VASA
INTRODUCTION
Kousika and Panini works delineate vasa and it is described by other commentators as vrsaka and atarusa. The synonym simhi is used in the vedic period to denote brhati but not for vasa.
Vasa is a well-known herb for respiratory disorders,bleeding disorders and febrile illness.Caraka documented the flowers of vasa as kapha-pittahara while susrutha mentioned them as kshaya and kasahara.
Vagbhatta emphasized its role in raktapitta. Shodala and Yogarathnakara have emphatically claimed that it is a definite treatment for raktapitta, kshaya and kasa.
About the drug : Botanical source of vasa is Adhatodavasica. And it belongs to Acanthaceae family.
SYNONYMS
Vasa – The plant grows in plenty and covers the ground with dense foliage.
Bhishangmatha – It protects like mother to all physician to alleviate diseases.
Atarushaka – The herb is a useful drug which alleviates a number of diseases.
Simhikaa – It is useful in many diseases.
Simhasya – Flowers look like opened mouth of lion.
Vajidantha – The flowers are white like the teeth of horse.
Vrisha – The flowers have prefuse nectar.
Vasaadani – Helpful in the treatment of obesity.
Kasanothpatana – Useful in kasa diseases.
Matha – Supports the patient like a mother.
Kaphaha – Relieves kapha.
Karkasha – The leaves are minutely pubescent.
Raktamutrajith – Relieves the passing of blood in urine or haematuria.
Danthasatvapradayi – Provides strength to the teeth.
Rakthapittaprasadini – It is useful in raktapitta or epistaxis.
VERNACULAR NAMES
English – Malabarnut, Vasaka
Hindi – Adusa, Arusa
Kannada – Adusoge, Adasale
Malayalam – Atalotakam
Tamil – Adathodai
Telungu – Addasaramu
Bengali – Bakas
Punjabi – vamsa
Marathi – Adulsa
Gujarati – Araduso
VARIETIES
Though there are no varieties mentioned in the classical literature, some vaidyas are using Adhatodabeddomiclarke as vasa.
P.V.Sharmaji reported that Justaciagendarussalinn is being used as Krishna varna.
Dr.Desai quoted Justiciapictalinn as raktapushpa vasa.
OFFICINAL PART
- Leaves
- Flowers
- Root
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
- Alkaloids
- Essential oil
- Vasicine (peganine)
- Vasicinine
- Β-Sitosterol
- Kaempferol
- 3-sophoroside
- Luteolin
- Tritriacontane
- Adhatodic acid
- Carotene
- Vasakin
- Vasicinol 1= q-hydroxyvasicine
- Vasicinone
- Vitamin c
- Vasicol
- Vasicinol
- Vasicinolone
- Adhatodine
- Adhavasinone
- Anisotine
- Vasicolone
- vasicolinone
PROPERTIES
Rasa – Tikta, Kashaya
Guna – Laghu, Ruksha
Veerya – Seetha
Vipaka – Katu
Doshagnatha – Kapha-Pitta samaka
PHARMOCOLOGICAL ACTION
- Vata karaka
- Swarya
- Hridya
- Kaphagna
- Pittagna
- Raktapitta
- Swasagna
- Kasagna
- Jwaragna
- Chardinigrahana
- Pramehagna
- Kushtagna
- Kshayagna
- Krimigna
- Sothahara
- Vedanasthapana
- Sthambhana
- Kantya
- Svedajanana
THERAPEUTIC USES
- Kapha-vikara
The swarasa of vasa patra is given with Ardrakaswarasa, Pippali and Saindhavalavana along with Madhu.
- Svasa&Kasa
Vasa swarasa given along with Draksha, Haritaka, Madhu and Sarkara.
- Fresh case of Svasa
Kwatha is prepared with Kantakari, Yavasa, Nagaramustha, Sunti and vasa and given with Tankana.
- Rajayakshma
Vasa ghritha is given
- Jvara
Vasa patraswarasa, Vamsalocana, Talisapatra is given with madhu.
- Thamakasvasa
Dhumapana is done with Vasa patra and Datturapatra.
- Rakta-pitta
Vasa patraswarasa given with madhu.
- Vishamajwara
Patrachoorna or mulachoorna is given.
- Aadhmana
Patraswarasa is taken internally.
- Raktha-pitta
Pushpa and patrachoorna is given.
- Athisara
Patraswarasa is given.
- Amavata
Vasa patrakalka applied externally.
- Tvakroga
Swarasa is given internally.
- Kalka applied externally
Kwatha used for bathing
- For Rasayana purpose
Mulakwatha of vasa is cooked with oil & used. It promotes intellect & life span.
- Vatavyadhi
Vasamuladitaila is given.
- Kushta
Vasa, Kutaja, Saptaparna, Karavira, Karanja, Nimba&Khadira mixed with Gomutra is given as Snana&Panartha.
DOSAGE
- Swarasa – 5-20 ml
- Patrachoorna – 1-3 gms
- Mulachoorna – 3-6 gms
- Pushpachoorna – 5-1 gms
- Kwatha – 50-100 ml
FORMULATIONS
- Vasakasava
- Vasarishta
- Vasachandanaditaila
- Vasavaleha
- Vasapanaka
- Brihatmanjishtathikwatha
- Panjatiktagritha
- Chyavanaprashaavaleha
- Kanakasava
RESEARCH
- Relaxation producing activity of dl-vasicinone on isolated guniea pig tracheal muscle was about 1/2000 that of adrenaline.
- Vasicine showed abortificient effect in guniea pigs depending on the stage of pregnancy and prior priming of animals with estradiol.
- Intra amniotic injection of vasicinehcl was effective in inducing mild trimester abortions at dose of 60mg.
- Bronchodilatory activity of vasicinone was compared to that of isoprenaline and aminophylline.
- Vasicine also potentiated prostaglandin-induced uterine contractions in rats.