Atasi

BOTANICAL NAME: Linum usitatissimum

FAMILY: Linaceae

CLASSICAL CLASSIFICATION:

Bhavaprakasha nighantu– Dhanya varga

ENGLISH NAME: Flax

COMMON NAME:

Hindi: Alasi

Bengali: Masina

Kannad: gasebeeja, Semeagare, Agasi

REFERENCE: BHAVAPRAKASH SAMHITA with link e Nighantu:

https://niimh.nic.in/ebooks/e-Nighantu/bhavaprakashanighantu/?mod=read

अतसी नीलपुष्पी च पार्वती स्यादुमा क्षुमा |

अतसी मधुरा तिक्ता स्निग्धा पाके कटुर्गुरुः |

उष्णा दृक्छुक्रवातघ्नी कफपित्तविनाशिनी ||५६||

HABITAT: plant generally found in Bengal, Bihar, Russia, Britain, UP.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION: It is an annual herb. Its stem is herbaceous and branched. Leaf is simple, alternate, entire, linear or linear lanceolate. Flower is bisexual, complete, blue or white. Fruit 5 celled capsule seeds are flat and shinning. Roots are tap root and branched.

MAJOR CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: Plant contains omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), campesterol, sitosterol.

THERAPEUTIC USES:

Burning urination: 1-2 teaspoons of Atasi seeds are soaked in a cup of water overnight. Next day it is consumed before food.

Cholesterol & obesity: Early in the morning 2-3 ml of linseed oil is added to a cup of warm water and taken in an empty stomach.

Lactation: Equal amounts of Linseed, cumin seeds and fenugreek seeds are taken and fine powder is made and taken twice a day in the dose of 5 grams along with milk.

Burning sensation and pain due to wasp sting: Fresh, mature flax leaves are crushed to obtain fresh juice and locally applied.

INDICATIONS:

Hridroga Cardiac disorder, Shotha Swelling, Arsas Piles, Kushtha Leprosy, Vrana Ulcers

USEFUL PART: Seed, oil, flower

DOSAGE: Powder- 3-6 gm, oil- 5-10ml

AYURVEDIC FORMULATION:

1. Atasyadi lepa
2. Atasi sneha