Evolvulus alsinoides (Dwarf Morning Glory)

Scientific Name: Evolvulus alsinoides

Family: Convolvulaceae (Morning glory family)

Common Names: Dwarf Morning Glory, Slender Dwarf Morning Glory, Visnukrantha, Shyamakrantha

This is a very slender, more or less branched, spreading or ascending, usually extremely hairy herb. The leaves, which are densely clothed with appressed, white, and silky hairs, are variable clothed, lanceolate to ovate; the apex is blunt with a little point and the base is pointed. The flowers are pale blue. The fruit (capsule) is rounded, and usually contains 4 seeds. Dwarf Morning Glory is native to the South America, and is widely naturalized all over the world, including India. 

Medicinal uses
- Infusion of entire plant used to cure irregularities of the bowels.

 In the Goa territory, whole plant used extensively as tonic and febrifuge.
- With cumin and milk, used for fevers, nervous debility and loss of memory; also used for syphilis and scrofula.
- In India, used with oil to promote hair growth.
- Roots used by Santals for intermittent fevers in children.
- In west tropical Africa, used as febrifuge, leprosy, pulmonary ailments, stomach troubles, vermifuge and for general healing.
- In Unani and Ayurveda traditional systems, used as nootropic or brain-tonic, used for memory loss, nervous debility, fever, epilepsy and immune disorders.
- Dried leaves rolled into cigarettes and smoked to treat bronchitis and asthma.
- Oil from the plant used to stimulate hair growth. 
- In Sri Lanka, roots and stem extract used for dysentery and depression.

  Leaves used for asthma and mental disturbances.
- In India, decoction of roots used for coughs and colds.
- In the old Sudanese Kingdom, used with other herbs as a charm to exorcise evil spirits causing disease. Women would burn the plant to fumigate the hut during puerperium and use a warm infusion as wash during the 40-day purification.