Adhatoda vasica - Vasa - ആടലോടകം

Botanical Name :                             
Adhatoda vasica Nees.

Justicia adhatoda

Family : 

Acanthaceae

Vernacular Names :

Malayalam : Aadalodakam - ആടലോടകം

English : Malabar nut

Sanskrit : Vasa, Vaasaka, Vrishaka, Simhaasyam, Vamsha, Vishnnu, Vaaji dhantha, 
                 Aada roosha,  Sinhapuri

Hindhi : Adoosa,  Arusha, Rus, Bansa 

Bangali : Baakasa, Adulsa

Tamil : Aada thodai

Gujarathi : Adulso, Aduraspee, Bansa 

Kannada : Adusogae
Marathi : Adulsa, Adusa
Persian : Bansa
Punjabi : Bhekkar
Telugu : Adamkabu, Adampaka, Addasaram

                                                       

Plant Description:                               

Adhatoda vasica is a small evergreen plant with broad, lanceolate leaves measuring 10 to 16 centimeters in length and 5 centimeters wide. 
They become greenish-brown when dried and have a bitter taste. They have a smell similar to strong tea. 

The wood of the stem is soft, and makes a great charcoal for gunpowder. The flower has large, attractive, white petals, streaked with purple on the lower lip. The fruit is a small capsule with 4 seeds. 

Chemical Composition : 

Several alkaloids are present in the leaves. 

The major bioactive chemical constituents of Adhatoda vasica are the alkaloids like Vasicine, Vasicinone, Vasicinol, Vasicol, Vasicinolone, Vasicinine and adhatodine etc.             

                                             

Rasaadhi Gunaas :

Rasa : Thiktham, Kashayam            

Guna : Lakhu, Rooksham

Veeryam : Sheetham

Vipakam : Katu                 

                   
                                

Useful Parts :

Leaves 
Roots 
Flowers 

Stem Bark

Indications :

01. Shwasa hara - Useful in Respiratory discomfort specially asthematic conditions 

02. Kasa hara - Useful in acute as well as cough 

03. Chardi hara - Alleviates nauseatic conditions 

04. Swarya - Improves voice 

05. Hrudya - Cardiac tonic 

06. Thrit hrit - Alleviates excessive thirst 

07. Kushta hara - Useful in all types of skin diseases 

08. Kshayapaha - Useful in emaciation, undernutrition and all similar conditions 

09. Raktapittahara - Useful in bleeding tendencies. 
10. Oxytocic - an agent that stimulates contraction of the uterine muscle, facilitating 
       or speeding up childbirth 

Precautions : 

Contraindicated in pregnancy except at during the birthing process.

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