Vasa (Godsend Herb For Lungs) – Uses, Benefits

Vasa

Abstract

Vasa is Adhatoda Vasica belongs to the Family Acanthaceae, other famous names are Adusa, Arusha, Rus, Bansa. This is a potent ayurvedic plant that helps to eliminate respiratory diseases. Vasa is a common herbaceous medicinal plant commonly known as Malabar Nut and is one of the most significant herbs that is used to treat respiratory tract disorders. This herb is found abundantly throughout India. Vasa is very useful in many disorders, such as raktapitta (Bleeding disorders), jwara (Fever), shwasa (Asthma), kasa (cough), kushtha (skin disorders), kamla (jaundice), vaman (emetic conditions). In this article we are going to discuss and gain knowledge about Vasa herb, its properties and some ayurvedic formulations that are prepared from Vasa.

Introduction

Vasa is a herb that helps to give relief in respiratory tract disorders, a very potent antimicrobial agent and has cooling properties. Vasicine is the active component that is obtained from this plant and many other phytoconstituents like adhatodine, anisoline which aids in the anti-allergic properties of the herb. Vasa is very useful and filled with properties like bronchodilation, expectorant, hypoglycemic conditions, and is anti-inflammatory or anti-microbial properties. This herb is very useful in treating the edematous swellings, ulcerations, and many different types of allergies.

Vernacular Names Of Vasa

  • Vasa, vasaka (Vasayati Acchadayati) is a herb that is thick in consistency or can spread and cover the maximum area.
  • Vajidant – Flowers are as white as the horse teeth.
  • Atarush – That helps to stop the spreading nature of disease.
  • Simhasya, Simhi – Flowers that look like the mouth of a lion.
  • Bhishagmata – Mother of all the medicines.
  • Vrisha (Varshati madhu) – Flowers are enriched with sweet juice.

Morphological Description

This is a shrub that is having lance shaped leaves of about 8-10 centimetres, oppositely arranged with smooth edges or short petioles, the trunk has many long opposite ascending branches, where the bark is yellowish in colour.

Flowers are usually white in colour and are dense, large and filled with spikes, like the mouth of a lion.

Fruits are grown in between the club-shaped capsules and are pubescent.

Most important Chemical composition of this herb is Vasicine and Quinazoline alkaloids and other phytochemicals such as tannins, saponins, flavonoids etc.

Therapeutic Properties

  • Rasa (Taste) – Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent).
  • Guna (Quality) – Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry).
  • Veerya (Potency) – Sheeta (Cold).
  • Vipaka (Post digestive effect) – Katu (Pungent).
  • Karma (Action) – Balances the Kapha and Pitta dosha.
  • Projyang (Part used) – Leaf, roots, flowers, or whole plant can be used.

Acharya Charak included this in Tikta Skandha and Acharya Vagbhata mentioned it in Durvadi Gana. Bhavprakash classified into two types –

  1. Shweta
  2. Krishna

Dosha Karma

This herb is light, rough and bitter, astringent in taste and helps to diminish the kapha-pitta dosha.

  • Leaves are used in inflammatory conditions,painful disorders, infectious wounds and many other skin disorders in the form of paste (Lepa), by covering the affected area with leaf, as in the form of Patra-potli pinda sweda so significantly work on kapha-pittaja condition.
  • Its wonderful effects are seen in activating the pranada nadi.
  • Gives miraculous effects on heart disorders, balances the blood pressure, purifies the blood and has great anticoagulant properties.
  • This herb is very famous in management of respiratory tract disorders, it liquifies the kapha dosha and eliminates it from the body. These properties help to call this plant as Godsend herb for lungs.
  • This herb has great diuretic properties.
  • It helps the skin to perspire properly and has great effects on skin allergies, hence balances the bhrajaka pitta.

Therapeutic Uses Of Vasa

  1. This herb is very effective in vitiated kapha-pitta dosha.
  2. This herb can also be used externally in the form of Kalka (paste) in conditions such as arthritis, inflammatory conditions, painful areas, and skin allergies.
  3. In vataj rogas or in psychotic disorders the massage (Abhyang) is prescribed by the siddha taila to be followed and it gives great results.
  4. Its retention properties give great results in dysentery or any other bleeding disorders.
  5. Decoction of this herb is very useful in worm manifestations.
  6. Helps to calm the mind and relaxes stress.
  7. This herb can be given in the early levels of tuberculosis (kshaya rogas).
  8. It is also very beneficial in liver disorders and gallbladder also, its pitta balancing properties positively affects the liver enzymes.

In Ayurveda this herb is mentioned as antiasthmatic, antitussive, acts as a tonic, and is very beneficial in skin disorders.

This herb is so powerful in respiratory diseases that in allopathic medications this is prescribed in various formulations with Bromhexine and vasaka and also marketed with the tagline where it is clearly mentioned its popular name Vasa.

Various Health Benefits of Vasa

  1. Respiratory Disorders – In ayurvedic texts this herb is very effective in shwasa, kasa conditions. It helps to liquify the phlegm that is lodged in the airways, helps to bronchodilation, relaxation of bronchioles and hence, relieves the respiratory diseases.
  2. Bleeding Disorders – Vasa is very effective in bleeding disorders, hemorrhagic piles, gastric ulcers, epistaxis, bleeding gums. Swaras are mainly recommended in these conditions to stop the bleeding. This herb is also very useful in increasing the platelet count.
  3. Sinusitis – Sinusitis is inflammation of sinus mucosa in which excessive mucus fills in the sinuses and results in the obstruction of airways. Vasa helps to relieve this condition by liquifying the nasal stuffiness and helps to cure the disease.
  4. In Gastric Ulcers – Vasa is used with yashtimadhu and shatavari to manage the ulcers.

Classical Ayurvedic Formulations of Vasa

  • Vasa ghan vati
  • Vasavaleha
  • Vasa asava
  • Vasa ghrit
  • Vasa arishta
  • Vasa churna

Planet Ayurveda also provides some effective formulations consisting of vasa such as –

  • Vasa powder
  • Vasaka capsules
  • Vasavaleha

Vasa is used as an important ingredient in

  • Rakatrodhak vati
  • Panchtiktaka ghrit
  • Panchtiktaghrit Guggul
  • Praanrakshak churna
  • Bronco plan syrup
  • Vasant kusumakar ras
  • Mahatriphala ghrit
  • Mahakhadir ghrit

Conclusion

Vasa herb is a very beneficial herb. Whole plant can be used for medicinal purposes, this is also named as versatile herb because it has universal panacea properties. Despite its great medicinal properties this herb can show its ill-effects if not used properly so consult a good Ayurvedic practitioner to get its wonderful effects in ongoing condition.