Tiger's Ears in Your Garden!

This beautiful plant is known as "tiger's ears" in Thailand where it is eaten with a meat salad but locally, we call it Bangun bangun. The rest of the English-speaking world either calls it Indian borage, Spanish thyme, Mexican mint or Cuban oregano. It's no surprise that these names are all related to various other fragrant cooking herbs because the bangun bangun does have a strong smell not unlike that of oregano.

There are two types of bangun bangun - a jade green one and a variegated one with white around it's leaf edges but culinary uses aside, Plectranthus amboinicus as it is named scientifically, also has a lot of other wonderful medicinal properties. So many, that it is used almost exclusively for that purpose in Malaysia. 

You can chew on its leaves or make a tea from them to relieve colds, a sore throat, or a stuffy nose because it acts as a powerful expectorant, to eliminate mucus and phlegm from your respiratory tract. It also promotes sweating and helps to reduce fever. It's cold-fighting effect is due to the fact that it actually has a high found ascorbic acid or Vitamin C content. 

The high ascorbic content also means that it stimulated urination and helps to keep your kidneys healthy. But our bangun bangun also has other benefits. 

It is also said to relieve stress, reduce arthritis and osteoporosis, and provide relief from irritable bowel syndrome. Mothers have used it to relieve bug bites, itchiness and stings because Indian borage also has anti-inflammatory properties and helps reduce itchiness and swelling.  

Plectranthus amboinicus has a lot of Vitamin A, as well, and it is sometimes used to improve vision, reduce stress in the eyes and prevent macular degenaration. It's a natural msquito repellant, too!

When it does flower, it has small, pretty blue flowers but of course, with such powerful chemicals in its leaves and stem, it has to be treated with a bit of caution. Pregnant and lactating women should avoid contact with it, as should people with sensitive skin.  

So if you're going to cook beef, lamb or game meat with it, do be careful!