Adusa Powder (Adhatoda Vasica) – The Ayurvedic Respiratory Healer

🌿 Adusa / Vasa (Justicia adhatoda Linn.)

Family: Acanthaceae
Sanskrit Name: वासा (Vāsā)
English Name: Malabar Nut / Vasaka

🔹 1. Synonyms (पर्याय नाम)

• वासक (Vāsaka): “वाति गच्छति श्लेष्मा अनया वासा” — It expels phlegm (Kapha) from the body.
• वासिका (Vāsikā): Always desired (vāśyate) by physicians for curing Shvāsa and Kāsa.
• भिषङ्माता (Bhiṣaṅmātā): “Mother of physicians,” as it is beneficial in numerous diseases and acts compassionately like a mother.
• सिंहिका / सिंहमुख / सिंहास्य (Simhikā / Simhamukha / Simhāsya): The flowers resemble the open mouth of a lion.
• वाजिदन्ता (Vājidantā): The white petals resemble the teeth of a horse.
• आटरूष / अटरूषक (Āṭarūṣa / Aṭarūṣaka): Destroys diseases by spreading energy or movement (ruṣati rogān).
• वृष (Vṛṣa): Contains sweet juice at its flower base.
• सिंहपर्ण (Simhaparṇa): Leaves resemble the ear lobes of a lion.

🔹 2. Regional Names

🔹 3. Botanical Description

Botanical Name: Justicia adhatoda Linn.
Family: Acanthaceae

• Habitat: Found throughout India, especially in tropical and sub-tropical regions; grows well on wastelands and roadsides.
• Type: Large evergreen shrub, 1.5–2.5 meters tall.
• Leaves: Opposite, large, lanceolate, and leathery with prominent veins; emit a characteristic strong odour.
• Flowers: White with purple streaks, arranged in dense terminal spikes; resemble a lion’s mouth.
• Fruit: Capsule-shaped, clavate, containing small yellowish-brown seeds.
• Root and Bark: Light brown, fibrous.

🔹 4. Chemical Constituents

The plant contains a rich variety of alkaloids, flavonoids, and essential oils.

Major Active Compounds:

• Alkaloids: Vasicine (Peganine), Vasicinone, Vasicinol, Vasicinolone, Deoxyvasicinone, Vasicol, Anisotine, Adhatodine, Vasicoline, Vasicolinone, Adhavasinone
• Flavonoids: Kaempferol, Luteolin, Quercetin, Kaempferol 3β-D-glucoside, 5-sophoroside
• Sterols: β-Sitosterol, α-Amyrin
• Other Constituents: Adhatodic acid, Vasakin (a non-nitrogenous principle), Carotene, Galactose derivatives, Triterpenes, Essential oil, Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), Long-chain fatty acids (arachidic, behenic, linoleic, oleic, lignoceric, cerotic)

Pharmacological Observations:

• Vasicine exhibits bronchodilatory, respiratory stimulant, uterotonic, and abortifacient activities.
• Vasicinone acts as an anti-anaphylactic agent and balances the effects of vasicine in combination.
• Alcoholic extracts show antibacterial, antifungal, and antitubercular properties.
• Essential oils have expectorant and rubefacient action.
• Resinous extract shows mild insecticidal and weedicidal activity.

🔹 5. Properties and Therapeutic Uses (गुण एवं औषधीय उपयोग)

Rasa (Taste): Tikta (bitter), Kaṣāya (astringent)
Guna (Qualities): Laghu (light), Rukṣa (dry)
Virya (Potency): Śīta (cold)
Vipāka (Post-digestive effect): Kaṭu
Doshaghna: Pacifies Kapha and Pitta, but aggravates Vāta.

Pharmacological Actions:

• Shvāsahara: Relieves asthma and breathlessness
• Kāsahara: Cures cough and promotes expectoration
• Raktapittahara: Stops internal bleeding and haemoptysis
• Jvaraghna: Reduces fever
• Kusthaghna: Cures skin diseases
• Krumighna: Destroys intestinal worms
• Hridya: Beneficial to the heart
• Stanyashodhana: Purifies breast milk
• Pittaghna: Cools excess heat and reduces inflammation
• Kaphaghna: Expels mucus from respiratory channels

Therapeutic Uses:

• Respiratory Disorders:
• Used in Shvāsa (asthma), Kāsa (cough), Bronchitis, Tuberculosis, Fever associated with chest congestion.
• Vasa swarasa (fresh leaf juice) mixed with ginger juice, black pepper, and honey relieves cough and breathlessness.
• Decoction of Vasa, Drākṣā, Harītakī with honey is useful in chronic cough.
• In Balakāsa (children’s cough), leaf juice is given with Tankana (borax).
• Bleeding Disorders (Raktapitta, Epistaxis, Haemoptysis):
• Leaf juice with honey stops bleeding.
• Vāsāghṛta (ghee processed with Vasa) is beneficial in Raktapitta and Kṣaya (tuberculosis).
• Digestive Disorders:
• Leaf juice relieves diarrhoea and dysentery due to its antibacterial property.
• Arthritis and Inflammation:
• Poultice of leaves applied on joints reduces Śotha (swelling) and Śūla (pain).
• External Uses:
• Leaves act as insect repellents and mild fungicides.
• Infusion of leaves used against white ants and red spider mites.
• Useful in storing fruits and water to prevent bacterial contamination.
• Gynaecological Use:
• Vasicine acts as a uterotonic and can be used under supervision in cases of postpartum haemorrhage.
• Miscellaneous:
• Leaves are smoked as cigarettes for immediate relief in bronchial asthma.
• Flowers improve blood circulation and act as mild tonics.

🔹 6. Doses (मात्रा)

• Powder of Leaves: 1–2 grams

⚕️ Summary

Vasa (Adusa) is one of Ayurveda’s foremost herbs for respiratory and bleeding disorders. Rich in the alkaloid vasicine, it acts as a bronchodilator, expectorant, haemostatic, and anti-tubercular agent. It liquefies mucus, relieves breathlessness, and purifies blood. The plant also possesses antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, uterotonic, and insecticidal properties.

Key Benefits:

• Clears respiratory passages and eases breathing
• Stops internal bleeding (Raktapitta)
• Reduces inflammation and fever
• Detoxifies the body by pacifying Kapha and Pitta
• Promotes voice clarity and lung health

Ref: Bhavaprakash Nighantu