A herbal
plant which requires very little watering and is an extremely
hardy plant is Adhatoda zeylanica. (It is also known as Justicia
adhatoda, and Adhatoda vasica). If there is one herbal plant
that needs to be singled out for propagation and planting on a
large scale, it would be this one. Adhatoda in Tamil, meaning a
plant shunned
by
herbivorous animals, it is also known as the Malabar Nut in
English and Vasa in Sanskrit. Propagated easily by cuttings,
grows to a height of eight to 14 feet and has attractive white
flowers.
Adhatoda is useful for curing
coughs, colds and asthma and is easy to administer. As with most
herbal medicines it is most effective if administered as soon as
symptoms begin to manifest themselves. Boil three leaves of the
herb (after washing) in a cup of water. (It should be boiled and
reduced to half.) Half a cup of the decoction can be taken each
time three or four times a day.
Adhatoda zeylanica Medic. syn.
A. vasica Nees (Malabar nut, Vasaka)
Bengali- Basak; Gujarati-Aradusi;
Hindi- Arusa, Bansa; Kannada- Adusoge, Kurchigida,
Pavate; Malayalam- Adalodakam; Oriya- Arusa,
Basung; Sanskrit-Shwetavasa, Vasa, Vasaka; Tamil.--Adhatodai,
Pavettai; Telugu- Addasaramu, Garhwal- Bangra;
Kashmiri- Bahekar, Baikar, Basuth, Bhenkar; Kumaun-
Arus, Basinga; PunjabI-Bansa, Basuti, Bhekar, Vasaka.
If you grow the plant at home
or if you are sure that the leaf surface is unlikely to have
pollutants like pesticide or diesel particles you can grind two
leaves in a mixer (after washing) with a little water. Half a
spoon of the juice can be administered with ¼ spoon of ginger
juice two or three times a day. For those who find its bitter
taste unpalatable, having it with half a spoon of honey should
help. (Honey should help with the cough or cold.)
While this drug has no toxic
side effects, your child should be gradually introduced to the
herb. Start with about a quarter spoon and then increase the
dosage. It is recommended for children who have completed one
year. For very young children start with a few tablespoons of
the boiled decoction with honey. Those children who have been on
a regular course of antibiotics will generally take a little
longer to respond.
Adhatoda works two ways. It
improves the functioning of the respiratory system and the
immune system. It has been used for centuries, and is mentioned
in Sanskrit scriptures. It is an expectorant and is a
constituent of many herbal cough syrups. A study by Shah et al
in 1987 indicates that it is the vasicine and vasicinine in the
herb that is responsible for its bronchodilatory effects and
usefulness even in cases of asthmatic bronchitis.
The juice relieves an
irritable cough with its soothing action, liquefying the phlegm
and mucus in the clogged channels and facilitating
expectoration. If a child brings out phlegm, do not worry.
Similarly, a little more or less of the juice is not harmful.
It is indeed unfortunate that
instead of upholding we are spending crores of rupees on toxic
chemical formulations very often produced in ecologically
damaging ways. Adhatoda could become a symbol of our commitment
to eco-friendly medicine. Can we ask for more?
For saplings and further
information contact:
The Medicinal Plant Development Area,
Forest Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Pulleri, Chingleput.
Centre for Traditional Medicine and
Research, Chennai.
Telephone: 495 8198, 440 5583,
E-mail: phyto@vsnl.net herb95@hotmail.com
SHEELA RANI CHUNKATH
The writer is Chairperson,
Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.
