1244 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



1229. V. Roxburghii, Br. h.f.b.i., vi. 52. 



Sans. :— Rasna, vandaka, naknli, gandha-nakuli. 



Vern. :— Rasna, nai (H. & B.) ; Dare banki (Santal) ; Rasna 

 (M. & Guz.) ; Kanapa chettu badanike, neardau, chitteduru 

 (Tel.). 



Habitat .-—Bengal, Behar and westwards to Gnzerat and 

 the Concan, and southwards to Travancore. 



Stem epiphytic 2-3ft., climbing. Leaves praemorse, 6-8in. 

 narrow, complicate. Peduncles 6-8in., 6-10-fid. Racemes sub- 

 erect. Flowers l|-2in. diam., tesselated with brown. Sepals 

 and petals subequal, clawed, obovate waved, yellowish-green or 

 bluish, except from the clathrate brown nerves, margins white. 

 Lip half as long as the sepals, or more. Side-lobes small acute, 

 mid-lobe panduriform violet, tip dilated, truncate 2-lobed. 



Uses : — Under the name of rasna the roots of this orchid and 

 of Acampe papillosa, are indiscriminately used by native phy- 

 sicians.'' " Rasna root is said to be fragrant, bitter and useful in 

 rheumatism and allied disorders, in which it is prescribed in 

 a variety of forms. It also enters into composition of several 

 medicated oils for external application in rheumatism and dis- 

 eases of the nervous system." (Hindu Mat Med.) It is also 

 said to be a remedy for secondary syphilis. In Chutia Nagpur, 

 the leaves pounded and made into a paste, are applied to the 

 body during fever, and the juice is introduced into the aural 

 meatus as a remedy for otitis media. (Campbell.) 



* We have already stated (Vol. ii., p. 260) that we consider it probable that 

 the original Rasna of the Arians was Inula Heleninm, as the two drugs, at the 

 head of this article are notably deficient in the properties ascribed to Rasna 

 by Sanskrit writers ; for instance, the plants under consideration cannot be 

 described as Gandha-mula " having a strong smelling root." Dutt (Mat. Med., 

 p. 258) remarks :— " Under the name of rasna, the roots of Vanda Roxburghii 

 and Acampe papillosa are both indiscriminately used by native physicians. 

 They are very similar in the appearance of their roots and leaves, though they 

 differ much in their flowers and fruit. One native physician whom I consult- 

 ed, pronounced both of these plants to be rasna ; when, however, I showed 

 him the different flowers and fruit of the two species, he was puzzled." The 

 description of the properties and uses of rasna will, we think, convince our 

 readers that the original drug was not what is now used. (Pharmacogr. Ind. 

 III. 392-393.) 



