Bitterroot Restoration

Justicia adhatoda is a member of Acanthaceae family. This is a many branched shrub. The leaves are opposite, elliptic lanceolet, acute with narrow base. The flowers are in axillary spikes. The white coloured flowers with rose coloured streaks in the throat, bloom in August to November. Several alkaloids are present in the leaves of Justicia adhatoda and the chief principle is a quinazoline alkaloid, vasicine; the yield of the alkaloid from different samples in India ranged from 0.541 to 1.105 per cent on dry basis. Vasicine is accompanied by l- vasicinone., deoxyvasicine and maiontone, Some minor alkaloids viz. Vasicol, adhatodinine and vasicinol also present.

The word 'asthma' is derived from the Greek meaning ' panting' or 'labored breathing'. Asthma is a condition characterized by a paroxysmal wheezing dyspnoea (difficulty in breathing), mainly expiratory. Leaf extraction of Justicia adhatoda is a good medicine for Asthma and cough. Dried leaves are used in dhoomapana (smoking) in the treatment of bronchial asthma. Another effective preparation for the treatment of asthma is the decoction of Bashak (Justicia adhatoda) , Guduci (Tinospora cordifolia) , and Kantakari (Solanum sp.) mixed with honey.

Justicia adhatoda is also a good medicine to stop internal and external bleedings like bleeding gums, piles and peptic ulcers. Justicia adhatoda is a good ingredient in decoctions for all types of fever due to kapha and pitta doshas. It is expectorant, antispasmodic and good blood purifier. It speeds up the child birth.

Justicia adhatoda has also been used to treat skin conditons by combining it with triphala and using the decoction both internally and externally. It was also indicated in the treatment of internal hemmorhage; for this indication it was ususally decocted with Haritaki, made into a Ghrita, or taken alone as the leaf juice.