93. Vacha
Names:- Latin Acorus calamus
Tamil Vasambu
Telugu Vasa
Canarese Baje
Malayal Vayambu
Urdu Bach
Vachogragandhaa Katukaa
Tiktoshnaa Vaanti Vahnikrit
Vibandhaadhmaana Soolaghni
Sakrinmootra Visodhanee
Apasmaara Kaphonmaada
Bhoota Jantwanilaan haret.
Bhaavaprakaasa.
Vacha is strong smelling and pungent and bitter. It is heating. It causes vomiting. It improves appetite. It relieves vibandha (constriction) and distention of the abdomen and colic. It helps to discharge stools and urine. It is useful in the treatment of Apasmaara, Kapha diseases, Insanity and Microbic infections (Bhoota) or hysterical affections. It is a vermicide. It checks Vaata.
Dose:- 4 to 15 grains of the powder with honey.
Action:- Internally, bitter, aromatic, stimulant, carminative, diuretic, astringent, anthelmintic, mild laxative, aphrodisiac and tonic.
Externally parasiticide.
Uses:- There are two varieties of it and the white is preferred for use as tonic. It is usually combined with bitter tonics and aromatics and given in ague, habitual constipation, atonic dyspepsia, colic, flatulence and paralytic and nervous affections. It is very much recommended in epilepsy (Bhaavaprakaash). The burnt charcoal is given with honey in acidity and vomiting of children. It is also given in dysentery, diarrhoea, cough, and calculous affections. It is one of the many ingredients of aphrodisiac preparations.
Externally, it is used as a dusting powder for wounds. As an external application for swellings, it is ground with water into a paste along with equal parts of mustard and applied. It is recommended in inflammatory swellings.
94. Vakuchi
Names:- Latin Psoralea corylifolia
Tamil Karbogarisi
Telugu Bavanchalu
Canarese Bavuchige
Malayal Karkolari
Urdu Bavancha, Bavchi
That Phalam pittalam Kushta
Kaphaanila haram Katu
Kesyam twachyam Vami swaasa
Kaasa Sodhaama Paandunuth.
Dhanvanthari Nighantu.
Vaakuchi is pungent. It increases pitta. It checks Kapha and Vaata. It is useful in the treatment of Kushta, Vami (vomiting), Swaasa, Kaasa, Sodha, Aamadosha and Paandu. It promotes the growth of hair and improves the skin.
Dose:- 10 to 30 grains of the powder.
Action:- Blood-purifier.
Uses:- Its special use is in leucoderma both internally and externally. The powder is used as a bathing powder in ointments and the oil extracted by Pataalayantra is also used in ointments. It has been found specially useful in many cases of leucoderma along with Thuvaraka and Nilini, both internally and externally.
95. Vamsalochana
Names:- Latin (English) Bamboo manna
Tamil Moongiluppu
Telugu Veduruppu
Canarese Biduruppu
Malayal Mulankarpuram
Urdu Thabashir
Kashaayam Madhuram
Kaasaagham Vamsalochanam
Moothrakricchra Kshaya Swaasa
Hitaa balyaacha Brumhanee.
Vamsalochana is astringent, sweet, bitter and pungent. It checks cough. It is useful in the treatment of difficulty in passing urine, Consumption and hard breathing. It gives strength and makes the body plumpy (Brumhanee).
Dose:- 5 to 15 grains with honey or ghee and sugar.
Action:- Cooling, tissue-builder and tonic.
Uses:- It is used in cough, consumption, astma and fever. In combination with other astringent medicines, it is given in chronic dysentery and internal haemorrhages. Its action seems to be due to the presence of some organic salts which improve the quality of blood, elastic tissue and bone. It appears to have a soothing action in the urinary tract and also on the lung tissue. It is also given in seminal weakness and is considered as a substitute for Pravala and Mukta and is more cooling. It is one of the chief ingredients of Chyavanapraasa and Vasaavaleham, the reputed tonics and expectorants and of Talisadi and Sitopaladi churnams, popular expectorants. 10 or 15 grains of the powder rubbed with a little honey and preserved Amalaki (Amalaki murraba) makes a simple and a very good combination in consumption or wasting diseases as a tonic. It is also used in chronic gonorrhoea and is one of the constituents of many aphrodisiac preparations.
96. Vaasa
Names:- Latin Adhatoda vasica
Tamil Adathodai
Telugu Addasaramu
Canarese Adusoge
Malayal Adalodakam
Urdu Adathoda
Ataroosho Himah Tiktah
Pitta Sleshmaasra Kaasajit
Kshayahrit echardi Kushtaghno
Jwara Trishnaa Vinaasanah.
Dhanvanthari Nighantu.
Ataroosha (Vaasa) is cooling and bitter. It checks Pitta, Sleshma, blood diseases and Kaasa. It is useful in the treatment of Kshaya, Cchardi, Kushta, Jwara, Trishna and Visha.
Dose:- ¼ to ½ oz. Of the swarasam with honey or a larger dose if emetic action is desired.
Or as a decoction of the leaf or root given in dose of ½ to 2 oz. With or without honey.
Action:- Expectorant, antispasmodic, alterative, blood-puifier and tonic.
Uses:- It is a common remedy for cough. It is used as a decoction or syrup or as a leham with Harithaki, Pippali, Sunthi, sugar, honey etc., in all lung complaints (refer Vasavaleha). Where the drug has to be preserved for a long time, Vasarishta may be used. In anaemia with haemorrhages (Raktapitta) from any part of the body, it is known as a specific remedy. In all fever decoctions, specially when Kapha and Pitta are involved, Vaasa is given in combination with other drugs. For immediate expectoration in children and spasmodic attack of asthma, a large use of fresh juice gives immediate relief which may be followed up by other preparations of this drug.
