Medasaka: Litsea chinensis Uses, Remedies, Research

Medasaka- Litsea chinensis is a plant used for the treatment of cough, swelling, fracture, diarrhea and dryness of the skin.

Latin name- Litsea chinensis Lour.
Family- Lauraceae (Karpura kula)

Vernacular names

Names in different languages of Medasak:
Hindi – Maida lakadi
English – Common tallow laurifolia
Arabic name – Magase
Bengali name – Kukurachithe
Gujarathi – Meda lakadi
Malayalam – Karkameda
Parsi name- Kilj
Punjab – Medasaka
Tamil – Medala Kavi
Telugu – Meda

Sanskrit Synonyms

Gandhaparna- The leaves are aromatic
Sadaparna- The leaves are always green and lush
Medakavi
Medasaka

Morphology

Morphology of Litsea chinensis:
Medasaka is an evergreen tree growing to a height up to 20-25 m and is found all over India to an altitude of 4500 feet. The bark of the tree is pale brown outside and reddish colored from inside. The leaves are 4-6 inch long and covered by small hair like structure. The flowers are small and yellow in color. They are seen in the month of June- July. The fruits are small, round and black to purple in color, seen in the month of September- October.

Distribution

Distributed hilly regions of India.

Properties, part used, dosage

Medicinal properties of Litsea chinensis
Rasa (Taste) – Katu (Pungent), Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent)
Guna (Qualities) – Laghu (Light for digestion), Snigdha (Slimy)
Vipaka – Katu (Undergoes Pungent taste after digestion)
Veerya (Potency) – Ushna (Hot)
Karma (Actions) – Vata shamaka (reduces vitiated vata dosha)

Part used- Bark
Dosage-
Powder- 1 to 3 g

Chemical composition

Chemical composition of Litsea chinensis:
The bark of the tree contains Laurotetanine, actinodaphnine, boldine, norboldine, sebiferine. The leaves contain flavonoid, naringerin, naringin kaempferol, 7-glucoside, quercetin and its 3-rhamnaside peglaragonidin –3 and 5-glucoside cystine, glycine etc.

Uses of Medasaka

  • The powdered bark of the plant, known as jiggat, may be used as an adhesive paste inincense stick
  • Bark extract oil from Litsea chinensis shows anti-helminthic activity against earth worms and tapeworms in a dose of 5-8 drops.
  • The grinded bark is used as paste externally in bruises, sprains, rheumatic and gouty joints. It is also used as a styptic dressing for wounds.
  • The decoction of the bark of Medasaka is consumed in a dose of 15-20 ml to treat diarrhea and bleeding piles.
  • The oil extracted from the bark of the tree is applied externally to relieve pain and inflammation of the joints.
  • The paste of the bark of Medasaka is applied over the area of fractures and covered with cloth, to fasten healing.
  • The oil of Litsea chinensis is gently rubbed over skin to prevent drying of skin.
  • The cold infusion prepared from the leaf of Medasaka is given in a dose of 25-30 ml to treat cough and low back ache.

Adverse effects

No known adverse effect is known or reported after the normal use of Medasaka.

Interaction with medicines, supplements

Can this be used while taking Homeopathic medicine?
Yes. This product does not react with homeopathic medicine.

Can this medicine be continued while taking supplements like multivitamin tablets, Omega 3 fatty acids etc?
Yes. Generally, this product goes well with most of the dietary supplements. However, if you are taking more than one product per day, please consult your doctor for an opinion.

With western medicines
Seek your doctor’s advice if you are taking this product along with other western (allopathic / modern) medicines. Some Ayurvedic herbs can interact with modern medicine.
If both Ayurvedic and allopathic medicines are advised together, then it is best to take Allopathic medicine first, wait for 30 minutes and then take the Ayurvedic medicine.

Ayurvedic medicines

Ayurvedic medicines containing Medasaka:
Asthi sandanak lepa: It is an Ayurvedic medicine in paste form, used to apply externally to heal fractures and dislocations.
Bonton capsule: It is a proprietary Ayurvedic medicine. It promotes early fracture reunion, improves blood supply at fracture site, reduce associated pain and inflammation. Improves bone mass density.

Research

Research articles related to Litsea chinensis:
Analgesic activity: The present study was designed to evaluate analgesic potential of the ethanolic extract of the bark of the plant. The extract, at the dose of 100 and 300 mg/ Kg, has shown a significant (p<0.05) increase in pain threshold in hotplate, as compared with control group.

Anti- nociceptive property: Antinociceptive property of leaves extract of Litsea glutinosa was evaluated by abdominal writhing and tail flick methods using mice. Ethanol extract of leaves was tested at three different concentrations 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg body weight orally. Results showed that, among three different dosages, dosage of 300mg/kg (65%) significantly inhibited the nociception induced by acetic acid when compared to dosage of 100 mg/kg (36.64%) and 200 mg/kg (52.79%).

Anti- pyretic and anti- inflammatory action: The study was conducted to evaluate the in vitro thrombolytic activity, and in vivo analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic potentials of different hydrocarbon soluble extracts of Litsea glutinosa leaves. Our results yield that the crude hydroalcoholic extract has better effects than the other in all trials. In the context, it can be said that the leaves of L. glutinosa possess remarkable pharmacological effects, and justify its traditional use as analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and thrombolytic agent.

Classical categorization

Bhavaprakasha- Parisesha
Nighantu Adarsha- Karpooradi varga

Samsthanika prayoga

Bahya – Sandhisotha, Asthibhagna, Abhighata
Abhyanthara – Grdhrasi, vataraktha, katisoola, Amavata.
Pachana Samsthana – Agnimandhya, Atisara.
Rakthavaha Samsthana – Sotharoga.
Swasanavaha – Jirnakasa
Prajanana – Klaibya

Author: Dr.B.K.Prashanth M.D (Ayu), Ph.D
E mail: drprashanthbk@gmail.com
Click to consult Dr Prashanth BK

Sthanika karma (Systemic Acton)

Externally – External application of its oil is beneficial to reduce pain and swelling. indicated in fracture, dislocation, joint swellings, etc.

Internally
Nervous system – It alleviate vata dosha, Indicated in Osteoarthritis, Rheumatic joint disease, sciatica, convulsions, low back pain etc.

Digestive system – It is bitter, pungent and hot in nature. It act as carminative. indicated in loss of appetite, diarrhea, abdominal disorders

Circulatory System – It is indicated in edema. It has styptic action

Respiratory System –Its has bitter, pungent and unctuous qualities helps to eliminate excess kapha . Indicated in jirna kasa (Chronic Cough)

Reproductive System – Aphrodisiac ,indicated in impotency

Skin – Alleviate vata dosha, indicated for skin dryness

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