Useful parts: Roots, leaves and flowers, stem, bark.

Chemical composition:

Leaves of Vasa contains Quinazoline alkaloids, vasicine, N-oxides of vasicine, vasicinone, deoxyvasicine, oxyvasicine, maiontone, essential oil. It is safe oil and has low toxicity.

Flowers of Vasa contains Vasicinolone, vasicol, peganine, hydroxy oxychalcone, glucosyl oxychalcone.

Medicinal Properties: It is a  bitter astringent , antispasmodic and alternative herb. It helps in  curing vomiting, thirst, fever,  jaundice, phthisis, hematemesis and other diseases caused due to the morbidity of Kapha and Pitta. It is a powerful expectorant, bronchodilator, digestive strengthner used in asthma, cough, intestinal worms skin fungal infection, obesity, sore throat.

Medicinal  uses:

• Abortiffacient- Induces premature expulsion of foetus.

• Anti asthmatic :helps inrelieving asthma.

• Anti spasmodic-relieves muscular spasm, cramps

• Anti tussive-relieves cough

• Bronchodilator & expectorant

• Febrifuge- eleminates fever

• Mucolytic- helps in thinning and breaking of  mucus

• Oxytocic- stimulates contraction of uterine muscles facililating or speeding up child birth.

• Uterotonic-tones & strenghtens the uterus .

• Hypotensive property: reduces blood pressure .

• Usually given for bleeding due to Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, local bleeding due to peptic ulcer, piles, menorrhagia. Its local use gives relief in pyorrhoea and in bleeding gums^.

• Antibacterial and Anti-inflammatory properties- poultice is  helpful in relieving rheumatic symptoms when applied to joints.

Dose: Swarasa (juice) 10-20 ml; kwatha (decoction) 40-80 ml.

Important formulation: Vasavaleha, Vasarishta.

Home remedies:

• Its decoction is a very good bronchodilator, so it should be taken in the dose of 20 ml in Cough , Dyspnoea and other Respiratory disorders.

• In intestinal worms, Swarasa of its leaves should be given in the dose of 5 ml.

• In Cold 2 tsf Vasa swarasa along with 1tsf Tulsi Swarasa should be given.

Precaution:

Contraindicated in pregnancy .

Large doses causes diarrhea, irritation of the alimentary canal, vomiting.

Summary:

There is a saying is Sanskrit about this drug  that as long as Vasa will remain, patients suffering from spitting of blood, phthisis and common cold and cough need not despair. The physicians confidently proclaim that no death can take place from cough of any kind if Vasa can play its role and find time to display its healing properties. Traditionally it has long been used as a great remedy for respiratory disorders. While an excellent "deworming" remedy, it is a safe and invaluable herb to strengthen the body, especially the digestive system if it has been chronically stressed.

Recent studies also suggest that Vasa has antitussive, antiallergic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and antiulcer properties and can be used effectively in the management of various respiratory diseases including pulmonary tuberculosis.