1244 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
1229 . V. Roxburghii, Br. h.f.b.i., vi. 52 . 
Sans. : — Rasna, vand&ka, n&kuli, gandha-nakuli. 
V ern. : — Rasna, nai (H. & B.) ; Dare banki (Santal) ; Rasna 
(M, & Guz.) ; Kanapa chettu badanike, neardan, chittedurn 
(Tel.). 
Habitat : — Bengal, Behar and westwards to Gnzerat and 
the Conean, and southwards to Travaneore. 
Stem epiphytic 2-3ft., climbing. Leaves pnemorse, fi-Sin. 
narrow, complicate. Peduncles 6-8in., fi-10-fkl. Racemes- sub- 
erect. Flowers l5-2in. 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 Aeampe papillosa, are indiscriminately used by native phy- 
sicians. 1 “ Rdsna 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 
ipedicated 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 H eleitin m, 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." Dntt (Mat. Med., 
p. 258) remarks “ Under the name of rasna, the roots of Vanda Roxburghii 
and Aeampe 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. 392-398.) 
