Bitterroot Restoration

Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae

Synonyms: Justicia adhatoda

Plant Parts Used: The leaves, roots, flowers and stem bark of this plant are used in medicinal applications.

Common name: Malabar Nut (English); Adusa, Arusa (Hindi); Valiya adalotakam, Peradalotakam (Malayalam); Nongmangkha angouba (Manipuri); Basak (Bengali).

Adhatoda vasica is a common shrub distributed throughout India. In Ayurveda, the ancient system of Indian medicine it is commonly known as vasa.  It commonly grows in waste places.

This shrub grows on the plains of India and in the lower Himalayans, up to a range of 1000 meters above sea level. This plant is also cultivated in other tropical areas. It will grow well in low moisture areas and dry soils.

Adhatoda vasica is a small evergreen plant with broad leaves measuring 10 to 16 cm in length and 5 cm wide; which are simple, opposite, ovate-lanceolate, acute or acuminate and shiny. They become greenish-brown when dried and have a bitter taste. They have a smell similar to strong tea. The wood of the stem is soft, and makes a great charcoal for gunpowder. The flower has large, attractive, white petals, streaked with purple on the lower lip. The fruit is a small capsule with 4 seeds .

Medicinal uses of Adhatoda : Plant pacifies vitiated pitta, kapha, cough, bronchitis, asthma , inflammation, hemorrhage, hemorrhoids, diseases of eyes, and bleeding diarrhea. In medicinal value it is less effective than vasa (Adhatoda beddomei).