17番鬼柠檬

左手香

Plectranthus amboinicus.

左手香（學名：Plectranthus amboinicus， Lour.），又名著手
香、到手香、過手香、印度琉璃苣、排香草。土话为番鬼柠檬。它是一
种具有香味的唇形科多年生草本植物。主要产于马来西亚、巴西、中国
和印度。左手香味辛、性寒，具有清暑解表，化湿健胃，涼血解毒，消
肿止痒功效。叶片具有相当多的疗效，坊间相传捣碎榨汁后加蜂蜜、盐
等饮用可用于治疗咳嗽、感冒、喉咙痛；亦有人将叶捣碎后外敷，消
炎、止肿。

Plectranthus amboinicus, once identified as Coleus amboinicus,
is a semi-succulent perennial plant in the family Lamiaceae[1] with a
pungent oregano-like flavor and odor. It is native
to Southern and Eastern Africa. It is widely cultivated and naturalized
elsewhere in the tropics where it is used as a traditional medicine,
spice, and ornamental plant.[1] In Thailand, where its leaves are
sometimes eaten with meat salad, it is called หูเสอื (/huu-seua/, 'tiger's
ear') for the distinctive shape of its leaf.

In traditional medicine, Plectranthus amboinicus is thought to
have medicinal properties,[9] but there is no evidence from clinical
research to support such claims. In basic research, the effects of
the essential oil were studied in rat models of microbial infections
and inflammation,[10] and tested with other plant essential oils for
possible use as a mosquito repellant.