Classical categorization :- Varnya, stanyajanan, chhardinigrahan,dahprasaman, tiktskandh, (c.), saribadi, pittsansaman,(su.), sarivadi.(v.)

Latin Name:- Vetiveria zizanioidis. Family Name:- Graminae - oj s'n _ Sanskrit Name:- Ushir, nalad, sevya,

amrinaal, samgandhak, jalvaas. Nepali Name:- v;v; English Name:- Vetiver, khas khas.

Vetiveria zizanioidis-pzL/_

A herb with rhizomatous roots, stem 2-5 ft. tall, aromatic. Leaves with compressed sheaths, blade narrowly linear, acute, 30-90 cm long, 4-10 mm broad, erect. Flowers gray, green or purplish in panicle of numerous slender racemes; spikelets sessile, linear, lanceolate, glabrous. Fruits grains, oblong, slightly oblique at the apex.

Flowering & fruiting occurs throughout the year.

Botanical description:-

Kaivedya has considered lamajjak as a varieties of ushir, but lamajjak itself is a controversial drug & no varieties are described for ushir.

Varieties:

100-200 mt. east to west.

Major chemical constituents:-

Roots afford an essential oil containing vestiselineol & khusimol as major component and others are khusilal, elemol, 10-epi-eudesmol, B-eudesmol, vetiverol. Etc.

Distribution in Nepal:-

Guna: Ruksh, laghu. Rasa: Tikta, madhur. Vipak: Katu. Virya: Sitt.

Ayurvedic Pharmacology of Ushir (Guna):-

Effect on Doshas : - By its tikta, ruksh, laghu properties it is kaph saman & by sitt it is pitt samak.

Systemic: External: Dahprasaman, twakdosh-har, varnya, swedapnayan. Internal: NS: Mastishk & naadi samak, mastishk & naadi balpradayak. DS: Dipan, paachan, trishnanigrahan, chhardinigrahan,

stamvan. CS: Raktprasadan, hridyasamak, balya, raktrodhak. RS: Kaphnihsarak. US: Mutrajanan. Skin: Swedjanan, sweddaurgandhya har, kusthghna. Tem. Jwarghna . Suitability: It acts as katu-paustik and bishghna.

Actions (Karma)

*.the mat curtains made up of usher are used in hot summer to reduce temperature by wetting the mat periodically.

*. Ushira gives strength to the stomach. It reduces gastric secretion ad hence is useful in acid-peptic disease.

*. Ushira is useful in loss of appetite, indigestion, anorexia, diarrhea and fever.Fruit of Bilva and usher are given in amoebic dysentery.

*. Ushira reduces extra water from blood. It is haemostatic and cardioprotective. It is useful in epistaxis. It is used internally as well as externally in diaphoresis.

*. Ushira is used in cough, hiccups and bronchial asthma.*. Ushira is useful in unconsciousness vertigo and brain disorders.*. Ushira is useful in dysuria. Sherbet of khusis given in summer to avoid burning

micturation and dysuria.*. Ushira is deodorant, hence useful in skin disorders.*. Ushira is antipyretic; Tikta rasa is always known to be best antipyretic. It also controls

diaphoresis.*. Ushira is useful in burning, thirst and temperature associated with fever.*. Tikta rasa reduces flabbiness of muscles. It gives strength to body organs. Ushira isan

antidote and also useful in tuberculosis.Best Recommended Uses*. -Ushira is specially recommended for the Pitta pacification i.e. in conditions of hyper

perspiration, burning or hyperacidity etc. It can be used in all the forms i.e. powder form, cold infusion and hot infusion for pacifying the Pitta Dosha.

Indication/Uses:-

Raktpitt:- Powder of ushir & chandan are taken with tandulodak mixed with sarkara.(c.ci.4)

Chhardi:- Infusion of ushir and dhanyak should be given orally.(c.ci. 23)

Praswed & masurika:- Lep of ushir is applied on body surface.(V.D)

Classical therapeutic uses:-

Dosage:- Powder 3-6 gm. Arka & him 25-40 ml. Fanta 50-100 ml.

Important preparation:- Ushirasav, ushiradi kwath, ushiradi churna, ushiradya tail, sadangpaniya.

Parts used:- Roots.