• AYUSH ministry, Govt. of India recommendation for immunity booster
• 100% herbal medicine, no side effects
• Controls cough, viral fever, aides respiratory ailments
• Can be taken along with other allopathic medicines
• Can be taken for all age groups

Adathoda (Justicia adhatoda), commonly known in English as Malabar nut, is a herb that has been widely used in Siddha, Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Unani systems of medicine. This plant is native to the Indian subcontinent (Assam, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka), Laos and Myanmar. It has been introduced elsewhere also. The Leaves, flowers, fruits and roots of adathoda are used in the preparation of the drugs in siddha medicine to cure various diseases such as coughs, colds, asthma, skin infections, fever, bleeding piles and inflammation.

Vernacular Names

1. English: Malabar nut,
2. Malayalam: Adalodakam (ആടലോടകം),
3. Marathi: Adulsa, Adusa (अडुळसा),
4. Oriya: Basanga,
5. Punjabi: Bhekkar,
6. Telugu: Adamkabu, Adampaka, Addasaram (అడ్డసరం)
7. Tamil: Adathodai (ஆடாதொடை),
8. Bengali: Adulsa, Bashak, vasa, Vasok ( বাসক পাতা)
9. Gujarati: Aradusī, Adulso, Aduraspee, Bansa ( અરડૂસી),
10. Hindi: Arusha, Rus, Bansa, Adosa (अडूसा),
11. Kannada: Adusogae
12. Sanskrit: Sinhapuri, Vasaka (वसाका),
13. Botanical Name: Justicia adathoda

Properties of Adathoda

• Antibacterial
• Antibiotic
• Antidiabetic
• Antihemorrhagic
• Antispasmodic
• Anti–diabetic
• Anti–diarrhoeal and
• Anti–convulsant
• Bronchodilator
• Diuretic
• Expectorant
• Hypotensive
• Mucolytic
• Sedative
• Spasmodic

Benefits of Adathoda

1. Respiratory Diseases (Kapha)

Consuming Adathoda Kasayam/Tea with honey reduces cough, cold, blood pressure, fever and tuberculosis.

It is also good for patients suffering from Asthma and Chronic Bronchitis.

A paste prepared by heating the juice of the leaves of Adathoda and Thippili (Piper Longum)) thrice a day can cure all Kapha related diseases.

2. Arthritis

Applying the leaves paste on the affected area gives relief for swelling or arthritic pain.

3. Dysentery

Drinking adathoda kasayam/tea controls dysentery.

4. Urinary infections

Adathoda root tea cures urinary retention.

5. Hypertension

Take this kasayam with honey/sugar can control blood pressure and asthma.

Adathodai leaf juice with honey helps in reducing hypertension apart from Fever, Bronchial asthma, cough and jaundice.

6. Eye care

Heating the flower of adathoda and applying over the eyes yields better results to eye related problems.

7. Menstruation

For Menorrhagia, called Perumpadu in tamil. (Excessive bleeding while menstruation) 15 ml of Adathodai leaf juice is given with 15 grams of jaggery twice a day for three days. 

How to prepare adathoda tea/kashayam?

Preparation of Adathoda leaf or root Kaskayam/Tea is simple. Here is the step by step procedure:

• Soak 5- 10 grams of leaves of Adathoda /the roots of Adathoda/ powder in 200 ml of water.
• Boil the water well to extract the medicinal properties of the Adathoda.
• Adathoda Tea/Kasayam is a good expectorant when it is prepared with Adhimadhuram (Liquorice), Thippili (Piper Longum), Thalisa Pathiri (Abies Spectabilis) and cardamom.
• Strain or filter the extract.

Some important formulations of Adathoda:

• Adathoda Kudineer
• Adathoda Manapagu
• Kakkuvan ilagam
• Adathoda Ney
• Kaphasura Kudineer

However, it is better to consult your physician or health care provider before taking any home remedies.