Arusa (Adhatoda vasica) as medicinal herb in Chhattisgarh, India : Traditional Medicinal Knowledge, Natural Occurrence and Trade

Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
© 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved

Although it is not mentioned in reference literatures but the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are able to differentiate Nar (Male) and Mada (female) plant of Arusa. Plants having spines are considered as Nar and spineless types are considered as Mada. According to the traditional healers Nar Arusa looks like tree whereas Mada Arusa resemble bushy shrub. These Mada plants are further divided in many categories based on the colour of flowers. In general, Mada plants bear white, red, yellow and black coloured flowers. White flowered Mada plants are very common whereas black and red flowered types are rare. Among these types, red flowered type is considered as best by the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh. In reference literatures, only white flowered Mada plants are described in detail The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh do not use Nar plans to prepare medicine. This is really surprising that the herb traders engaged in trading of this herb are not aware of this classification and they are supplying all types of Arusa in one name. With the help of this article, I want to request the world community particularly the researchers to pay special attention on this important aspect. Since my student life, I am fan of this herb. I am a patient of respiratory trouble and since student life, I am using this herb successfully. I am suffering from Parthenium, an obnoxious weed, Pollen borne allergy and I have found different preparations of Arusa very effective. Since year 1994. I am collecting information on different medicinal uses of this useful herb. As it is one of my favourite herbs, in every ethnomedico survey, I never miss to ask the healers and natives about its new uses. In present article, I am describing some special preparations of Arusa prescribed by the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh.

The Indian names of Vasa (Adhatoda Vasica)
Languages/Regions/Countries	Names
1) Bengal	Bakas
2) English	Malabar nut
3) Gujarati	Alduso
4) Hindi	Arusha, Vasaka
5) Kanarese	Adusoge
6) Malyalam	Atalotakam
7) Marathi	Adulsa
8) Sanskrit	Vasaka
9) Tamil	Adododai
10) Telugu	Adasaramu

The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use Arusa for the treatment of over 30 common diseases but it is mainly used for respiratory troubles. For respiratory troubles, its fresh leave are used. The traditional healers of Sarguja region very frequently use this herb to treat respiratory troubles. During my training as student of Agriculture, I have seen many practical uses of Arusa. The healers take 3 leaves of Arusa and boil it in one glass of water. When the water evaporates upto half of the initial quantity, it is filtered and this decoction is given to patients particularly to the children suffering from cold and coryza. In order to make this decoction sweet, the healers add sugar. The healers advise the patients to take this decoction till relief but I have seen two to three doses are sufficient to cure the problem. This use is very common among natives and they are still using it. In this part of Chhattisgarh, natives protect this herb in forests and the natives living far from forest, plant this herb in Badi or home gardens for use in emergency. In case of acute attack of Dama (Asthma), the healers advise the patients to collect the dried leaves of Arusa. Yellow coloured, old leaves are preferred. After drying, they put the leaves on fire and advise the patients to inhale the fumes for immediate relief. During cold season, the healers advise the patients to use the dried leaves in same way. This regular use prevent the attack of Asthma. The traditional healers of Sarguja region informed me that there is a tremendous scope if the herbal cigarettes are prepared using this herb in combination with herbs and marketed to urban areas specially in metros, where respiratory troubles are very common. In case of chronic asthma, the healers collect the Arusa leaves in white cloth and wrap the leaves in shape of ball. After making the ball shape, the healers collect the clay soil from Bahera land where rice is cultivated. The healers coat the layers of this wet soil around the ball. After this, the ball in dried in sunlight and then they keep this ball inside the hot ash. When the colour of ball changes, ball is broken and leaves are collected. The healers extract the juice of leaves and give it to the patients suffering from chronic asthma with pure honey.

I have experienced the miracle effect of this preparation. The whole procedure requires special precaution and lot of patience. Very few healers are aware of this method. During winter when Gorakh mundi herb is in flowering stage, the traditional healers prepare a special drink using the whole herb of Gorakhmundi with Arusa leaves. The healers mix the equal quantity of Gorakhmundi and Arusa leaf juice and add water and sugar. This sweet drink is given to the patient suffering from respiratory troubles. According to the healers, it is good tonic for lungs. The traditional healers advise the patients to take this drink till the Gorakhmundi herb is available. I have written a lot on this herb. Gorakhmundi (Sphaeranthus indicus) is a rabi weed in winter season crops. Many healers collect about one kg of Arusa leaves and add it in ten kgs. of river water. This mixture is kept on fire. When the leaves start loosing its shape due to boiling, the healers stop boiling and wait till cooling. After cooling, they filter the decoction and again put it on fire upto one hour. They add salt and Pippali (Piper longum) in this mixture and stop the boiling. This concentrate is converted into small globules and patients are advised to take one to two globules daily morning and evening. I am describing one more similar method. The traditional healers collect the leaves of Arusa, Parsa (Butea monosperma), Kela (banana), Chirchita (Achyranthes aspera) and bark of Pipal (Ficus religiosa). Equal amount of all herbs are taken. Each herb is taken in separate pot, burn it and ash is collected. Ash from all herbs is mixed and they add eight times of river water in ash and put the pot as such for four days. The healers shake the pot in interval of 8 hours. On fourth day, the water is collected put on fire and concentrate is prepared. The healers use this concentrate in same manner. As mentioned earlier, the traditional healers, of Chhattisgarh use this herb in treatment of many other diseases. In case of eye pain, the healers crush the fresh leaves and apply it as paste on eye lids. According to them, it is also good remedy for conjuctivitis. During hot summers, nose bleed is a common problem in Chhattisgarh. The traditional healers use many herbs for this trouble based on the availability of herbs. If Arusa plant is available, they advise the patients to take the fresh leaves and mix it in water. The paste is applied on palate (Talu) in order to seize the bleeding immediately. The traditional healers of Bastar region, prepare a special herbal tooth powder using Arusa herb. For preparing the herbal tooth powder, leaves are dried and powdered. This powder is used as tooth powder. Many healers add Haldi powder (Turmeric) in this powder to make it extra strong. According to the healers, it is good for mouth troubles particularly for swelling gums and painful teeth. In case of Pyrohhoea, the healers advise the patients to take ten leaves of Arusa and boil it in two glass of water. The decoction is prepared and patients are advised to gargle with this decoction. In case of Pelea (Jaundice), The traditional healers use whole herb instead of only leaves. The whole herb is collected and juice is extracted. For taste, the healers add sugar in this juice and give it to the patients suffering from jaundice. The patients are advised to take this juice till relief. Many healers use Arusa leaf juice against scorpion bite. But all traditional healers are not convinced with this use. According to them, the application of Arusa leaf juice reduces the pain but it is not for complete cure. During my forest visits, I have tried this for several times but not with much success. In reference literatures, related to different systems of medicine in India, medicinal properties of white flowered Arusa have been mentioned. According to Ayurveda, Arusa herb is pungent, acrid, cooling and useful in treatment of bronchitis, leprosy, blood disorders, heart troubles, thirst, asthma, fever, vomiting, loss of memory, leucoderma, jaundice, tumours, mouth troubles, sore-eye, fever, gonorrhoea. In other parts of India, the traditional and natives are using this herb adopting different methods of preparation.

As medicinal herb, Arusa is not under cultivation in Chhattisgarh. Many herb growers are using Arusa as guard crop in order to repel away the harmful insects. In my entomological studies, I have found the extracts of different parts of Arusa effective against many common insects at different stages. In allelopathic studies, various extracts and leachate showed inhibitory effects on common weed seeds. I have not observed its stimulatory allelopathic effects on common crops. It is common practice in Chhattisgarh that the natives burn the whole herb to repel away the mosquitos and other harmful insects. According to the healers, it is good air purifier also. Arusa is in list of non-wood forest produces of Chhattisgarh. There is a heavy demand of this herb in national and international herb markets. Most of the traders supply the whole herb but many of them separate the leaves and supply it to the dealers at national level. In general, there is demand of Arusa leaves, other parts are preferred less. Chhattisgarh is well known among traders at metro because of rich natural population of Arusa but unfortunately there is not a single processing unit in the state. I personally feel that there is a tremendous scope in this field and timely step can generate good revenue and employment opportunities. The scientific name of Arusa is Adhatoda vasica syn. A. zeylanica (family Acanthaceae). Botanically it is an evergreen, gregarious, stiff, perennial herb having height upto 6 meters; Leaf elliptic-lanceolate or ovate - lanceolate, entire, 5-30 cm long, hairy, light green above and dark green below, leathery; Flower large, white, with red or yellow barred throat, in spikes with large bracts; Fruit clavate, longitudinally channelled capsule; seed globular or sub orbicular, rugose. My studies and surveys are in progress, and I will write more on this useful herb in my further articles. Thank you very much for giving time to read this article.