By Dr Renita D'Souza
Chenopodium album is an Ayurvedic medicinal plant known by the Sanskrit term “Vaasthooka” is widely used in spleen disorders, rheumatism, dysentery, bleeding piles, insect bites, sunstroke, burns, urinary problems, worm infestation, skin problems, internal bleeding, etc. it is usually found in plains hence it is called “Yavashaaka” in Sanskrit. It is a natural coolant and therefore useful in high pitta dosha conditions. It is considered a heart tonic and is also used to improve hemoglobin levels.
read – Mexican Tea – Uses of Chenopodium ambrosioides, Research
presentation
Botanical name – Chenopodium album
Family – Chenopodiaceae
Medicinal qualities
Keys (race) – Madhura (sweet)
Vipaka (Aftertaste) – Katu (spicy)
Guna (Quality) – Laghu, Kshaara, Sara
Action (Karma) –
Deepana – carminative
Digestive – digestive
Ruchya – appetizer
Shukra Prada – increases sperm count
Bala prada – improves physical strength.
read – Amaranth uses, qualities, remedies, research
Legal remedies
- Bleeding piles – Vastuka plant (Chenopodium album) is consumed as a vegetable along with goat's milk.
- Stomach ache – Tea prepared from dry/green leaves of bathua is consumed to relieve stomach ache.
Pharmacological activities
Chenopodium album possesses anthelmintic, antiphlogistic, antirheumatic, antidiarrheal, antioxidant, antimicrobial, contraceptive, laxative, odontalgic, etc.
Nutritional values
Chenopodium album leaves contain various nutrients such as protein, fat, fiber, minerals and vitamins. It is also a good source of iron and calcium.
Effect on Doshas
Tridoshahara – balances all three doshas
Therapeutic uses
It is shown in
Pleeha – disorders of the spleen
Rakthapitta – bleeding disorders
Arsha – heaps
Crime – intestinal worms
Used part
Whole plant, leaves
read – Prickly Amaranth – Uses, Properties, Remedies, Research by Tanduliyaka
Sanskrit verses
Botanical description
Chenopodium album is an erect herb that grows up to 3.5 meters in height. Leaves are simple, entire, oblong or lanceolate, obtuse or acute. The flowers are arranged in bunches on spikes. The fruits are enclosed in the perianth. The seeds are smooth, shiny and compact.
distributed
Chenopodium album is found all over the world, mainly in India, North America, North East and Europe.
varieties
According to Bhaavaprakaasha Nighantu, there are 2 types of vaasthooka.
One which has large and red colored leaves is called “Gowdavaasthuka”.
Chemical components
Chenopodium album has various phytochemicals such as alkaloids, phenols, saponins, phytosterols and flavonoids.
research
Anti-inflammatory activity – A research study “Chemical constituents and anti-inflammatory activity of essential oil of leaves of Chenopodium album L grown in Nigeria”. have shown that the anti-inflammatory action of the oil is concentration-dependent.
Classical categorization
Bhaavaprakaasha Nighantu – String jokes
King Nighantu – Moolakaadi verse
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plants
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Chenopodiaceae
Genus: Chenopodium
Type: album
Vernacular names
Sanskrit name – Vaastuka
English Name – Fat Chicken, Lamb's-quarters, Pigweed
Hindi name – Bathua
Kannada name – Kaduoma
Bengali name – Chandanbethu
Malayalam name – Vastucira
Konkani name – Chakvit
Tamil name – Paruppukkirai
Telugu name – Pappukura
Oriya name – Bathua
Unani name – Bathuaa, Baathu
read – Benefits of Radish, Use, Dosage, Side Effects
Sanskrit Synonyms
Vaasthooka, Vaasthukam, Kshaarapatra, Shaakaraat
Vaasthu, Hilamochika, Shaakaraaja, Raajashaaka
Chakravarti
