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Pluchea, Rasana

Rasana, Rasnika, Rasa (Ayurveda)
Rasna, Rasan, Zanjbeel-Shaami (Unani)
Pluchea indica
Wight, R., Illustrations of Indian botany, or figures illustrative of each of the natural orders of Indian plants (1850)

Pluchea. indica leaf
(Photo by Forest & Kim Starr) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:
Pluchea lanceolata
Different plants are used for Rasana in different parts of India:
  1. Pluchea lanceolata is used in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat
  2. Vanda roxburghii is used in Bengal
  3. Alpinia galanga in the South of India

Parts used:
Herb; Root

Temperature & Taste:
Mildly Warm, dry.

Uses:
1. Clears Wind-Damp, Eases Pain:
-Arthritis, Rheumatic conditions, Sciatica, Muscular pain (Charaka)
-promotes Urine, clears Gravel and Stones (Unani)

2. Clears Heat:
-Fever
-skin diseases including Eczema and Psoriasis (Sushruta)

3. Kills Worms and Parasites:
-used for Worms (Sushruta)

4. Externally:
-in oils for arthritic pain
-poultice for Hemorrhoids
-swellings, skin diseases, venereal sores


Dose:
Herb in Decoction: 10–30 grams;
Root in Decoction: 3–6 grams

Correctives:
1. Tragacanth, Gum Arabic;
2. Oils such as Almond or Sesame

Substitutes:
1. Vanda roxburghii
2. Alpinia galanga is used as Rasna in Southern India
3. Dodonaea viscosa in Andhra Pradesh.
4. Pluchea has been used as a substitute for Sarsaparilla

Main Combinations:
1. Psoriasis, applied topically with Rauwolfia.
2. Swellings, with Capers root-bark (Charaka)

Major Formulas
Yogaraja Guggulu

Cautions:
It is very drying, so only suitable for Damp conditions

Main Preparations used: