Native to India, Coleus grows on the dry slopes of the Indian plains and in the foothills of the Himalayas. Native to India, Coleus is used in Indian folk medicine rather than within the Ayurvedic tradition and is a traditional digestive remedy. It shot to fame in Western medical circles when one of its constituents, forskolin, was first isolated in the 1970s. It also exhibited non specific spasmolytic activity on smooth muscle of gastrointestinal tract in guinea pig. Topical ocular application of forskolin lowered intra ocular pressure in rabbits, monkeys and humans.
Coleus is used in treatments to relieve glaucoma pressure within the eye.
It has been reported is several studies to lower the intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma. Forskohliin was an experiment eye drop found to reduce eye pressure. It was abandoned because the eye drops produced a milky covering over the eye. This side affect is eliminated by taking the herb orally as a tea, extract or pill. Drink in small doses over 2 days.