Witnessed by: Ayurveda · Unani
Malabar nut (Justicia adhatoda), of the Acanthaceae family. Dense evergreen shrub with large lance-shaped leaves and white two-lipped flowers; native range: plains and lower hills of the Indian subcontinent. Globally recognized as vasa, vasaka in Sanskrit, arusa, adusa, bansa in Hindi, arusa, bansa in Arabic, and Malabar nut, vasaka, adhatoda in English. The part used is leaf (flower and root secondarily). Large dull-green leaves with a heavy, herbaceous, slightly acrid smell and a bitter taste when chewed.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
MALABAR NUT
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Malabar nut
- Scientific name
- Justicia adhatoda L.
- Family
- Acanthaceae
Form
- Part used
- leaf (flower and root secondarily)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Ayurveda
- bitter · astringent
- Unani
- bitter, faintly so
Temperature
- Ayurveda
- cooling
- Unani
- hot & dry (2nd degree)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Unani
- lungs
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Ayurveda
- kasahara (antitussive), shvasahara (relieves dyspnoea), raktapittahara (checks bleeding), kaphaghna (expectorant), jvaraghna
- Unani
- mukhrij-e-balgham (expectorant), munaffith-e-sadr (clears the chest), muhallil (resolvent), daf-e-humma (febrifuge)
Cautions
- Contraindications
- pregnancy, as the alkaloid vasicine is oxytocic and abortifacient; diarrhoea
- Toxicity
- large doses may cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea; safe in the usual dose
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