The leaves of this plant was not eaten by goats as it is bitter (Hence the name Adu (Goat) - Thoda (not touch). This herb is very widely found and it was common to have a brew made with these leaves boiled in water with black pepper corns added. The benefits were captured in the western system of medicine and the extracts are used in expectorants.

Vasaka is used in ayurveda abundantly for different diseases, this is the only herb which can pacify both pitta and kapha doshas. The details of this herb in Ayurveda is as follows- Sanskrit Name: Vasa Vasaka Vasika - Means one which covers a large area, here area coverage stands for a protective cover on the body Singhasya- Means a plant having flowers like the mouth of the lion Vajidanta-Means a plant having white flowers like the teeth of a horse Vrusha- Means one that showers the honey i.e. having a lot of nectar Aatrushaka Lt. Name: Adhatoda vasica- Acanthaceae Bio energetics: Rasa (Taste)- Tikta (Bitter); Kashaya (Astringent) Guna (Characteristics)- Laghu (Light); Ruksha (Rough) Veerya (Potency)- Sheeta (Cool and calm) Vipaka (Post digestion effect)- Katu (Pungent) Action according to Ayurveda: Shwashara- Useful in Respiratory discomfort specially asthematic conditions Kasahara- Useful in acute as well as cough Chhardihara- Alleviates nauseatic conditions Vatakrit- Increases air component in the body Swarya- Improves voice Hrudya- Cardiac tonic Trid hrit- Alleviates excessive thirst Kushthahara- Useful in all types of skin diseases Kshayapaha- Useful in emaciation, undernutrition and all similar conditions Raktapittahara- Useful in bleeding tendencies

External Links

• Use of Vaska according to Ayurveda and its medicinal values