Vetiveria, Ushira

Vetiver, Cuscus, Khus-Khus
Ushira (Ayurveda)
Khas (Unani)
Vattiver (Siddha)
Yan Lan Cao (TCM)

Vetiveria zizanioides
Rheede tot Drakestein, H.A. van, Hortus Indicus Malabaricus, (1703)

Bunches of Vetiveria zizanioides root for sale at Réunion Island
(Photo by David Monniaux) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:

Vetiveria zizanioides (syn. Chrysopogon zizanioides, Andropogon muricatus, A. squarrosus, Anatherum zizanioides)
Two varieties of Ushira are known on the Indian market:

White Ushira: Vetiveria zizanioides
Black Ushira: Coleus vetiveroides

Parts used:

Dried root; also the Herb

Temperature & Taste:

Cool, dry. Pungent, Aromatic

Uses:

1. Clears Heat and Poison:
-useful for clearing excess Heat of Bile and Blood Humor
-Fever, Bilious Fever
-Toxicosis, chronic skin diseases, Prickly Heat, Boils
-Burning sensation, Excess Sweating, Thirst
-Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Syphilis (stage 3 and 4)
-Hemorrhage, Hemoptysis from Heat
-helps remove foul body odor
-regarded as useful to counter effects of pollution

2. Benefits the Heart, Clears Heart Fire:
-Palpitations, Cardiac Debility, Fainting
-used when Heart and Mind are affected by excess Heat
-regarded as Exhilarant in Unani; regarded as having a brain and memory tonic effect

3. Moves the Qi, Opens Obstructions:
-Colic, Flatulence, obstinate Vomiting
-Dysuria, Strangury

4. Externally:
-applied to heat-type pain including Rheumatism, Lumbago as well as Strains
-inhaled for Bilious Headache

Dose:

Powder: 3–6 grams
Juice: 25–50 mls.

Correctives:

White Sandalwood (Unani)

Substitutes:

1. Vetiver is a substitute for Red Sandalwood (Pterocarpus), suggesting the latter may be substituted for it.
2. Damask Rose (Unani)

Main Combinations:

1. Fever, Vetiveria with Swertia, Sandalwood, Cyperus rotundus, Long Pepper, Black Pepper, Ginger (as in Nilavembu Kudineer of Siddha Medicine)
2. Burning sensations, Bilious Fever, Thirst, Vetiveria with Red Sandalwood, Emblic Myrobalan
3. Enterotoxic Diarrhea, Vetiveria with Holarrhena, Cinnamon, Jambul seed, Aegle fruit pulp (equal parts)
4. Thirst in Children, Vetiveria with Lotus seed (Unani)
5. As an exhilarant, Vetiveria with Sandalwood, Rose, Aloeswood
6. As a digestive tonic, to increase strength and immunity, Vetiveria with Madder, Indian Spikenard, Lesser Cardamon, Cyperus rotundus, Triphala, Licorice and Raisins (as in Aravindasava, an alcoholic preparation of the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia)
7. Syphilis, Hemidesmus (5 parts), Vetiver (4 parts), Cyperus (5 parts), Picrorhiza (6 parts), Ginger (4 parts). Dose: 5–10 grams
8. Diabetes from Bile Humor:
i. Vetiveria with Symplocos cocchinchinensis, White Sandalwood
ii. Vetiveria with Cyperus rotundus, Chebula, Cayratia trifolia (Ayurveda)
iii. Sandalwood, Lemongrass, Vetiver, Clove, Pyrethrum, Shilajit (1 part each), Tinospora cordifolia (6 parts)
9. Leaf fumes with benzoin are inhaled for Bilious Headache