वासा

• Botanical Name: Adhatoda vasica Nees
• Family: Acanthaceae
• Synonyms: Vasaka, Adusa, Arusha, Rus, Bansa
• Vernacular Name: Commonly known as “Malabar Nut” in English, “Adusa” in Hindi, and “Adalodakam” in Malayalam.
• Classification: A perennial shrub belonging to the Acanthaceae family.
• Habitat: Found abundantly throughout India and other tropical and subtropical regions. It thrives in well-drained soils and is often seen in wastelands and forested areas.
• Morphology: A shrub with lance-shaped leaves (8–10 cm long), oppositely arranged with smooth edges. The flowers are white, dense, and arranged in spikes, resembling the mouth of a lion. The fruits are pubescent, club-shaped capsules.
• Useful Parts: Leaves, roots, flowers, and the whole plant.
• Chemical Composition: Contains alkaloids like vasicine and vasicinone, along with tannins, saponins, flavonoids, and essential oils.
• Pharmacological Action: Known for its bronchodilator, expectorant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and hypoglycemic properties. It is widely used in treating respiratory disorders like asthma, cough, and bronchitis, as well as bleeding disorders and skin ailments.
• Formulation: Used in Ayurvedic preparations like Vasa Ghrita, Vasarishta, Vasakantakari Leha, and Vasa Avaleha.

Rasa: Tikta , kasaya

Guna: Laghu , Ruksha

Virya: Sheeta

Vipaka: Katu