, Makandi, Patharchur, Panikoorka
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