 "Nicandra physalodes" is used as a folk remedy in several countries in the Himalaya, including Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Nepal and Sikkim, although it is not native to the region.This may be due to a popular recognition of a familial resemblance - particularly in regard to calyces inflated at fruiting - to several native 
Solanaceous plants of the Himalaya long used in traditional medical practices, the genera involved being "Anisodus", "Physochlaina", "Przewalskia" and "Scopolia" (all belonging to tribe Hyoscyameae of subfamily Solanoideae).The much valued (and consequently over-harvested) species "Anisodus tanguticus" is perhaps particularly relevant in this context.