Botanical name - Hibiscus rosasinensis
Family name - Malvaceae

A small evergreen tree. Hibiscus is a sweet, astringent, cooling herb that checks bleeding, soothes irritated tissues and relaxes spasms. The flowers are aphrodisiac, demulcent, emmenagogue, emollient and refrigerant. They are used internally in the treatment of excessive and painful menstruation, cystitis, venereal diseases, feverish illnesses, bronchial catarrh, coughs and to promote hair growth. An infusion of the flowers is given as a cooling drink to ill people. Good hair oil is also prepared fro the flowers. The leaves are anodyne, aperient, emollient and laxative. A decoction is used as a lotion in the treatment of fevers.

The leaves and flowers are beaten into a paste and poulticed onto cancerous swellings and mump. The flowers are used in the treatment of carbuncles, mumps, fever and sores.

Hair oil made from the flowers promotes hair growth. Leaves and flowers used as hair cleanser has also the same property.