Maryam panja benefits: Last month, returning from the Prophet’s Mosque at Madina after the morning prayer, I found this flower in the streetside shops. Instantly I went down memory lane when sometime in the late 50s or early 60s someone was in labor pain and women around were looking for Maryam the flower that can bring the pain down and make the delivery safe for both mother and the child.
As a young one, I was not able to see the rest. Days passed and I became a mother and the tale of Maryam was forgotten. Seeing the flower again, I wanted to understand and get closer to this mythical flora. I talked to the shopkeeper and asked about the flowers.
Maryam Booti for Delivery and How to Use in Pregnancy (Urdu)
It is the belief that works” he said, “otherwise it is a flower of the desert.” I bought several but found no seeds. This year’s Hajj was eventful and there was no scope to enquire about further details on where I could get seeds.
From the passing window of the bus, I saw the signboard of a nursery – somewhere on the left side of the highway towards the Jeddah Airport. But it was not the time to stop and see.
After returning home, I shared the flower with some of my near and dear ones. They were thrilled! I tried to find related information from different sources. But besides scattered information (except Wikipedia), I was disappointed; with a real-life image of the plant and its garden or the valley where it grows.
I learned that besides Saudi Arabia, Maryam (also called Maryam Booti, Nabi booti, and Madina leaves) is found and sold in Pakistan and Iran. I saw them in the marketplaces, especially in the streetside vendors’ baskets wrapped in or open, being sold at a modest price – depending on the size and quality (from 5 to 10 Riyal per piece) in the holy cities of Makkah, Madina, and Meena.
It is believed that Maryam helps during labor – delivering the baby! It is also said that the leaves are also used to strengthen the womb and are suitable for conception. The leaves of this herbal plant are available in the marketplaces near Mount Uhud – in one part of the holy city of Madina. These look like dried curry leaves.
As a medicinal preparation, it is reconstituted in water and taken internally for colds, as an emmenagogue (herbs generally meant to bring on period/ menstruation), for epilepsy, uterine hemorrhage, and to bring pain relief and support for childbirth.
मरियम बूटी के फायदे
In some places, it is made into a powder – mixed with olive oil and honey, and as a liquid from fresh leaves – is used as a treatment for conjunctivitis and other eye problems. It is also used medicinally in countries where it does not grow; in Malaysia, it is commonly used for childbirth, where many women purchase herbal preparations directly from traditional midwives.
The flower contains a number of elements – calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and iron; in particular, calcium and magnesium work together to coordinate and regulate smooth muscle contractions. The dripping water can be drunk. The plant can be stored and reused many times over