Garmar

Garmar is Coleus barbatus, an aromatic mint-family plant with thick, carrot-like roots that are the commercial source of forskolin. Farmers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu grow it for export to extract makers. In Gujarat and Rajasthan the roots are pickled as garmar achaar. Forskolin is widely sold for weight loss, but good evidence for that is lacking. Older books call it Coleus forskohlii or Plectranthus barbatus.

Botanical name

Coleus barbatus (Andrews) Benth. ex G.Don

Family

Lamiaceae

Tamil

Garmar

Hindi

Garmar

Sanskrit

Gandīra

Parts used

Root in lists

Habit

Tuberous mint-family shrub of dry hills; source of forskolin

Last updated

2026-10-27

How to recognise Garmar

It is an aromatic, bushy perennial, usually knee- to waist-high, with square, hairy stems.

The leaves are oval, toothed, thick and softly hairy, with a strong camphor-like smell.

Blue to violet, two-lipped flowers grow in whorls on long spikes.

The roots are swollen, tuberous, orange-brown and fragrant, often in clusters like small carrots.

Indian borage, karpuravalli, has thick, fleshy, rounded leaves and no tuberous roots.

Traditional use of Garmar

Kitchen

Garmar roots are pickled with mustard, chilli and lemon in Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Gujarati and Rajasthani food practice

Folk use

In Brazil its leaf tea, called false boldo, is drunk for indigestion.

Brazilian folk practice

Farming

Farmers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu grow it from cuttings and sell the dried roots to forskolin extractors.

South Indian farm practice

Modern notes on Garmar

Forskolin switches on an enzyme that raises cyclic AMP inside cells, which made it a standard tool in laboratory research.

Small trials of forskolin for weight loss have shown little or no consistent effect.

Forskolin can lower blood pressure and may interact with blood-pressure and blood-thinning medicines.

Garmar safety

Do not take forskolin supplements if you have low blood pressure, take blood-thinning or blood-pressure medicines, or are pregnant. Pickled garmar in normal food amounts is a traditional food.

Ecology and sourcing

It grows wild on dry, rocky hills from East Africa through India to Thailand.

Bees visit its blue flower spikes.

It tolerates drought thanks to its fleshy roots.

Related plants

Also in Lamiaceae

Questions about Garmar

What is forskolin?

A compound from the roots of this plant.

Does forskolin help weight loss?

Good evidence is lacking.

Is the root of Garmar eaten?

Yes, pickled in western India.

Is Garmar the same as karpuravalli?

No. Karpuravalli is a different Coleus.

What was the older name of Coleus barbatus?

Coleus forskohlii or Plectranthus barbatus.

Sources

• Coleus barbatus (Andrews) Benth. ex G.Don — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
• Wikidata item Q87638983 (Coleus barbatus)

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.