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.

97. Vibheethaal

Names:-        Latin             Terminalia belerica
                    Tamil             Tanikkai
                    Telugu           Tadikaya
                    Canarese        Shantheekaye
                    Malayal          Thanikkai
                    Urdu              Balla

Aksham bhedana rukshoshnam
Vairasya Kriminuth Katu
Chakshushyam Swaadu Paakancha
Kashaayam Kaphapittanuth.

Vibheetaki (Aksham) is rooksha and Ushna. It is pungent and sweet by Vipaaka and also astringent. It checks Kapha and Pitta. It is useful in the treatment of loss of voice and Krimi. It loosens the secretions and excretions (Bhedanam). It is good for the eyes.

Dose:- 5 to 30 grains of the powder.

Action:- Astringent, anthelmintic, mild-laxative in large doses and tonic.

Uses:- It is one of the ingredients of Triphala and is used very much in combination. It is specially useful in throat troubles as a pigment with honey. By its astringent taste it is useful in dysentery and diarrhoea and other inflammatory affections of the stomach and intestines. The decoction mixed with honey is a very good antiseptic and astringent gargle in sore mouth and throat. As giving colour to the hair, it is used in hair oils and it gives black colour to them. It seems to be more soothing in action than Harithaki.

98. Vidangam

Names:-        Latin             Embelia ribes
                    Tamil             Vayvidangam
                    Telugu           Vayuvidangalu
                    Canarese       Vayuvidanga
                    Malayal          Vishalari
                    Urdu              Baybidang

Vidangam Katu teekhnoshnam
Rooksham Vahnikaram laghu
Soolaadhmaanodara Sleshma
Krimivaata Vibhandhanuth.

Vidangam is pungent, dry, laghu, penetrating (teakshna) and heating. It improves digestion. It is useful in the treatment of colic (Soola), abdominal distention, Udara, Sleshma, Krimi and Vaata. It relieves constipation.

Dose:- ¼ to 1 tola for single administration ground with water, strained through cloth and taken with sugar, honey or castor oil.

5 to 15 grains for repeated administration either alone or in combination.

Action:- Carminative, anthelmintic and alternative.

Uses:- It enjoys a high repute as an anthelmintic and is given either alone or in combination with other drugs. It is given for a few days and then followed by castor oil or Trivrit. For round worms and thread worms, it may be combined with Palasa beejam, Krishnajiraka etc., and for tape worm it is given along with a decoction of Dadima-moola-thwak, ½ to 1 tola in each dose. The decoction is given every 4 hours or every morning till the head of the worm passes out in the stools. It is also given as an anupanam to other medicines. It is used both internally and externally in Krimikushta. As a Rasayana or tonic it is recommended by Sushruta. Mixed with Tila, the powder is recommended as a snuffing powder in Ardhaavabhedaka or partial headache.

99. Vishamushti

Names:-        Latin             Strychnos Nuxvomica
                    Tamil             Ettikkottai
                    Telugu           Visha Tinduka or Vishamushti 
                                        or Mushini ginjalu
                    Canarese       
                    Malayal         
                    Urdu              Kuchla

Vishamushtih Tikta Katuh
Teekshnoshnah Sleshma Vataapahaa (Yogarat-naakara)
Tikta Kushta Vinaasanah
Vaataamayaasra Kandooti
Kaphaa Maarso Vranapahaa.
Raja Nighantu.

Vishamushti is bitter and pungent. It is acute and heating. It checks Kapha and Vaata. It is useful in the treatment of Kushta, Nervous diseases, diseases of the blood, Itching, Aamadosha, Piles and Wounds. It has been recommended in poisons and as an antidote for dog-bite.

In digestion disorders it is used as Agnitundi Vati made as follows:

Purified mercury, purified aconite, purified Sulphur, Haritaki, Aamalaki, Vibeethaki, Sajjakshara, Chitramoola, Saindhava lavana, Tankana, equal parts of powder of purified Vishamushti seeds 16 parts – grind mercury and Sulphur first and grind the others one by one adding lemon juice; grind well and make 2 grain pills.

Dose:- One or 2 pills, 2 or 3 times a day before or after food with hot water or thin buttermilk. It is used in Malaria as Kumaryadi Vati (see under Kumari). As a general tonic in heart disease and in debility after insanity and fevers it is very useful.

Dose of the seed:- ½ to 2 gr. Of the purified seed. It is never given alone but only as a compound pill such as Agnitundi or Vaatagajaankusam (see below):

Vishamushti wood – powdered 2 to 5 gr.
Leaves powdered 2 to 5 gr.

Action:- Nervine stimulant, digestive, antimalarial, tonic and aphrodisiac.

Uses:- Nux Vomica is very much used as a carminative and tonic for many centuries in India. It is included in the Poisons. It is purified by soaking in buttermilk or water in which raw rice is washed. The seeds are also slightly fried in ghee.

Kinchit Aajyena Sambhristo
Vishamushtir Visudhyati.

In nervous diseases it is used as Vaatagajankusam made as follows. Purified mercury 8 parts, Purified Vishamusti 8 parts, Purified Sulphur 3 parts, Triphala 3 parts, Trikatu 3 parts. Grind Rasa and Gandhaka first and then add and grind with lemon juice the other ingredients one by one and make into 2 gr. Pills.

100. Vidaari

Names:-        Latin             Ipomoea digitata
                    Tamil             Nilappooshanikilangu
                    Telugu           Nelagummudu
                    Canarese        Nelagumbala
                    Malayal          Palmutakku
                    Urdu              Vilayikand

Vidaaree Madhuraa Snigdhaa
Brimhanee Stanya Sukradaa
Seetaa Swaryaa Mootralaacha
Jeevanee Bala Varnadaa
Guruve Pittaasra Pavana
Daahaan Hanti Rasaayani
Bhaava Prakaasa

Vidaree is sweet and lubricant. It promotes growth (Brimhanee). It increases milk and sperm. It is cooling. It improves voice. It increases urine. It promotes vitality, strength and complexion. It is heavy to digest (gurvee). It checks Pitta, diseases of blood, Vaata diseases, and burning sensation. It is a tonic.

Dose:- 10 to 60 grains of the powder with ghee and sugar or honey or milk and sugar or as a leham with other drugs.

Action:- Demulcent, alternative, nutritive, galactagogue, aphrodisiac and tonic.

Uses:- It is one of the most reputed tonics of the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia and is given in all wasting diseases such as consumption, diabetes, sexual debility and surgical complications. Chakradutta says that Vidari when given with sura (wine) increases the secretion of milk in mothers. In children and invalids suffering from debility, a confection of this drug is very useful as a tissue builder. In irritation of the urinary tract, with frequent micturition and high coloured urine, it has been of great use when given for a long period as a cooling tonic. It is one of the most important ingredients of aphrodisiac confections.