1. Names:

Sanskrit:	Vasaaka		Enlarge photo
English:	Malabar nut
Botanical:	Adhatoda vasica
Hindi:	Arusha - Adulasa
Telugu:	Addsaram
Common names:	Justicia adhatoda, Adulsa Arusa, Adathodai, Bakash, Adathoda, Adalodakam, Adusoge, Addasaramu
Family name:	Acanthaceae

2. Parts used:

• Leaves
• Roots
• Flowers
• Stem Bark

Contents: The leaves of the plant contain two major alkaloids called vasicine, and vasicinone 1,2.

3. Properties and Action According to Indigenous Medical Systems:

• Rasa: Bitter
• Vipaka: Spicy
• Veerya: Seetaveerya

4. Uses:

• The extraction of leaf is a good medicine for Asthma and cough.
• It is a good medicine to stop internal and external bleedings like bleeding gums, piles and peptic ulcers.
• It is a good ingredient in decoctions for all types of fever due to kapha and pitta doshas.
• It is expectorant, antispasmodic and good blood purifier.
• It speeds up the child birth.

5. Names due to Physical properties:

• Simha mukhi: Flowers of this plant are in the shape of lion head.

6. Names due to Medical properties:

• Vaidya mata: This plant is like mother to doctors.
• Kaphahari: Which balances Kapha in the body.

7. Reference:

Vasthu guna deepika,Vasthu guna prakashika,Chakradatta, Susrutam, Basavarajeeyam, Bhavaprakashika, Vangasena, Charakasamhita, Vagvatamu, Hareetasamhita, Srijanakalpavalli

8. Caution:

Contraindicated in pregnancy except at birth.

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