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Herb knowledgePey thumbai
Anisomeles indica (L.) Kuntze · Lamiaceae
Pey thumbai, gopali in Hindi, is Indian catmint, a tall, strong-smelling herb of the mint family that grows on waste ground and village edges across tropical Asia. Its leaves appear in folk remedies for fevers and stomach complaints. It is greener and less hairy than its close relative, the woolly Malabar catmint, Anisomeles malabarica, which has its own page.
- Botanical name
- Anisomeles indica (L.) Kuntze
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Tamil
- Pey thumbai
- Hindi
- Gopali
- Parts used
- Leaf in lists
- Habit
- Strong-smelling catmint of village edges
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Pey thumbai
It is an upright, branching herb or small shrub, often one to two metres tall, with square, hairy stems.
The leaves are opposite, oval and toothed, softly hairy and strongly aromatic when crushed.
Pale purple, two-lipped flowers grow in whorls around the upper stems, forming long spikes.
The small nutlets ripen inside the persistent calyx.
Malabar catmint is covered in dense white wool and has narrower leaves.
Traditional use of Pey thumbai
Folk use
Leaf decoctions are used in village practice for fevers, colic and indigestion.
South and South-east Asian folk practice
Household
Crushed leaves are rubbed on the skin or burned to keep insects away.
Indian village practice
Modern notes on Pey thumbai
The plant contains ovatodiolide, a compound studied in laboratories for anti-inflammatory activity.
Its strong smell comes from essential oils in leaf glands.
There are no reliable clinical trials of the plant in people.
Pey thumbai safety
Do not use it as a medicine for children or in pregnancy, and see a doctor for any fever that lasts more than a day or two.
Ecology and sourcing
It grows from India and Sri Lanka through South-east Asia to southern China.
Bees visit its flowers.
It thrives on disturbed, sunny ground and roadsides.
Related plants
Also in Lamiaceae
Questions about Pey thumbai
Is Pey thumbai related to mint?
Yes. It belongs to the mint family, Lamiaceae.
How is Pey thumbai different from Malabar catmint?
It is greener and much less woolly.
Is Pey thumbai used in cooking?
No. It is a folk medicinal plant, not a kitchen herb.
Why does Pey thumbai smell so strong?
Its leaves are full of essential oil glands.
Where does Pey thumbai grow?
On waste ground and roadsides across tropical Asia.
Sources
- Anisomeles indica (L.) Kuntze — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q15224066 (Anisomeles indica)
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.