It’s anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive and diuretic properties made it a remedy for arteriosclerosis (capillary and circulatory disorders), kidney stones, diabetes and nephritis.

It is now increasingly being grown as an ornament plant in home garden in many countries. Planting the Cat Whiskers Herb is relatively easy as it can adapt to different ecological conditions from low ground to high plains.

Its resemblance to the shape of the whiskers of a cat gave it the name Cat’s Whiskers Herb or MaoXuCao (猫须草).

Botanically known as Spicate Clerodendranthus or Orthosiphon Aristatus, the Chinese especially the Dai community (傣族) of Xishuangbanna (西双版纳) in China Yunnan province had been drinking Cat Whiskers Herb for more than a thousand years as a herbal tea that mainly treat urinary or respiratory diseases such as chronic nephritis (inflamed kidney), cystitis (inflammation of the bladder and urethra), dysuria (painful urination), urolithiasis (kidney stones), lithangiuria (stones in the urinary tract), and rheumatoid arthritis etc. Thus, the tea is well known as “Kidney Tea” (肾茶) or “Stone Removal Herb” (化石草). 

Due to the benefit that consuming the Cat Whiskers Herb can lead to odourless urine like that of a toddler’s, it was also named “Toddler Tea” (童子茶).

The amazing cooling, detoxifying and healing effects of the Cat Whiskers Herb also gave rise to other names such as “Ageless Herb” (不老草) or “Romance Herb” (桃花草) or “Holy Tea” (圣茶) because it was regarded as an aphrodisiacal herb that was regularly presented to the ancient royalties.

Cat Whiskers Herb is also found to have special remedial effects for upper respiratory ailments such as very dry mouth, kakostomia (bad breath). Research by the Chinese had shown that the 89-100% healing rate for patients who suffered from urgent but short urine.

Cat Whiskers Herb is also referred to as misai kucing, kumis kucing, remujung, Orthosiphon Stamineus Benth, Orthosiphonblaetter, Indisher Nierentee, Feuilles de Barbiflore, Java Tea, Javatee, Koemis Koetjing and Yaa Nuat Maeo.