Saturday, November 29, 2008

Medicinal Plant: Mimosa


Don't expect this Mimosa to be the Mimosa which is a cocktail-like drink composed of three parts champagne or other sparkling wine and two parts thoroughly chilled orange juice. Though the effects may be similar.

This mimosa grows wild in lawns and fields in Malaysia and Singapore. It has thorns and is a gardener's nightmare. It can spread like a carpet and is very difficult to get rid of. At the neglected allotment of the NTU gardening club, once they establish themselves, they evade the neighbouring plots, and is a nuisance. The flower is pink and soft and fluffy. As a kid, we used to take a stick, and induce the leaves to "sleep."

The Malaysia stuff this into pillows for babies and adults alike to help give them a peaceful sleep to cure insomnia.

This plant is also called a sensitive plant. The leaves close when you touch it. At dusk, the leaves also close until the next morning. This is probably why the Malays think that they will give tranquil sleep.

So if your baby doesn't sleep through the night, next time you go to Malaysia or Singapore, go and look for some.

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