Periwinkle / Barmasi

One of the flowers with medicinal value that is available throughout the year is the rose-coloured periwinkle (Barmasi), a. k.a. Lochnera pusilla or vinca pusilla murr. Originally from Madagascar, South Africa and the Natal province, these flowering plants are used as household cures.

- Smt. Minati Shah

Their roots act as tranquilizers and help reduce muscle spasm. They also have a cooling effect on the central nervous system. The skin of the roots is full of alkaloids. Alkaloids in the flowers help reduce blood pressure. While the leaves, known to help with diabetes, do