Vasaka

April 15th, 2007

Botanical Name: Adhatoda vasica, Justicia adhatoda

Plant Family: Acanthaceae

Common Name: Adatodai, Arusa, Adulsa, Bakas, Malabar Nut Tree

Indian Name: Adusa

Origin: A small evergreen, sub-herbacious bush which grows commonly in open plains, especially in the lower Himalayas (up to 1300 meters above sea level), India, Sri Lanka, Burma and Malaysia

History: Adhatoda leaves have been used extensively in Ayurvedic Medicine for over 2000 years primarily for respiratory disorders

Tradition: It was used by traditional midwives at the time of delivery

Medicinal Parts Used: Leaves, roots, flowers and stem bark
Origin, Distribution and Composition:
Vasaka, also called Malabar nut tree, is well known throughout India. It is tall, with several branches, dense, and an evergreen shrub. Leaves are large and lance-shaped. The leaves contain an alkaloid vasicine besides an essential oil .It has capsular four-seeded fruits. The flowers are either white or purple in colour. Its trade name vasaka is based on Sanskrit name.

Vasaka is indigenous to India. It grows all over the plains of India and in the lower Himalayan ranges. The leaves contain an alkaloid vasicine besides an essential oil.

The leaves of this plant was not eaten by goats as it is bitter ( Hence the name Adu (Goat) - Thoda ( not touch). This herb is very widely found and it was common to have a brew made with these leaves boiled in water with black pepper corns added. The benefits were captured in the western system of medicine and the extracts are used in expectorants.

Contains:

Leaves
Quinazoline Alkaloids
vasicine - 45-95% (the mucolytic drug bromhexine was developed from this alkaloid)
N-oxides of vasicine
vasicinone
deoxyvasicine
oxyvasicinine
maiontone
essential oil
Flowers
b-sitosterol-D-glucoside
kaempferol
glycosides of kaempferoland
queretin
Roots
vasicinolone
vasicol
peganine
hydroxy oxychalcone
glucosyl oxychalcone
Other

odorous volatile principle
organic adhatodic acid
Action:
abortifacient [an agent that induces or causes premature expulsion of a fetus (abortion)]
anti-asthmatic [an agent to relieve asthma]
antispasmodic [an agent which relieves or eases muscular spasms, cramps or convulsions]
antitussive [an agent that relieves coughing]
bronchodilator [an agent to dilate the bronchials]
expectorant [an agent that promotes the discharge of mucous and secretions from the respiratory passages]
febrifuge [an agent that reduces or eliminates fevers]
mucolytic [an agent that thins and breaks down mucus]
oxytocic [an agent that stimulates contraction of the uterine muscle, facilitating or speeding up childbirth]
uterotonic [an agent that tones, strengthens and invigorates the uterus or the entire organism giving a feeling of well-being]
The leaf extract, is considered safe and the oil has low toxicity

Uses:
Healing Power and Curative Properties
The leaves, roots and the flowers are extensively used in indigenous medicine as a remedy for cold, cough, bronchitis and asthma.

Adhatoda vasica is used for:

Blood Conditions
bleeding due to idiopathic (unknown) thrombocytopenic (blood does not have enough platelets) purpura (excessive bruising)
Cardiovascular Conditions
moderate hypotensive activity (lowers blood pressure)
pulmonary diseases
Female Conditions
assists uterine involution (rolling or turning inward)
menorrhagia (excessive menstrual bleeding)
postpartum (after childbirth) hemorrhage
uterine stimulant activity
Gastrointestinal Conditions
dyspepsia
local bleeding due to peptic ulcer and/or piles (hemorrhoids)
Respiratory Tract Conditions
acute and chronic bronchitis often combined with the herbs Licorice and Marshmallow for soothing the respiratory tract
allergic asthma, often combined with the herbs Albizia, Baical Skullcap, Eyebright and Tylophora
antihistamine effects (the leaves may be dried and smoked to relieve asthma)
broncho-dilation effects
emphysema
obstructive airway disease (chronic) often combined with the herbs Polygala, Grindelia, Euphorbia and Elecampane
phthisis (wasting of the body as in tuberculosis)
relieves cough and breathlessness
Other Conditions
bleeding gums (applied locally)
diphtheria
gives relief in pyorrhoea, a gum disease (applied locally)
intermittent fever
Tuberculosis (all strains of inhibited by the essential oil)
typhus fever
Caution:
Contraindicated in pregnancy except at during the birthing process
Large doses cause
diarrhea
irritation of the alimentary canal
vomiting
Drug Interactions:
Do not use Adhatoda without first talking to your practitioner or healthcare provider if you are taking any of the following medications:
None indicated
Dosage:
0.5-1.5g/day dried root
1-3mL/day 1:2 fluid extract
Higher doses may be needed for the oxytocic effect during childbirth [to stimulate contraction of the uterine muscle, facilitating or speeding up childbirth]
Bronchitis and Asthma
In acute stages of bronchitis it gives unfailing relief, especially where the sputum is thick and sticky. It liquifies the sputum so that it is brought up more easily. For relief in asthma, the dried leaves should be smoked.

Tuberculosis
In Ayurveda, a preparation made from Vasaka flowers, known as gulkand is used to treat tuberculosis. A few fresh petals of Vasaka flowers should be bruised and put in a pot of china clay. Some sugar crystals are added and the jar kept in the sun. It should be stirred every morning and evening. The preserve is ready for use in about a month.

Even the juice from its leaves is useful in treating tuberculosis. About 30 n-d of the juice is taken thrice a day with honey. It relieves the irritable cough by its soothing action on the nerve and by liquefying the sputum, which makes expectoration easier. U.C. Dutt says, “the medicine was considered so serviceable in phthisis (severe tuberculosis of the lungs) that it was said, no man suffering from this disease need despair as long as the vasaka plant exists”.

Coughs
For coughs, 7 leaves of the plant are boiled in water, strained and mixed with 24 grams of honey. This decoction provides relief. Similarly a confection of Vasaka flowers eaten in doses of 12 grams twice daily relieves cough. About 60 grams of flowers and 180 grams of jaggery should be mixed for preparing this confection.

Intestinal Worms
Its leaves, bark, the root-bark, the fruit and flowers are useful in the removal of intestinal parasites. The decoction of its root and bark in doses of 30 grams twice or thrice a day for 3 days can be given for this purpose. The juice of its fresh leaves can, also be used in doses of a teaspoon thrice a day for 3 days.

Diarrhoea and Dysentery
The juice from its leaves should be given in doses of 2 to 4 grams in treating diarrhoea and dysentery.

Skin Diseases
A poultice of its leaves can be applied with beneficial results over fresh wounds, rheumatic joints and inflammatory swellings. A warm decoction of its leaves is useful in treating scabies and other skin diseases.

Rheumatic Joints:A polutics of its leaves can be applied with beneficial resultsover fresh wounds,rheumatic joints and inflammatory swellings.

Methods for Uses and Dosages : The drug Vasaka is often taken in the form of juice extracted from its leaves, mixed with ginger or honey, in doses of 15 to 30. The leaves can be made into a decoction or the dried leaves can be given in powder form in doses of 2 grams. Both the decoction and powder are constituents of many preparations used in the Ayurvedic medicine for various affections of the respiratory tract. The root and the bark have the same medicinal uses as the leaves. A decoction of the bark is given in 30 to 60 ml doses and the powdered root-bark in 0.75 to 2 grams doses.

Click for Adhatoda Liquid Herbal Extract

Vasaka comfortÂ

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources: IndianGyan.com,Miracles Of Herbs and en.wikipedia.org