Sirupeelai (Aerva lanata): names, uses, safety

Sirupeelai or poolai poo is Aerva lanata, a woolly little herb of dry ground whose white, cottony flower spikes are tied with neem and avaram leaves into the bundles hung on Tamil doorways at Bhogi before Pongal. In Siddha practice, sirupeelai is used for urinary complaints and kidney stones. It belongs to the amaranth family.

Botanical name: Aerva lanata (L.) Juss. ex Schult.
Family: Amaranthaceae
Tamil: Sirupeelai
Hindi: Chaya
Sanskrit: Astmabayda
Parts used: Whole plant, Root in lists
Habit: Woolly amaranth of dry ground with small woolly flower spikes
Last updated: 2026-10-27

How to recognise Sirupeelai

It is a sprawling or erect, woolly herb, usually knee-high, with many branches.

The leaves are small, oval and covered in soft, white hairs.

The leaves are alternate, and the stems are often reddish beneath the hairs.

Tiny, greenish-white flowers crowd into short, woolly spikes in the leaf axils.

The whole plant looks grey-white from its dense hairs.

Its seeds are tiny, black and shiny.

Traditional use of Sirupeelai

Festival

Poolai poo is bundled with neem and avaram into kappu and hung over doorways on Bhogi.

Tamil festival practice

Siddha

Sirupeelai decoction is used in Siddha for urinary complaints and kidney stones.

Siddha practice

Kitchen

The young leaves are cooked as a green in some rural areas.

South Indian village practice

Modern notes on Sirupeelai

Animal studies report diuretic effects, but human evidence is limited.

It contains flavonoids and alkaloids studied in laboratories.

It is common on waste ground and roadsides in dry areas.

Sirupeelai safety

Kidney stones need a medical diagnosis; do not rely on herbal decoctions alone. Avoid it in pregnancy.

Ecology and sourcing

It grows across dry tropical Africa and Asia.

Its woolly hairs protect it from heat and drought.

It is wind-pollinated.

Related plants

Also in Amaranthaceae

Questions about Sirupeelai

What is poolai poo?

Its woolly flower spikes, used at Bhogi.

Why is Sirupeelai hung on doorways?

As part of the Bhogi kappu bundle.

Is Sirupeelai used for kidney stones?

Traditionally, but evidence is limited.

Why is Sirupeelai woolly?

Dense hairs protect it from drought.

Is Sirupeelai an amaranth?

Yes, a member of the family.

Is Sirupeelai the same as nerunji?

No. Nerunji is Tribulus terrestris.

Sources

Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.