Ayurvedic Herbs (Letters L- M)
Malabar Nut Tree {Justicia adhatoda or Adhatoda Vasika}
Malabar Nut Tree or Nees leaf or vasa or adusa
Ayurveda Characteristic and Uses
- Effect on doshas – Balances Pitta and Kapha
- Taste – Bitter, astringent
- Energetics – Cooling
- Main Traditional Action: Expectorant, strengthens the metabolism of dhatus and purifies the blood
- Other Traditional Uses: Cold, cough, whooping cough, chronic bronchitis, asthma, sedative, expectorant, antispasmodic, heart tonic diarrhea, dysentery and skin complaints.
Modern Research
Malabar nut tree and its components have been shown to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiulcer, sucrase inhibitory activity, antitubercular, abortifacient, antimutagenic, anti-allergic, anti-asthmatic, radioprotective, and hepatoprotective effects. Two of its components vasicine and vasicinone in combination (1:1) showed pronounced bronchodilatory activity in vivo and in vitro. It has also been shown to have significant effects on glucose tolerance, glycosylated haemoglobin, serum lipidprofiles suggesting it use as anti-diabetic agent.
Ayurvedic Herbs (Letters L- M)
