Adulsa

Adulsa or Justicia adhatoda is an erect, evergreen shrub that grows in India and in many parts of Asia, flowering throughout the year. The plant is also called Malabar nut and Adhatoda vasica. The alkaloids vasicine and vasicinone in the plant’s leaves help ease breathing disorders and inflammation. It is referred to as Vasa or Vasaka as per Ayurveda and is widely used in an array of diseases ranging from respiratory to bleeding disorders. It bears large white flowers with purple tint resembling the mouth of a lion, which is why it is referred to as Simhasya (meaning lion's mouth) in Sanskrit.

Some of the alternative names for Adulsa (Justicia adhatoda) are:

• Hindi: Adosa, adalsa, vasaka plant
• Sanskrit: Vasa, vasaka, vrusha, atarusha
• Bengali: Basak 
• Tamil: Adatodai 
• Marathi: Vasuka 
• Telugu: Adasaram 
• Malayalam: Atalotakam

These names are used in different regions and contexts to refer to the same plant.

Justicia adhatoda contains several critical natural compounds, including:

• Alkaloids: These are a group of nitrogen-containing compounds. The most significant one in Justicia adhatoda is vasicine and vasicinone, known for its health benefits.
• Tannins: These compounds can have antioxidant properties and may help reduce inflammation.
• Saponins: These compounds are known for their potential to lower cholesterol and boost the immune system.
• Phenolics: These compounds also provide antioxidant effects and contribute to overall health.
• Flavonoids: These are known for their antioxidant properties and may help protect against various diseases.
• The leaves of Justicia adhatoda have been found to contain vasicine at a yield of about 0.541 to 1.1% by dry weight.
• Bromhexine, a well-known cough medicine, was developed from research on Justicia adhatoda. It is a synthetic derivative of alkaloid vasicinone found in adulsa. It has properties that help thin mucus in the respiratory system.

Adulsa is a medicinal herb widely used for its respiratory benefits. It helps alleviate cough, cold, asthma, and bronchitis through its expectorant and bronchodilator properties, enabling easier breathing by clearing mucus and reducing airway inflammation. The health benefits of Adulsa are described below:

1. Supports Respiratory Health:

Adulsa has long been valued in traditional medicine for its effectiveness in managing respiratory conditions such as cough, bronchitis, and asthma. The active compounds, particularly vasicine and vasicinone, help relax bronchial muscles and reduce inflammation, thereby easing breathing and clearing mucus.

2. Soothes Throat Irritation: 

A drink made from Adulsa leaves can soothe irritation in the throat, providing relief from persistent coughing. Its expectorant properties help clear mucus, allowing for easier breathing and reducing the urge to cough. This makes it a popular choice for sore throats or respiratory congestion patients.

3. Antibacterial Properties: 

The antibacterial test performed on the various leaves of the Adulsa plant reveals that it has some efficacy against dangerous bacteria, including Bacillus subtilis and Vibrio cholerae. This means that through consuming Adulsa, the body fights these pathogens within the body, which may positively impact the immune system. For this reason, it can be complementary to Western medicine when preventing and treating illness.

4. Helps with Digestive Issues: 

Various studies on the effects of Adulsa have also highlighted its anti-ulcer effect, which suggests that it can help lessen the occurrence of stomach ulcers and ease discomfort. It could also reduce dyspepsia’s signs, including swellings and indigestion, which is why it is a proper herb for gut health.

5. Reduces Inflammation: 

The actives l found in Adulsa is vasicine; it reduces inflammation, and this will help shrink the swollen parts of the body. And this leads to a reduction in the level of pain that one feels. This property makes it worthwhile where there is a problem with inflammation, for instance, in arthritis or the course of an injury, to enhance the healing process.

6. May Aid in Diabetes Management: 

Studies show that elements inside Adulsa could affect blood glucose; hence, it may be suitable for diabetic issues. Adulsa can help the symptoms of metabolic syndrome and assist in increasing insulin sensitivity and regulating rises in blood sugar.

7. Promotes Heart Health: 

Several works suggest that adulsa can shield the heart and enhance its function. It may help maintain a healthy blood flow and prevent heart problems – a bonus to a healthy diet for the heart.

8. Potential Cancer-Fighting Properties: 

Adulsa has been researched concerning its usefulness as a means of selective destruction of certain forms of cancer cells and for the reduction of the adverse effects of radiation. These beneficial compounds in the adulsa plant may also establish a preventive layer over cells, defending against cancer invasion.

9. Supports Tuberculosis Treatment: 

Readers of Adulsa could glean lessons on how to boost the efficacy of anti-TB medications for patients with this sickness. It may reduce inflammation and enhance the ciliary movement of the lungs besides fortifying the body’s immune defense hence, it might play an excellent role in treating TB.

10. Haemostatic Properties: 

The alkaloids present in adulsa, Vasicine and Vasicinone are believed to possess haemostatic and anti-haemorrhagic properties which may help reduce bleeding by promoting vasoconstriction, narrowing blood vessels to reduce blood flow to the area. This property can be employed as a supportive treatment in nasal bleeding, excessive uterine bleeding and bleeding piles.

Adulsa is widely used in traditional medicine for its applications, especially in everyday remedies for respiratory and inflammatory conditions. Here are some of its common uses:

1. Respiratory Health:

Adulsa is widely used and thus efficient for managing respiratory illnesses. It is often applied as a remedy for coughs, colds, asthma, bronchitis, etc. Due to its ability to control inflammation, it positively impacts the situation where the airways become congested. A cup of tea from this herb may be soothing to sore throat and congestion, like a natural remedy for discomfort that can disrupt sleep when someone is sick.

2. Blood Purification:

This plant is credited with the ability to cleanse the blood and regulate blood pressure levels. Adulsa may help avoid the clotting of blood, which may be vital in improving the cardiovascular system. As a mild anticoagulant, it supports heart health by helping to manage irregular heart contractions.The benefits of its use include enhancement of the circulation systems of the body.

3. Wound Healing:

Its decoction is used to prepare a poultice, which can be pasted on the cuts or sores. Besides controlling bacterial and fungal contamination, this topical application shortens the healing time. The natural extracts help boost skin remodelling, fortify skin elasticity and tensile strength, and spearhead collagen manufacturing critical in wound healing.

4. Pain Relief:

Adulsa extract also has potent anti-inflammatory effects, reducing joint pain and inflammation. This makes it ideal for arthritis and gout, in which inflammation and pain cause limited movements. Therefore, taking Adulsa as a medicine lowers uric acid levels and operates as an anti-inflammatory drug to help ease chronic pain and make patients’ lives significantly better.

5. Kidney Health: 

Adulsa might help reduce toxins in the body and improve the functioning of the kidney and urinary system. For this reason, it conducts waste products away from the body, something that is useful for people with diseases such as uremia. Being healthy for the kidneys will benefit the metabolic systems generally; thus, the benefits gained from Adulsa plant are helpful for the well-being of individuals.

6. Skin Health:

The juice extracted from Adulsa is known for its antibacterial and antioxidant properties, which can promote better skin health. It helps combat various skin issues, including acne and infections, by reducing bacteria on the skin's surface. Its soothing properties can also alleviate irritation and redness, making it a valuable addition to natural skincare routines

• Consult Your Doctor: It is, therefore, essential to consult a doctor immediately when using Adulsa to prevent the worsening of your health, which some of the conditions below may cause.
• Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women: You must seek the advice of your healthcare provider before taking Adulsa if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Children: Do not administer Adulsa to children without consulting with a physician. Remember to consult with a general practitioner.
• Chronic Health Issues: If you have any condition affecting your lungs or heart, check with your doctor first to see if you should use one.
• Follow Dosage Recommendations: It is recommended to take the pill at the prescribed dose to prevent the development of any ill effects.
• Monitor for Reactions: As with any medication, there are no adverse effects noted; however, when you first start it, be careful of any side effects. If you have any adverse reaction to any material used, discontinue its use and consult your doctor.

1. Powder: You can make Adulsa powder from the dried leaves. 

Steps to use Adulsa powder:

• Mix the powder with honey 
• Apply it to wounds or affected areas to help speed up the healing process.
• It can be consumed internally for cough and cold

2. Decoction: It can be made by boiling adulsa leaves or roots.

Steps to use Adulsa decoction:

• Brew a decoction by boiling Adulsa leaves or root in water. 
• Strain it 
• Drink it as herbal tea for relief from cough and cold and other bleeding symptoms as per physicians advice

3. Paste: 

Steps to use Adulsa paste:

• Create a paste using fresh Adulsa leaves. 
• This can be applied to wounds or affected areas 
• It can also be applied to sore areas to relieve pain.

4. Juice: It can be extracted from adulsa leaves

Steps to use Adulsa juice:

• Extract juice from fresh Adulsa leaves. 
• Strain the juice.
• Drink it regularly for effective use.
• This juice is known for its skin benefits, as it has antibacterial and antioxidant properties that can improve skin health.

5. Capsules/Tablets/Syrup: For a more convenient option, Adulsa is also available in capsule, tablet and syrup form. You can take these as directed by your healthcare provider.

The following is the traditional Ayurveda dosage for Adulsa leaf juice, also known as Adusa Swarasa:

• Children: 0.30 ml twice a day per kilogram of body weight
• 20 ml twice a day for adults

1. Historical Use: Adulsa has been used for many centuries in traditional systems of medicine, especially in Ayurvedic and Unani systems, to treat respiratory diseases and various ailments.

2. Common Names: Also recognisable as Malabar nut, Adhatoda vasica and many other regional names in India, it is indeed known as Adulsa worldwide.

3. Chemical Composition: The leaves bear numerous chemical constituents of therapeutic importance; these include the alkaloid vasicine, tannins, saponins, phenolics, flavonoids etc.

4. Respiratory Health: Adulsa is suitable for easing respiratory complaints such as coughs, asthma, and bronchitis. It is used to clear mucus in the airway and relieve inflammation in the general body.

5. Blood Purification: It was also said to clean the blood, help regulate blood pressure, and protect against blood clot formation, hence cardiovascular diseases.

6. Wound Healing: Adulsa leaves can be applied to the affected skin accordingly to ease minor injuries such as cuts and sores, hinder bacterial growth, and promote the regeneration of skin tissues.

7. Pain Relief: Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, Adulsa can soothe pain from arthritis or gout.

8. Kidney Health: Contributes to cleansing and rejuvenating the urinary system and kidney condition.

9. Skin Health: The juice from Adulsa has antibacterial and antioxidant properties, which makes it helpful in managing skin diseases that include acne, infected skin and skin-related infections.

10. Precautions: It’s recommended to consult a healthcare practitioner before taking Adulsa, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, a child, or have a chronic disease.

11. Usage Methods: Adulsa can be consumed in various forms, including powder, decoction (herbal tea), paste, juice, syrup and capsules.

12. Dosage Recommendations: The suggested classical Ayurvedic dosage is 20 ml for adults and 0.30 ml per kg for children, taken twice daily.

13. Safety: Adulsa is generally considered safe at recommended dosages, but it is always best to seek medical advice, particularly for vulnerable groups.

These takeaways emphasise the importance of Adulsa as a traditional medicinal plant and its potential in modern health care while highlighting the need for caution and professional guidance when using herbal remedies.

Conclusion

Adulsa remains a time-honoured herbal remedy with strong roots in traditional medicine, especially for treating respiratory issues like cough, asthma, and bronchitis. Its natural expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties make it a reliable choice for clearing mucus and soothing irritated airways. As modern research continues to explore its broader therapeutic potential, Adulsa holds promise in expanding its role in natural healing. Whether used in decoctions, syrups, or extracts, this versatile plant continues to offer effective, plant-based support for respiratory health and overall well-being.