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Medicinal Uses of Vetiver
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Vetiveria zizanioides
Ushira
Vetiver
Botanical Name (Latin): Vetiveria zizanioides
Sanskrit Name: Ushira
Common Name (English): Vetiver
Type of Herb: Ayurvedic
Effect on the Doshas: Vata: – Pitta: – Kapha: –
Rasa (Taste): madhura, kashya
The six flavors are: Madhura (sweet) Amla (sour) Lavana (salty) Katu (pungent) Tikta (bitter) Kasaya (astringent)
Virya (Energy): shita
The two energies are: Shita (cold) Ushna (hot)
Vipak (Post-Digestive Action): katu
Guna (Qualities):
The twenty gunas or qualities of all substances are: Guru (heavy) Manda (dull) Shita (cold) Ushna (hot) Snigdha (unctuous) Slaksna (smooth) Sandra (dense) Mridu (soft) Sthira (stable) Suksma (subtle) Visada (non-slimy) Laghu (light) Tikshna (sharp) Rooksha (un-unctuous, dry) Khara (rough) Drava (liquid) Kathina (hard) Sara (unstable) Sthula (gross) Piccila (slimy)
Prabhava (Special Potency):
Dhatu Affinity (Tissues Entered):
The seven dhatus or tissues are: Rasa (plasma, lymph), Rakta (red blood cells), Mamsa (muscle tissue), Meda (adipose tissue), Ashti (bone tissue), Majja (bone marrow, nervous tissue , connective tissue), Shukra (male reproductive tissue), Artava (female reproductive tissue)
Pharmacological Action: cools, calms, soothes, alterative, antiemetic, antipytetic, diuretic, antiinflammatory, aromatic, volatile OL = acrid, refdrigerant, aromatic, diaphoretic, depurative, digestive, carminative, stomachic, antiemetic, constipating, hematinic, hemostatic, expectorant, diuretic, febrifuge, stimulant, anthelmintic, emmenagogue, alexeteric, soporific, antispasmodic, tonic
Indications (Uses):vomiting, thirst, burning sensation, toxins in blood (such as urea, cholesterol, tri-glycerides, bacteria), dysuria, UTI, pericarditis, cystitis, urethritis, burning urethra, urethritis, heart burn, acidity, kives, rash, kidney stone, crystal urea, hepatitis, flu, fever, nausea, pregnancy, motion sickness OL = vitiated conditions of pitta and vËta, hypersipsia, burning sensation, ulcers, skin diseases, nausea, obstinate vomiting, dyspepsia, flatulence, colic, anemia, hemorrhage, hemoptysis, cough, asthma, hiccough, strangury, bilious fever, gout, lumbago, sprains, halitosis, cephalalgia, spermatorrhea, hysteria, insomnia, diarrhea, hyperhidrosis, amentia, cardiac debility, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, helminthiasis, spasmodic affections, erysipelas, emaciation, general debility
Contraindications (Cautions):
Constituents:
Active Substances:
Plant Part Used: fibrous, wiry