Peymarutti (Anisomeles malabarica)

Peymarutti, chodhara in Hindi, is Malabar catmint, a white-woolly, aromatic subshrub of dry South India and Sri Lanka. Siddha practice uses the leaf in fever and joint-pain preparations and its oil for rubs. It is woollier and narrower-leaved than Indian catmint, Anisomeles indica, which has its own page.

Botanical name: Anisomeles malabarica (L.) R.Br.
Family: Lamiaceae
Tamil: Peymarutti
Hindi: Chodhara
Parts used: Leaf in lists
Habit: Woolly mint-family subshrub of dry country
Last updated: 2026-10-27

How to recognise Peymarutti

It is a bushy subshrub, usually knee- to waist-high, with square stems.

The whole plant is covered in dense, soft, whitish hairs.

The leaves are narrow, lance-shaped and toothed, strongly scented when crushed.

Pink to purple, two-lipped flowers grow in whorls along the upper stems.

Indian catmint is greener, less hairy, and has broader leaves.

The small nutlets ripen inside the hairy, persistent calyx after the flowers fall.

Traditional use of Peymarutti

Siddha

Peymarutti leaf is used in Siddha decoctions for fevers and in oils for joint pain.

Siddha practice

Folk use

Crushed leaves are inhaled or rubbed on the forehead for colds and headache.

Tamil folk practice

Modern notes on Peymarutti

The leaves contain ovatodiolide and essential oils studied in laboratories.

No reliable clinical trials have tested its traditional uses.

Its essential oil has been investigated as an insect repellent.

The genus name comes from Greek words for unequal limbs, describing its stamens of different lengths.

Peymarutti safety

Do not use it as a medicine for children or in pregnancy. A fever lasting more than a day or two needs a doctor.

Ecology and sourcing

It grows on dry hills, scrub and roadsides of southern India and Sri Lanka.

Bees visit the flowers.

Its woolly coat helps it survive heat and drought.

Related plants

Also in Lamiaceae

Questions about Peymarutti

Is Peymarutti a mint?

It belongs to the mint family.

Why is Peymarutti woolly?

Dense hairs protect it from heat and drought.

How is Peymarutti different from Indian catmint?

It is much woollier, with narrower leaves.

Is Peymarutti eaten?

No. It is a folk medicinal plant.

Where does Peymarutti grow?

On dry hills and scrub in South India and Sri Lanka.

Can Peymarutti be grown in a garden?

Yes, from seed or cuttings in a sunny, dry spot; it needs little water once established.

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.