Herbs Hub
Vasaka, Justicia adhatoda. Botanical plate: Curtis's botanical magazine (No. 861) (8471018664)
Plate: Curtis's botanical magazine (No. 861) (8471018664). Bentham-Moxon Trust.; Curtis, William; Curtis's botanical magazine dedications, 1827-1927 . Public domain.

Vasaka

Justicia adhatoda · वासा

Herbs & Roots. Ayurveda and Folk & home remedies.

Also called Adhatoda, Malabar nut, Adulsa, Vasa

Sanskrit: वासा (Vasa)

Limited human safety data

A shrub from India whose leaves are used in Ayurveda and folk medicine for cough and bronchitis.

Did you know? Vasicine, a compound in the leaves, was the starting point for bromhexine, a modern cough medicine.

What it may help, and how strong the proof is

  • Breathing & asthma. Lab and early studies suggest it may relax airways and loosen mucus. Human evidence is weak.
    Traditional proof
  • Sore throat & cough. Traditional cough syrup. Human trials are few.
    Traditional proof

Parts of the body

Lungs, Mouth & throat

Traditional use

Ayurveda uses vasaka for cough, asthma, bronchitis and bleeding linked to heat (raktapitta).

How it is classified

Herbal actions
Expectorant, Antitussive. Energy: cooling.
Ayurveda
Calms Kapha. Taste (rasa): bitter, astringent. Energy (virya): cooling. After digestion (vipaka): pungent. Kasahara (relieves cough), Shwasahara (eases breathing).

How people take it

Leaf tea or syrup, used in traditional cough practice. Doses are not standardized, so follow the product label.

Decoction, tea and syrup.

Where to get it

A shrub native to India, Sri Lanka and nearby regions, also grown in gardens. Leaves and syrups are sold in Indian grocery and herbal shops. Buy from trusted brands.

Be careful

Large amounts may upset the stomach. Leaves contain vasicine, a compound that acts on the airways. Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Use in children only with medical advice.

Avoid if: pregnancy; breastfeeding; children under 12.

Mixing with other things

  • Works well together

    Both are Ayurvedic herbs used for cough and cold.

  • Works well together

    Licorice soothes the throat and is often combined with cough herbs.

The honest take

Vasaka is a traditional cough herb with some lab work on the airways. Human studies are few. Bromhexine, a modern cough drug, came from one of its compounds, but that drug is a different, tested medicine, not the leaf.