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)

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Botanical name:
Pluchea lanceolata, P. indica (syn. P. foliosa), P. arguta

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:
-Worms (Sushruta)

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

DOSE:
Of the Herb in Decoction: 10–30 grams;
Of the Root in Decoction: 3–6 grams

CORRECTIVE:
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: