Vasaka is a large evergreen glabrous perennial shrub, growing all over the plains of India and Sri Lanka. Vasa means ‘perfume’. It is a powerful bronchodilator and expectorant.
Benefits of Vasaka: Asthma, Bronchitis, cough, TB, fever, epilepsy, insanity, arthritis, diarrhea, hepatitis.
Action: Expectorant, diuretic, antispasmodic, alterative .
Scientific name: Justicia adhatoda.
Useful part: Leaves, root, flowers, bark.
Dosage: 0.5–1.5g per day powdered leaf or 2.5–7.5ml per day.
Energetics
Rasa (taste): Bitter, astringent
Vırya(energy): Cold
Vipaka (post-digestive effect):Pungent
Guna (quality): Light, dry
Dosa effect: KP−, V+
Dhatu(tissue): Plasma, blood, fat
Srotas (channel): Respiratory, circulatory, digestive
Classical and common names
Ayurvedic: Vaasaa, Vaasaka, Vaasikaa, Simhaasya, Simhaparni, Simhavadanaa, Vaajidanta, Vrisha, Aataruushaka.
English: Malabar Nut, Vasaca.