Notes

Bansa (Adhatoda Vasica)

Bansa — an effective spectorant and more

BANSA is probably one of the first Indian medicinal plants which went into commercial utilisation. About one hundred year ago, a few readymade caugh syrups which contained it as the chief ingredient hit the market. Even today, a number of proprietary expectorant formulations using it are being sold in the country.

Called by many names such as vasa, vasaka and sinhasya in Sanskrit, Adhatoda vasica scientifically and basuti in popular terms, Bansa is a two to four feet tall dense shrub which grows in wastelands throughout the plains and foothills of India. Depending upon its colour, it has two varieties — white and black. Fresh or dried leaves, flowers and the root of the plant are used as medicine.

Ayurvedic texts have described Bansa as a cure for diseases arising from vitiated kapha and pitta. It is bitter and astringent in taste and dry, light and cold in effect. Its chemical composition consists of an alkaloid known as vascine which is considered to be its main active principle. Bansa also contains a volatile oil, resin and an acid named adhatodic.

Ancient authors have explored its medicinal value and described it as an excellent expectorant a bronchodilator, a respiratory and cardiac stimulant and an antispasmodic agent. Experimental studies have shown that Bansa is also endowed with anti-diabetic, blood pressure-lowering antacid, antiviral and anticonvulsant effects. Charaka has specifically attributed antipyretic and cooling properties to this plant.

Bansa is extensively used in Ayurveda as a sedative and an expectorant and also as a remedy for cough, bronchitis and asthma. It removes respiratory spasms and relieves irritable cough by its soothing action and softens the sputum which makes expectoration easier. Bansa is widely used in jaundice and raktapitta (haemorrhagic disorders). It is helpful in controlling diarrhoea and dysentery and some skin problems too.

In bronchitis and asthma simply taking two times a day 10 to 20, ml of the juice of Bansa mixed with one teaspoonfuls of honey, proves beneficial. If the phlegm is more sticky, one gram of the powder of black pepper can be mixed in it. In associated feverish conditions, this regime can be fortified by adding one teaspoonful of fresh ginger juice. A jushanda of bansa leaves, banfsha, mulethi, nilofer and a few pieces of unnab helps remove the spasm and facilitates gentle cleaning of the bronchial tree.

Bansa is also recommended in many other diseases, like epistaxis, dysfunctional uterine bleeding Burning Hands and Feet Syndrome, and diarhhoea or dysentery. A simple decoction of its leaves can be taken independently or as a vehicle with any other suitable medicine. The average daily dose of its fresh juice is 10 to 20 ml two or three times a day. Overdose may result in nausea or vomiting.

Bansa is used in many classic ayurvedic medicines. To name a few Vasavaleha, Vasakarishta and Bansa Kshar are used for respiratory problems. Darvyadi Qwath is given in uterine diseases and Panchtikta Ghrit Guggul is prescribed in stubborn skin diseases. Bansa is a natural germicidal like neem and is toxic to all forms of lower life. Rural people use its fresh or dry leaves to preserve water, food, clothes etc.