Sunday, November 30, 2008

Adhatoda vasica (NEES)


Family : Acanthaceae

Synonym(s) : Justicia adhatoda (Linn.), Adhatoda zeylanica Medic.

English Name : Malabar Nut, Vasaka

Description

Adhatoda vasica is an evergreen, gregarious, stiff, perennial shrub. The leaves are elliptic-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, entire, hairy, light green above, dark below and leathery; the flowers are large, white with red-or yellow-barred throats and in spikes, with large bracts; the capsules are longitudinally channelled; the seeds globular.

Herb Effects

Sedative, expectorant, antispasmodic, anthelmintic.

Active Ingredients

Vasicoline, adhatodine, vasicolinone and anisotine (leaves)

Medicinal Use

For asthma and intermittent fever; used also as an expectorant in cases of chronic bronchitis and phthisis. On rheumatic joints, as a counter-irritant on inflammatory swellings, on fresh wounds, urticaria and in neuralgia.

Contraindication

Large doses irritate the alimentary canal and cause diarrhoea and vomiting.

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