Arushka (Arushka (Adulsa, Vasaka))

Properties

Bronchodilation, Expectorant, Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant

Dosage

Fresh Leaf Decoction: 50-100ml twice daily, prepared by boiling 5-10g fresh leaves in 200-300ml water for 10-15 minutes. Dried Leaf Powder: 1-3g, mixed with warm water, honey, or ginger tea, 1-2 times daily. Standardized Extract: 300-500mg twice a day, after meals, standardized to 1.2% vasicine. Syrups and Jams: 5-10ml thrice daily for children, 10-15ml for adults (typically contain 10-20% leaf extract). Homeopathic Medicine: As prescribed by a physician. Liquid extract: 20 to 60 minims. Freshly expressed juice: 1 to 4 fluid drachms. Tincture: 1/2 to 1 fluid drachm. Tablets: Adults - Take 4 or 6 tablets by mouth, three times daily or as suggested by physician; Children 2 years and older - take 1/2 the adult dose.

Classical attributes

• Rasa: Kashaya (Astringent), Tikta (Bitter)
• Virya: ["Ushna (Heating)"]
• Vipaka: ["Katu (Pungent)"]

Benefits

• Kasahara (Relieves cough)
• Shwasahara (Relieves asthma)
• Raktapittahara (Pacifies bleeding disorders)

Traditional uses

• Kasa (Cough)
• Shwasa (Asthma)
• Raktapitta (Bleeding disorders)
• Jwara (Fever)

Dosha effects

• vata: balancing
• kapha: decreasing
• pitta: balancing

Preparation methods

• Decoction: Boil fresh leaves in water and consume the liquid. Steam inhalation of the decoction can also be helpful, especially for sinusitis.
• Powder: Dried leaves can be ground into a powder and taken with warm water, honey, or ginger tea.
• Extract: Standardized extracts in capsule or tincture form are available.
• Syrups and Jams: Leaf extract can be incorporated into syrups and jams.
• Smoking: Traditionally, dried leaves were smoked to relieve asthma, but steaming a decoction is considered a safer alternative.
• Tea: Steeping the leaves in hot water to make a medicinal tea. Adding sugar or honey can help with the bitterness.
• Expectorant Formulation: Justicia adhatoda extract can be combined with other herbs and ingredients like ginger, black pepper, and honey to create an expectorant.
• Maceration: The leaves of Justicia adhatoda can be extracted using a maceration process with a solvent of 10% ethanol.
• Soxhlet extraction: Powdered material can be subjected to ethanol extraction using the Soxhlet method.

Contraindications

• Pregnancy: Contraindicated during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester, as vasicine might stimulate uterine contractions.
• Hypotension: May lower blood pressure and should be used with caution in individuals with hypotension.
• Hypersensitivity: Should be avoided by individuals with known hypersensitivity to plants of the Acanthaceae family.
• Dosage: Exceeding the recommended dose increases the risk of side effects without proportional benefits.

Side effects

• Generally well-tolerated at recommended dosages.
• Overuse or high doses (above 1000 mg/day) may cause nausea, vomiting, or stomach irritation.
• Some may experience loose stools or dry mouth.
• Rare cases of contact dermatitis have been reported. A patch test is recommended before topical application.

Interactions

• Antihypertensive drugs: May enhance the effects of blood pressure-lowering medications, potentially leading to hypotension.
• Use with caution and under the guidance of a qualified healthcare practitioner if you are taking other medications.

Clinical evidence

Clinical trials and studies suggest Justicia adhatoda's efficacy in managing respiratory conditions. Studies have indicated its potential in reducing cough frequency and severity, improving FEV1 scores in asthma patients, and demonstrating antitussive effects in upper respiratory tract infections. More high-quality, large-scale trials are needed to fully validate these findings.

Ayurvedic karmas

• Kasahara (Relieves cough)
• Shwasahara (Relieves asthma)
• Raktapittahara (Pacifies bleeding disorders)

Classical clinical indications

• Kasa (Cough)
• Shwasa (Asthma)
• Raktapitta (Bleeding disorders)
• Jwara (Fever)