Vasaka Adulsa which goes by the botanical name Adathoda vasica is a tall, evergreen, herbaceous shrub that is not only native to the Indian subcontinent but also distributed throughout Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and China. The plant features yellow coloured bark, lance-shaped leaves, white and purple flowers, and pubescent club-shaped capsular fruits. Vasaka also known as ‘Malabar Nut’ in English, ‘Adhathodai’ in Tamil, ‘Vasa’ in Telugu and ‘Arusha’ in Hindi, is a potent ayurvedic plant that enhances the respiratory system. The plant has manifold curative properties and is an ultimate remedial measure for a lot of health anomalies like breathing trouble, cough and cold, nasal congestion, sore throat, asthma, bronchitis, other upper respiratory tract infections, bleeding disorders, etc. Famed as a natural expectorant, Vasaka has a rich concentration of bioactive components like Vasicine, Luteolin, Carotene, Vasakin, other quinazoline alkaloids, and essential oils. The leaves are abundant in phytochemical constituents like tannins, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenolics. Imbued with powerful properties like antitussive, a bronchodilator, anti microbial, anti inflammatory, anti spasmodic, etc, the plant is useful for a host of therapeutic indications like upper respiratory infections, tuberculosis, heart problems, constipation, nosebleed, dengue, etc.
