VETIVERIA ZIZANOIDES

Usira
is one of the best refrigerant herbs that cools and calms the entire
body and mind, with its influence spreading throughout the circulatory,
digestive, reparatory, and urinary and nervous systems. It enjoys an
important place among medicinal herbs in India since ancient times. The
great sage Charka has categorized it as varnya – complexion improving
herb, dahaprasamana – refrige rant, angamarda prasamana – relieves body
pains, chardi nigrahana – anti – emetic, stanya janana- galactogogue and
svedapanayana- alleviates the excessive sweating. It has been cited
also to be jvaraghna – anti- pyretic, pacana- digestant, trsnaghna-
relieves the thirst and raktapittahara- mitigates blood diathesis
(Madhava Nidana).


The
plant grows all over India, and is also cultivated, in the plains and
lower hills up to 1200 meters elevation. The commercial importance of
roots is confirmed from the incidence of leving duty on vetiver roots by
the king of Kannauj in 12 th century. It is a densely tufted perennial
grass, with aromatic roots and rhizomes. The leaves are narrow, linear,
25-50 long and 1 cm broad, erect with compressed sheaths. The flowers
grey, purplish, in slender racemes 10-30 cm in length. The fruits are
oblong grains; the roots are hairy and aromatic. The plant grows 1-1.5
meters in height and flowers in June.


The
botanical name of usira is Vetiveria zizanioides and it belongs to
family Graminae / Poaceae. A volatile oil resins, coloring agents, iron
oxide and lime salts have isolated from the plant. Khusimal, zizanol and
isovalesenol are isolated from essential oil together with a new
sequiterpene alcohol (I) which was characterized. A new epoxy
alchoholkhusinol oxide-isolated from oil and its structure established
Cyclopacamphenol, epicyclocopacamphenol, vetiselinenol and zizanol
isolated and their structures elucidated Tetrahedron


Properties
Usira
is bitter and sweet in taste, pungent in the post digestive effect and
has cold potency. It alleviates pitta and kapha doshas, but aggravates
the vata dosha. Usira possesses light and dry attributes. As it is
fragrant, is deodorant. It is also diuretic and a rejuvenative. It
alleviates the blood diseases, excessive thirst, dysuria, fever, skin
disorders and the burning sensation of the body (Kaiyadeva Nighantu)


Uses
The
roots of usira have great medicinal value and are used for medicinal
purpose. It is used both, internally as well as externally. The paste of
usira and sandal wood is applied on skin, in burning sensation. In
prickly heat, the paste of usira, coriander fruit and musta is applied
with benefit. The paste of usira roots is applied by itself to alleviate
the burning sensation, excessive sweating and foul body smell. It is
also beneficial in various skin ailments to improve the complexion of
the skin. Usually, the thin paste of its roots is applied in summer
season, to pacify the vitiated pitta. To control the excessive sweating
(hyperhidrosis), it is used externally and internally also. Orally, the
fine powder of its roots, approximately 2-3 grams, is given with rock
candy and milk. It ameliorates the burning sensation of the body.


Internally,
usira is useful in various diseases. Because of its bitter taste, it is
an appetizer and digestant, and cold potency aids in alleviating
vomiting, excessive thirst and also arrests bleeding. Hence, it is
benevolent in treating anorexia, dyspepsia, thirst, vomiting and
diarrhea. It also destroys ama, so effectively used in diarrhea of pitta
type. The decoction of usira, musta, dhanyaka, bilva, lajjalu, dhataki,
lodhra and sunthi is given with honey to mitigate diarrhea associated
with the fever and bleeding. It is also effective to treat colitis due
to vitiated pitta. The cold infusion works well to control vomiting. The
root powder of usira, combined with honey, relieves the phlegm and so
used in asthma, coughs and hiccup. In such conditions, the smoking of
usira root powder in a form of cigarette is often recommended.
Sadangodaka is beneficial to quench the thirst. Usira is a valuable
blood purifier, destroys ama and toxins. To alleviate the burning
sensation, it works well with sugar. In the bleeding disorders, Rakta
pitta, the decoction of usira, chandana for better results.


It
also serves to strengthen the nerves and imparts a pacifying effect on
brain in nervine debility due to pitta. In hysteria, unconsciousness and
chronic alcoholism, the decoction of usira, jatamansi and parpata is
used with benefit. Usira alleviates the vitiation of pitta and works
well a lactodepurant and galactogogue. The cold infusion with sugar
imparts a diuretic action and alleviates dysuria of pitta type. Many a
times, the decoction of the roots of usira, iksu and darbha alongwith
raktacandana is of special benefit in dysuria. The general burning
sensation of the body is tackled, by giving the misture of usira, rose
petals, karcura and rock candy alongwith the milk. The cardiac pan is
said to get relieved with the mixture of usira and pimpala mula, when
given along with ghee.


The
cold infusion or decoction of usira and patha is commonly recommended
in treating fever. In treating erysipelas, the decoction of usira,
amalaki, sariva and musta is very effective. (Ashtaang Hridya, chikitsa
sthana. The bleeding per rectum and anal canal in Rakta pitta is
controlled by the milk, medicated with usira, kamala and sunthi.








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