Malabar Nut

botanical

What is it

Malabar nut (Adhatoda vasica, also called Justicia adhatoda, or vasaka) is a shrub used in Ayurveda and traditional medicine for respiratory conditions including cough, asthma, and bronchitis.

Evidence for 2 uses

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Cough and bronchitis

Limited

Traditional Ayurvedic use and animal evidence support bronchodilatory and expectorant activity. Modern clinical trials of vasaka are limited but consistent with the pharmacology of its alkaloid bromhexine.

Asthma

Mixed

Traditional use is widespread, but rigorous clinical evidence is sparse. Should not replace prescribed asthma controllers.

How it works

Vasaka leaves contain alkaloids including vasicine and vasicinone. Vasicine is the chemical precursor to the synthetic mucolytic drug bromhexine and its derivative ambroxol, both used clinically for productive cough. Vasicine has bronchodilatory and expectorant effects, and vasicinone modulates these activities. The plant also has anti-inflammatory and possibly antimicrobial properties. Despite this strong pharmaceutical link, modern clinical trials of vasaka extracts themselves are limited.

Dosage

Traditional Ayurvedic doses use 3-6 g dried leaf or 5-10 mL leaf juice daily. Standardized extracts vary; product labels usually suggest 250-500 mg twice daily.

When and how to take it

Often divided across the day with warm water or honey. Use during acute respiratory symptoms; not a continuous preventive.

2 commercial forms

Vasaka leaf extract

Alkaloids well-absorbed orally.

Common supplement form.

Vasaka leaf juice (traditional)

Used fresh in Ayurveda.

Traditional preparation.

Safety

Generally tolerated at traditional doses. Higher doses may cause nausea, diarrhea, and uterine stimulation. Vasicine can affect cardiac rhythm at high doses in animals.

Who should be cautious

Avoid in pregnancy (uterine stimulant, abortifacient at high doses). Avoid in breastfeeding due to insufficient data. People with cardiac arrhythmias should consult a clinician.

Interactions

Potential interactions with bronchodilators, cough medications, and uterine-acting drugs. Theoretical interactions with anticoagulants.

Frequently asked questions

Is bromhexine the same as vasaka?⌄

Bromhexine is a synthetic drug derived from vasicine, the active alkaloid in vasaka. The plant extract contains the natural compound, the drug is a pharmaceutical derivative.

Can it replace asthma medication?⌄

No. It may complement supportive care but should not replace prescribed controllers; consult a clinician.

References

  • Malabar Nut on Wikidata — Wikidata link
  • Malabar Nut on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link
  • Research on Malabar Nut (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.