Ayurvedic herb Adhatoda beddomei (Vasa)

In short:

Adhatoda beddomei is one of the best herbs. This herb is used to cure a lot of disease.

Family – Acanthaceae

Parts used – Root, leaves and flower

Different names – sanskrit (अडुसा adusa, aruha, अरुष arusha), Adhatoda vasica ,Nees

Uses – The root, leaves and flowers of Vasa is used in the form of juice and decoction to treat fever, intrinsic haemorrhage, cough, asthma, consumption, skin diseases, obesity, oedema, skin diseases, leucorrhoea, difficult labour, vomiting, piles, pox, retention of urine, diseases of mouth and as rejuvinative.

This shrub has a number of tradicinal medicinal uses. It has been used as an antispasmodic, bronchodilator, and mucolytic agent in asthma and other respiratory conditions. It has oxytocic properties and can be abortifacient. Some other uses are given below:

In Fever and cough- Decoction of vasa. Kantakari (solanum xanthocarpum) and guduci (tinospora cordifolia )mixed with honey alleviates fever and cough. (40-60 ml) (S.G 2.2.82)

Decoction of vasa, draksa (Vitis vinifera) and haritaki (Terminalia chebula)mixed with sugar and honey checks cough, asthma and intrinsic haemorrhage (40-60 ml) (VM.9.13; also SG2.2.80)

Dry cough-Powder of haridra (curcuma longa) cooked with vasa juice and taken with fatty layer of milk checks dry cough (10-15 ms) (SB.4.333)

Jaundice (kamala)-Juice of vasa mixed with honey should be taken. It alleviates fever, cough, wasting, jaundice, kapha and pitta (10-20 ml) (SG.2.1.8,34)

Sciatica – One should take decoction of vasa, sunthi (zingiber officinale) and aragvadha (cassia fistula) mixed with castor oil. It is useful in sciatica (40-60 ml) (BS. 587; BP.Ci.24.140)

Src:      Primary health management through Ayurveda and wikipedia