Vanshlochan Powder – The Ayurvedic Bamboo Elixir

🌿 Vanshlochan (वंशलोचन)

Botanical Name: Bambusa arundinacea Willd.
Family: Bambusaceae / Graminae
English Name: Bamboo Manna
Part Used: Siliceous concretion (Exudate from Bamboo nodes)

1. Synonyms (नाम एवं पर्यायवाची)

संस्कृत नाम:
वंशः, त्वक्सारः, कर्मारः, त्वचिसारः, तृणध्वजः, शतपर्वा, यवफलः, वेणुः, मस्करः, तेजनः, दृढग्रन्थिः।

Etymological Meaning:

• वंशः – "वन्यते वंशः" — which spreads or produces sound; signifies lineage or propagation.
• त्वक्सारः – having strong outer bark with hollow internal structure.
• कर्मारः – useful in multiple works or crafts.
• तृणध्वजः – chief among the grasses.
• शतपर्वा – having numerous strong joints (nodes).
• वेणुः – used to make flutes and musical instruments.

2. Regional Names (प्रादेशिक नाम)

3. Botanical Description (वनस्पति विवरण)

Bamboo (Bambusa arundinacea Willd.) is a tall, thorny, perennial grass reaching up to 30 meters in height, with multiple woody stems.

• Rootstock: Thick, central, and woody, producing clumps.
• Culms (stems): Bright green, shining, 15–17 cm in diameter, with prominent nodes; younger culms are orange-yellow.
• Leaves: Linear or lanceolate, 13–20 × 2.5 cm.
• Flowers: Appear in large panicles, usually flowering gregariously once in 30 years.
• Fruits: Grain-like, known as Vansayava or Venubīja.

Vanshlochan is a white translucent silica exudate collected from the joints of bamboo stems.

4. Chemical Constituents (रासायनिक संघटक)

Seeds:

• Essential amino acids — Arginine, Cystine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Tyrosine, Valine
• Vitamins — Niacin, Riboflavin, Thiamine
• Proteins — Rich in glutelins containing Lysine and Methionine

Leaves:

• Betain, Cholin
• Proteolytic enzyme
• Diastatic and emulsifying enzymes
• Nuclease, Urease

Shoots:

• Benzoic acid
• Cynogenic glucoside (Toxiphyllin)
• 5,5'-di-O-(diferul-9,9'-dioyl)-[α-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1→3)-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-D-xylopyranose]

Roots:

• Albuminoids and cyanogenic glucoside

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

Therapeutic Uses (औषधीय प्रयोग):

• Vanshlochan (Bamboo manna):
• Used as tonic, demulcent, and rejuvenative.
• Acts as an expectorant and coolant.
• Beneficial in cough, bronchitis, asthma, and fever.
• Strengthens bones, teeth, and hair due to high silica content.
• Enhances fertility and vitality (Rasayana).
• Promotes uterine contraction — used post-delivery.
• Useful in bleeding disorders, skin diseases, and wound healing.
• Juice of tender shoots:
• Applied on wounds with maggots and joint pain (as paste).
• Leaves:
• Used in blood-stained sputum, fevers, and leprosy.
• Emmenagogue — stimulates menstrual flow.
• Seeds:
• Used as food in scarcity and improve nutrition.
• Roots:
• Used in eruptive skin diseases.

6. Doses (मात्रा एवं उपयोग विधि)

7. Ayurvedic Formulations Containing Vanshlochan

• Sitopaladi Churna
• Talisadi Churna
• Kasturyadi Gutika
• Chyawanprash Avaleha
• Brahma Rasayana

8. Modern Pharmacological Insights

• Antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and expectorant activities reported.
• Rich in silica, supports collagen formation and connective tissue repair.
• Possesses antioxidant and wound-healing potential.

Conclusion

Vanshlochan (Bamboo manna) is a classical Ayurvedic mineral-organic exudate used as a rejuvenator, respiratory tonic, and coolant. It supports respiratory health, promotes tissue regeneration, and enhances vitality. Its sweet, cooling, and soothing properties make it valuable in both curative and nutritive formulations

Ref: Bhavaprakash Nighantu