Vansha

वंश:सरो हिम :स्वादु :कषायो बस्तीशोधन :l

छेदन :कफपित्तघ्न:कुष्ठास्रव्रणशोथजित् l l

तत्करीर:कटू :पाके रसे रुक्षो गुरु :सर :l

कषाय:कफकृत्स्वादुर्विदाही वातपित्तल :l l

तद्यवास्तू सरा रुक्षा :कषाया :कटू पाकिन :l

वातपित्त करा उष्णा बद्धमुत्रा :कफापहा : l l भा प्र

Botanical Name:  Bambusaarundica. Willd.

 Classification:

According To Modern

Kingdom –Plantae

Order –Cyperales

Family     – Poaceae

According To Ayurveda

Charak- Not included in Varga

Sushruta-   Not included in Gana

Bhavprakash- GuducyadiVarga and Haritakyadi varga

Dhanvantari Nighantu-Shatapushpadi varga

Kaiyyadeva Nighantu-Oushadhi varga

Raja nighantu-Mulakadi and Pippalyadi varga

Other Names:

English         – Spiny Bamboo

Hindi            – Bans

Kannada      – Bidiru

Malayalam –  Kampu

Marathi        –  Kallak

Sanskrit Names-

Vansharochana-it improves the taste and removes bad smell

Tuga-It destroys laghutva

Subha-It has good quality

Yavaphala-fruits resemble barley

Tvakkshiri,Tabasheer,Tavaksheer-It’s latex looks like milk

Vanhakarpura-It looks like karpura

Truna Dhwaja,Trunadvaja-Superior among all grasses

Shataparva-100 or more than 100 leaves are present

Yavaphala-Fruits are yava shaped.

Keecaka,Maskara,Suparva,venu,Trinaketu,Shabdamala,Tvaksara,Karmara,Tvacisara,Tejana,Baddha Dalaya,Karmuka

General Information:

Habit- thorny shrub or tree grows upto 90ft. in height. Stem- many, tufted on a stout root stock. 15 to 18 cm in diameter Nodes are prominent n stem, internodes are upto 45 cm long. When young orange yellow streaked with green or red and thickly ciliated with golden hairs.Leaves- 18 to 20 cm long, 2.5 cm wide, linear, linear-lanceolate. Inflorescence- panicle Flowers- Anthers are yellow in colour style is short. Grain- 5 to 8 mm long, oblong, groved on one side.

Properties (Gunadharma)

Rasa- Madhura, Kasaya

Vipak- Madhura

Virya- Sheeta

Guna-Ruksha, Laghu, Tikshna

Specific Parts:

Root,Leaf, Leaf buds, fruit and vanshalochan.

Doshaghnata:

Root – Kapha–Pittashamak

वंश:सरो हिम :स्वादु :कषायो बस्तीशोधन :l

छेदन :कफपित्तघ्न:कुष्ठास्रव्रणशोथजित् l l

तत्करीर:कटू :पाके रसे रुक्षो गुरु :सर :l

कषाय:कफकृत्स्वादुर्विदाही वातपित्तल :l l

तद्यवास्तू सरा रुक्षा :कषाया :कटू पाकिन :l

वातपित्त करा उष्णा बद्धमुत्रा :कफापहा : l l भा प्र

Benefits:

External-

Root paste of bamboo is applied externally over the affected area of eczema and dark discolouration.

Paste of tender shoots of bamboo is applied over the affected area of ringworm discoloration of skin

Paste of tender buds or bamboo shoot is applied over the wounds

Internal-

The dried resin called vamshalochana is given with honey to treat cough,cold and fever.

Leaves decoction of Vamsha is used in dysmenorrhea,pain in abdomen and to strengthen the uterine muscles after delivery

Root decoction of Vansha leaves is used to treat adverse effect due to dog bite and scorpion bite in a dose of 40-50ml

Tender leave decoction of bamboo is used to treat worm infestation .Dose-40-50ml

Prameha (Diabetes)-

Fruits of Vamsa (Bambusaarundinacea) is used as diet in case of Prameha (Diabetes).

Raktabhisyanda (Conjunctivitis)

Solid extract of Vamsa (Bambusaarundinacea) root prepared in a copper pan, then made into a varti (Wick ) and used as collyrium in case of Raktabhisyanda(Conjunctivitis)

Patrankura being deepana, pachana, krimighna and vidahi is used in agnimandya, ajeerna and krimis in the form of decoction made along with other aromatic substances. Vanshalochan

Vanshlochan is beneficial because of its strengthening action and adaptogenic properties. The main content of Vanshlochan is silica (Silicon dioxide), which is an important element for bones, ligaments, tendons and skin. Vanshlochan has restorative effect on body tissues.

The roots, leaves, sprouts, fruits and the gum resin – vamsarocana, have great medicinal value. Vamsa is used both, internally as well as externally. Externally, the paste of roots is panacea for various skin disorders and discoloration. The sprouts are beneficial in dressing the wounds. The burnt ash of roots is useful in ringworm infestations and premature hair loss. Internally, vamsa is used in vast range of diseases. The decoction of the sprouts is beneficial in anorexia, dyspepsia and worms. Vamsarocana (bamboo manna) is useful in various disorders like hyperdipsia, diarrhea, vomiting, Rakta pitta, heart diseases, cough, asthma, fever, tuberculosis and a general tonic in convalescents. The leaves are cooling, emmenagogue, hence, beneficial in dysmenorrhea. The roots are diuretic, tonic, depurative, laxative and cooling; they are used in skin diseases, burning sensation, arthralgia, general debility and dysuria. The fruits are salutary in diabetes whereas, the seeds are useful in obesity to reduce fats. The decoction of roots is an antidote for arka (Calotropisprocera) poisoning.

Diarrhea –

Taking the small budding leaves and soaking them in water creates a powerful astringent agent that’s very good for healing diarrhea, dysentery, gas and irritation of the GI tract. Taking natural sugar in india which is called “Jaggery” and adding coriander leaves and chewing this helps with diarrhea.

Teeth and Gums –

Taking the aerial roots and chewing on then prevents gum disease, tooth decay, bleeding gums, and it cleans your teeth. It’s natural toothpaste and also helps with bad breath. Using banyan tree aerial roots is a very ancient way of healing most oral problems… because it’s antibacterial and astringent.

Immune Boosting Agent –

The bark of the banyan tree is also a good immune boosting agent that helps to prevent disease.

Drawing –

Making a hot compress from the leaves works like a drawing salve to help bring any abscess to the surface.

Anti-Inflammatory –

Studies show that the milky sap of the leaves is a good anti-inflammatory agent… without the side effects of modern steroid drugs. This makes it great for arthritis, joint pain, swelling, and redness.

Depression –

Some also say the fruit of the tree helps to increase serotonin levels in the brain… thus helping with depression.

Infertility –

The bark and leaves increase sperm count… and also helps with female fertility.

Antioxidant –

The bark and leaves are also a very strong antioxidant that helps to prevent colds, flues, and other diseases.

Charaka-Eatables prepared from bambooseed eaten by asses,horses,cows,swans and deer and collected from their dung should be given to the patient suffering from prameha.If there is pain in piles,then it should be well smeared with medicated oil and the patient should be given,bath with the help of water prepared by above menstioned drugs.

Sushruta-Rasakriya preparation prepared with the root of Bamboo vartis prepared with the same of it ,cooking it in a vessl should be used for Anjana.

Qualities of Vamshalochana-

Sheetal-coolant

swadu-sweet taste

Kashaya-astrigent

Katu-pungent,spicy

Tikta-bitter

Vastishodhana-cleanses the bladder

Chedana-breaks down in to small pieces.Balances kapha and pitta

Indications-

Pittasra-Raktapitta,kushta,shopha,vrana,Mutrakriccha,Prameha,Arsha,Daha,Gastritis,Asra,Shopha

Qualities of Bamboo seeds-

Sara-induces mobility,causes diarrhea,purgation ,relieves constipation

Rooksha-dry

Kashaya-Astrigent

Katu-pungent,spicy,

Increases pitta and vata,Diuretic

Kaphahara-Balances kapha,useful in productive cough,asthma,bronchitischest congestion

Kareera-The tip part of Bamboo/Bamboo sprout

Katu-pungent,spicy

Rooksha-dry

Guru-heavy to digest

Sara-induces mobility,causes diarrhea,purgation,releives constipation

Increases Kapha

Vidahi-causes burning sensation.

Chemical Composition:

Vanshlochan contains siliceous resin, which composed of following as follows:

Formulation (Kalp):

Sitopaladi and TalisadiChoorna.

Pugakanda

Maha tarunark rasa

Drakshavleha

Dadimashtaka choorna

Dosage:

Quatha – 40 to 80 ml.

Vanshalochan – 1 to 3 gm.

Research Corner :

The anti inflammatory effect of the methanol extract  of the leaves of Bambusaarundinacea against carrageenan-induced as well as immunologically induced paw oedema and also its antiulcer activity in albino rats have been studied and found to antiulcer activity in albino rats have been  studied and found to be significant when compared to the standard drugs. The combination of methanol extract and phenylbutazone (Non-steroidal anti inflammatory agent, NSAIA) has been studied and found to be the most potent antiiflammatory acitivity experimentally with least toxic (No ulcerogenic) activity.