Thumbai, goma in Hindi and dronapushpi in Sanskrit, is a small, hairy annual of the mint family with tight whorls of white flowers. Thumbai poo is offered to Shiva and is an important flower in the Onam pookalam of Kerala. Its leaf juice is a common folk remedy for colds and coughs. It grows on field edges and roadsides after the rains.
- Botanical name
- Leucas aspera (Willd.) Link
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Tamil
- Thumbai
- Hindi
- Goma
- Sanskrit
- Dronapuṣpī
- Parts used
- Leaves, Flowers
- Habit
- Small annual mint with white flower whorls
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Thumbai
It is an erect, branching annual, usually knee-high, with square, hairy stems.
The leaves are narrow, opposite and toothed, rough with hairs.
Small white, two-lipped flowers grow in dense, round whorls at the nodes and stem tips.
The upper lip of each flower is densely hairy, like a little hood.
The plant has a mild, aromatic smell.
Traditional use of Thumbai
Ritual
Thumbai flowers are offered to Shiva and arranged in Onam pookalam carpets in Kerala.
South Indian ritual practice
Folk use
Leaf juice is dropped in the nose or taken with honey for colds and headaches.
Tamil folk practice
Kitchen
Young leaves are cooked as a green in some villages.
South Indian village practice
Modern notes on Thumbai
Leaf extracts show antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity in laboratory tests.
There are no reliable human trials.
Its essential oil has been studied as a mosquito repellent.
The genus name comes from the Greek for white, after its flowers.
Thumbai safety
Do not put leaf juice in the noses of infants. Persistent fevers and coughs need a medical check.
Ecology and sourcing
It grows across South and South-east Asia on disturbed ground.
Bees and butterflies visit its flowers.
It appears with the monsoon and dries out by summer.
Related plants
Also in Lamiaceae
Questions about Thumbai
What is thumbai poo?
Its white flower, used in worship.
Is Thumbai used at Onam?
Yes, in flower carpets.
Is Thumbai a mint?
It belongs to the mint family.
What is Thumbai used for in folk practice?
Colds, coughs and headaches.
When does Thumbai grow?
After the monsoon rains.
Can Thumbai be grown at home?
It self-seeds readily in sunny garden beds after the rains.
Sources
- Leucas aspera (Willd.) Link — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q2226572 (Leucas aspera)
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.