Cat Whiskers Herb, the herb that is Purrr..fect for your Health

Amin Malik Shah Abdul Majid ^{a, b *}

It is used in both Traditional Chinese medicine and Indian Ayurvedic medicine and widely used to treat high blood pressure, diabetes and inflammatory joint conditions such as gout and rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract

Consumed widely in Indonesia and South East Asia, cat whiskers herb also popularly known as Java tea is commonly brewed as a tea for its revered medicinal properties. The herb has its origins from the oceanic region and was made popular to the West in early 20th century. Cat whiskers herb is native in the tropical region of Australia and can be found in South East Asia and also certain parts of India. The plant belongs to the mint family and it owes its name to its flower which has long protruding stamens resembling cat's whiskers. Its beautiful white and purple flowers and the ease to grow makes it a favorite amongst avid gardeners. Its scientific name is Orthosiphon stamineus. It is also commonly referred as Orthosiphon aristatus.

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