Scientific: Malvastrum coromandelianum (L.) Garcke., Malvaceae

Synonyms:

• Malva      antillarum Zuccagni
• Malva      betuloides Schrad.
• Malva      borbonica Willd.
• Malva      carpinifolia Desr.
• Malva      coromandeliana L.
• Malva      coromandelica Panz.
• Malva      domingensis Spreng. ex DC.
• Malva      europaea Noronha
• Malva      havanensis Sessé & Moc.
• Malva      hispida Moench
• Malva      lindheimeriana Scheele
• Malva      luzonica Blanco
• Malva      ruderalis Blume
• Malva      subhastata Cav.
• Malva      ulmifolia Balb. ex DC.
• Malvastrum      lindheimerianum (Scheele) Walp.
• Malvastrum      ruderale Hance
• Malveopsis      coromandeliana (L.) Morong
• Sida      betulifolia Steud.
• Sida      carpinoides DC.
• Sida      coromandelina Steud.
• Sida      fauriei H.Lév.
• Sida      jamaicensis Mill.
• Sida      mucronulata DC.
• Sida      oahuensis H.Lév.
• Sida      ulmifolia Willd.

English: Broom weed

Yorùbá: Ọlọ́wọ̀nrànsánsán, Asa, Asaòrìṣà

Brasil: Vassourinha

Òrìṣà: Ọ̀ṣun

Elements: Masculine,   Earth,   Ẹ̀rọ̀

Odù: 11,   11-8,   15,   8

Ewé Ọlọ́wọ̀nrànsánsán is an erect perennial plant with stems that can become more or less woody and persist; it can grow up to 100 cm tall (39 inches). The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials. The stems are used for making brooms. Ọlọ́wọ̀nrànsánsán is an annual or perennial herb or shrub native to North and South America. It has been introduced to many other areas of the world including Australia, Africa, and southern and eastern Asia.

Ewé Ọlọ́wọ̀nrànsánsán is a calming plant with the capacity to create harmony and resistance.

It makes the person more resistant to life's difficulties. It does not go to the mat for omi ẹ̀rọ̀, but enters in the omi ẹ̀rọ̀ for bathing.

It is a leaf of little use in Òrìṣà houses, but considered a leaf of calmness (Ẹ̀rọ̀) and prosperity. Its other name (Asa) means "shield" or "defense" hence its use in baths of defense, protection and prosperity.

To catch thieves:

To find a thief, you must take two pieces of the plant [broom-weed], dip them in lye-water, reciting ‘By St. Peter, by St. Paul, By the living God of all’”.

lye is a chemical used in soaps and detergents. Household cleaning products were sometimes used in Caribbean folk practices.

“By Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

God is the maker of us all;

What he gave to me I give to thee,

And that is nought to nobody.”

The pieces of broom-weed should be placed either side of the suspect’s neck.

The plant will then wind itself around the neck of the guilty party and choke him or her.

“Nought to nobody” implies that this rhyme was used to prevent theft. Peter and Paul’s names are to be found amongst a list of saints used in Anglo-Saxon charms to detect missing goods and livestock.

This plant is also being used in theft detection charms by the North American Conjure practitioners.

“To catch a thief: hang three sprigs of broomweed about the neck of the suspect and recite Psalm 50:18, and if he is the guilty one it will choke him to death”.

Psalm 50, verse 18 concerns God condemning those who recite the commandments and talk of their faith whilst also being “the friend of every thief” they see.

To remove anything bad from the house and bring ire:

Ingredients:

• Ewé Ọlọ́wọ̀nrànsánsán

Make a broom with the ewé, and with this the house is swept from the back to the front until you reach the main door and with it you collect the garbage; then leave the house doing a walk around and then carry it up a hill away from the house. While sweeping the house with the ewé you should sing:

Bí asibi rèlùjù - The one who overshadows the evil spirits in the   forest

Bí asibi rèlùjù - The one who overshadows the evil spirits in the   forest

Bí a kore bo wálẹ̀̀ - He is the one who brings good things to the Earth

Bí asibi rèlùjù - The one who overshadows the evil spirits in the   forest

Medicinal:

The plant (part not specified) is diaphoretic, emollient, mucilaginous, refreshant.

A decoction is used as a remedy for dysentery.

The decoction of the leaves is employed as a wash to cleanse sores and wounds.

The leaves are used as a cure for carbuncles.

Aerial parts of the plant showed antinociceptive activity. Effects are comparable with acetylsalicylic acid.

A study showed the plant to have antiinflammatory and analgesic properties. In trials, a water extract of the plant inhibited hind-paw oedema and exhibited analgesic activity. A study showed the water extract had good inhibitory activity against both methicilin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive staphyloccocus aureus and also showed a low killing effect