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Schwabe News Volume 3 | Issue 5 & 6| October & December 2012

Janosia ashoka

It is also known by the name Janosia asoca or Saraca indica. It is of the family Leguminosae and is an Indian tree 7-10 m. high with glabrous branches, 15-20 cm long glabrous leaves with 4-6 pairs of leaflets. The tincture is made from the bark and is a proved medicine (1). The affinity of this drug is female reproductive organs. The mother tincture is generally used for delayed and irregular menses, menstrual colic, arnemorrhoea, pain in ovaries before flow, menorrhagia, irritable bladder with other symptoms like unilateral headache, reflex uterine, congestive headache, better open air and by free flow.  Desire for sweets, also acid things, thirsty, excessive nausea, obstinate constipation, haemorrhoids are also covered (2,3).

It has many phytochemicals which have been extensively worked pharmacologically and clinically.  Ketosterol, a glycosidal fraction, a saponin and an organic calcium compound are found from the whole plant.  Ketosterol and the calcium salts are important in the treatment of menorrhagia (4,5). 11-Deoxyprocyanidin B-isolated from root bark (-) epicatechin and procyanidin B2 and other phytochemical have also been isolated.  A phenolic glycoside showed highly potent and specific oxytocic activity in vitro and in vivo on uteri of rat and isolated human myometrial strips and fallopian tube. It was active in remarkably low concentrations and nontoxic to animals upto 250 mg/kg (6). Two crude glycosides isolated from bark have exhibited uterine spasmogenic activity and both showed significant stimulant action on isolated uteri of rat, guinea pig, rabbit, dog and human; pure phenolic glycoside P2 was highly potent and showed consistent oxytocic activity (7).

Recommended dose:  The recommended Janosia Ashoka uses are10-20 drops 2-3 times a day, depending upon the case

References:

1. P. N. Varma, Indu Vaid, Encyclopaedia of Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia, Updated edition 2007, B. Jain Publishers, New Delhi.
2. S. C. Ghose, Drugs of Hindoosthan, With their Homoeopathic Uses, Provings and Clinical Verifications, Hahnemann Publishing Company Pvt.ltd, 165 Bipin Behary Ganguly Street, Calcutta-700 012, Ninth Edition, Reprint Dec. 1998
3. W. Boericke, New Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica & Repertory [with Relationship of Remedies], Second Re-Augmented & Revised Edition Based on Ninth Edition, Reprint Edition 2002, B. Jain Publishers, New Delhi.
4. Sen, S. P., Chemical study of the Indigenous plant Saraca Indica (Asoka), Current Sec. 1963, 32, 502
5. Indian J. Pharm. 1964, 26, 110
6. D N Prasad, G V Satyavati, P K Das, S P Sen, Oxytocic Activity Of A Pure Phenolic Glycoside (P2) From Abaca Indica Linn (Ashoka) : A Short Communication, Indian J. Med. Res. 1970,58, 660
7. G V Satyavati, D N Prasad, S P Sen, P K Das, Further Studies On The Uterine Activity Of Saraca Indica Linn, Indian J. Med. Res. 1970, 58, 947