Medasaka / Common Tallow Laurifolia (Litsea Glutinosa)

Medasaka / Common Tallow Laurifolia (Litsea Glutinosa)

The natural, pure, and entirely natural substances used in the preparation of Ayurvedic medicines date back thousands of years. If used under the supervision of a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner, they have no negative side effects because they are not manufactured of chemicals.

According to Ayurvedic knowledge, a long, healthy life free from sickness is possible. Allopathic medications merely address the outward signs of an illness; in contrast, Ayurveda treats the underlying cause of the condition and teaches us how to avoid risky operations like surgery in order to prevent sickness.

Ayurvedic textbooks dating back centuries are referred to by titles such as Charak Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, Ashtang Hridaya, and many others. These books help medical professionals in learning about the illness, its underlying causes, and its ethical treatment.

What Is Medasaka (Litsea Glutinosa)?

The tree that goes by the botanical name Litsea glutinosa and is a member of the Lauraceae family is known as Medasaka. This plant can be found all throughout the world, from Australia to India. The elevation of this is 4500 feet above sea level. This herb is well-known by a variety of names. It is known as Maida lakdi in Sanskrit, Maidasak in Punjabi, Kukurchite in Bengali, Meidalakavi in Tamil, and Meida in Telugu. This herb helps a lot with fungal illnesses, cholesterol regulation, gastrointestinal health, persistent cough, and other vata-related conditions.

Systemic Classification of Litsea Glutinosa:

Botanical Name, Family & Genus:

  • Botanical Name - Litsea glutinosa
  • Family - Lauraceae
  • Genus - Litsea
  • Species - L. glutinosa

Common Names & Synonyms of Medasaka:

  • Gandhaparna - Has aromatic leaves
  • Sadaparna - Leaves are usually glossy, green texture.
  • Medakavi

Where Does Medasaka Grow? (Habitat & Distribution)

Physical Description of the Litsea Glutinosa Tree: 

  • It is a semi-evergreen, deciduous tree or shrub. With a neat bole, it can reach a height of 25 meters and a girth of roughly 1.5 meters. It has a dark exterior with fairly slender branchlets.
  • The glabrous, alternating, elliptical to oblong-elliptical leaves measure approximately 1.5 cm in width and 3.5 cm in length.
  • It features tiny, yellow-colored flowers with eight to fifteen stamens.
  • This tree bears small, yellow flowers in June and July. In September and October, the tree bears fruits.
  • Fruits are spherical, about the size of a pea, and either purple or black in color.
  • The flower stalks, leaves, and branches all have little hairy growths on them.

Ayurvedic Properties of Medasaka:

Rasa, Guna, Virya & Vipaka:

Particular

Hindi / Sanskrit

English

Rasa (Taste)

Katu, Kashaya, Tikta

Pungent, Astringent, Bitter

Guna (Physical Property)

Snigadh, Laghu

Moist, Light

Virya (Potency)

Ushna

Hot

Vipaka (Post-Digestive Taste)

Katu

Pungent

Effects on Vata, Pitta & Kapha Doshas:

  • It balances the Vata dosha.
  • Both the plant's bark and its derived oil have anti-inflammatory properties and are used as appropriate analgesics.

Health Benefits & Medicinal Uses of Medasaka:

I. Anti-Inflammatory & Pain Relief Uses:

  • When used externally, it can lessen the inflammation caused by a number of illnesses, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Applying the plant's bark paste can help relieve the pain associated with sprains, fractures, arthritis, and other conditions.

II. Digestive & Gastrointestinal Benefits:

  • It demonstrates its advantageous qualities in the treatment of dysentery and diarrhea.
  • For intestinal catarrh, its decoction can also be administered.
  • Its oil has a carminative and vata-soothing effect.

III. Respiratory & Chronic Cough Relief:

  • This helps with chronic cough because of its Kapha shamak qualities.
  • This shrub is utilized for illnesses associated with vata and kapha.

IV. Reproductive Health & Anti-Parasitic Uses: 

  • This treats the reproductive system and gets rid of impotence as well.
  • Five to eight drops of its oil can be used as a tapeworm or anti-helminthic treatment.
  • When used internally as srotoshodhak, this herb helps with gout, epileptic disorders, cervical spondylosis, and a host of other vata-related conditions.
  • This shrub can help with bleeding issues and inflammation of the circulatory system.
  • After being ground up, the seeds were put in the boilers.

Special Notes About Medasaka:

  • Although medasak is a very effective medication for many ailments, it is not mentioned in the ancient Nighantu.
  • Because of the name's similarity, Dr. Kalipad Vishwas writes in Bhartiya Vanaushadhi that medasak is classified as an Ashtavarg instead of a Meda herb, despite the fact that Meda is a tree and the other plant is a rhizome.
  • It is well known that this herb balances the vata and kapha doshas.
  • In June and July, the tree blooms with flowers, and in September and October, the tree bears fruits.
  • Laurotetanine, actinodaphnine, norboldine, quercetin, and other chemicals are found in its bark.

Which Part of Medasaka Is Used?

Bark

Recommended Dosage of Medasaka Bark Powder: 

1 to 3 grams of bark powder can be used at a time.