Adusa Vasa

Adusa Vasa-(Malabar nut, Adhatoda vasica)

Sentinels of the fields in the gentle foothills of Himachal, the Vasa shrubs always fascinate the travelers with special affinity for plants. The bitter but richly medicinal leaves hold animals at bay. I would watch the herd of goats looking for leaves to chew but definitely scorning the hedge of vasa. They would pick at leaves from the wayside trees, and the farmer’s vegetable crops remained unencroached.

Early spring, sprinkled trees, wild hedges and hills with snow drops, rich bunches of white flowers, fanning open in the misty mornings, when the warm fingers of the sun seeped through the lacy veils, to caress every tiny bud. The vasa shrubs dot the hills in joyful wilderness, adding to the sharp purity of the air around.

The flower is a microcosm of life itself- Bitter sweet. One wondered how the little globe end attached to the bitter stem could be bursting with sweet nectar, and the petals were bitter too. We would carefully detach the flower sip the nectar and then eat the flower which got tempered with the first sweetness.

Isn’t life just so? The sweet moments tide us over the hard times, and from such experiences blooms wisdom, to teach us to find beauty and joy in adversity.

Years later , during a severe flu attack I had not the strength to make medicine from the leaves or flowers , so just spent the day lying on the grass under the vasa shrub in our garden. Gently this herb of light though the smell is not attractive, worked it’s miracle through  the very air and aura it purifies around it. The setting sun found me back and well on my feet.  Made me ponder why people slept under trees in India. In the temples, trees were a necessity and many a weary traveler who rested under them, was rejuvenated as the tree would transfer its own life force and freshness. 

And this unassuming shrub offers this service wherever it grows. For the crops, it purifies the air and acts as natural pesticide and fungus control, besides protecting boundaries. The hills, plains or forests are healthier and richer for its medicinal infusion, the beauty of the flowers and the abundance of the nectar for bees or butterflies.

Cut branches or dry fallen leaves would raise a pungent smoke driving away the mosquitoes or unhealthy insects besides relieving asthma sufferers or cough and cold. And the kadha, bitter medicine at its most unpleasant!  But what a panacea for any respiratory ailment.

Fresh Adusa formula for flu, cold, cough, asthma, bronchitis, sinus:

Take 5-7 adusa leaves,

 4 fresh paan (betel) leaves

7 tulsi leaves

1 finger piece ginger and fresh Haldi

Optional:

1 finger stem Giloy (guduchi)

2 green or red nirgundi leaves

3 Ajwain leaves

Dry ingredients:

3 cloves

If fresh Haldi/ ginger is not available, can add 1 tsp dry haldi,1 tsp dry ginger

1 tsp Ajwain

Optional:

1 tsp Giloy powder

1 finger stick/ 1tsp cinnamon

1 finger stick / 1 tsp licorice mulethi

Method:

Take 1 tsp Ajwain, cloves, stick of cinnamon, licorice and piece of crushed Giloy.

Boil in 2-3 glasses of water.  Grind fresh ingredients with little of the water.

Option 1:The paste can be directly had by 1 tsp along with half a glass of above water.

Option 2:Strain the paste while adding the boiled water. Should make 2 -3 glasses .

Can take steam with the strained paste, bath or re-boil it, strain and drink.

How to take:

Divide the 2 or 3 glasses of juice into 5 parts. Drink 5 times a day.

Or take 1 tsp paste with the water 4  times a day.

To reduce the bitter taste chew some saunf or peppermint leaves over it or a piece of Jaggery or 1 tsp honey separately afterwards. NO white sugar.

To add- can add Jaggery or pure honey

It’s an effective expectorant. May not work on running nose but cures congestive symptoms very quickly.

If not diabetic, add 1 tsp of mulethi to mixture. It will sweeten.

Precautions-Vasa is heaty excess increases pitta & body heat.Long term use may not be good for eyes. Consume upto 3 days or a week to fortnight then give a gap of a week and continue for chronic cases. Also intake heat reducing herbs.

  

Cold , cough, asthma powder:

Also Useful for-Pneumonia, lung tonic, asthma, expectorant, blood purifier, digestion, viral infections. 

Ingredients-

1. Leaves of Vasa/Adulsa/Adhatoda

If dried 50 gm powder paste or chopped 6-7 leaves

50 gm dried Tulsi (paste/fresh 6-10 leaves)

3.25gm -30 gm 3 Fresh paan/betel leaves or dried powder (not soaked)

4.25gm -30 gm pure Haldi powder

5.1-1/2 tsp Ajwain

6. 1-1/2 tsp Dried Ginger/Saunth

Options-

1 tsp Cinnamon/Daalchini

1 tsp Cloves/lavang

1 tsp Long pepper/pippali

Method-grind,mix & store at room temperature.If fresh paste or fresh juice or decoction refrigerate,consume within 2-3 days.

Storage-Store in fridge in glass,steel,earthenware, porcelain(not plastic) or bone china.

Complements/Accompaniments-honey(only pure),warm or hot water,jaggery,honey should not be put in hot water it undergoes a chemical change & COMPLETELY LOSES BENEFITS.Lukewarm,room temperature & cool is fine.

For hot water jaggery-Old jaggery is better than new jaggery for respiratory ailments & digestion

Consumption-1 tsp first thing in morning/evening/1 tbsp thrice a day/ ½-1  tsp every 2-3 hours depending on severity.Then reduce to twice & then once.

Take with or dissolve in hot water.Make decoction/kadha.If fresh grind with water & strain the juice.For juice 1/4^th -1/2 cup 3-4 times a day.

Precautions-Vasa is heaty excess increases pitta & body heat.Long term use may not be good for eyes. Consume upto 3 days or a week to fortnight then give a gap of a week and continue for chronic cases. Also intake heat reducing herbs.

Option II-

Ingredients to be added or additionally taken in case of - Fever, Viral Fever, stomach heat, acidity, indigestion, ameobiasis, infection, arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

1.Fever/viral fever-add 1 tsp giloy/guduchi/tinospora cordifolia-powder of stem or crushed fresh stem or decoction of 1 finger length stem.

2. Acidity-1 tbsp Giloy , 1-2tsp licorice.

3. Stomach heat/indigestion/digestion –add or consume 1 tbsp Giloy,1 tbsp amla, saunf, 1 tsp Jeera,dhania, rose powder

4. Infections , Arthritis or rheumatoid, add 1 tsp Black jeera, nirgundi 4 leaves or 1 tsp powder.

5. Ameobiasis- add vaividing powder, amaltas/senna leaves-(1-2 tsp)