Ø A good aphrodisiac

Ø Nourishes the body so increases the bulk of body

Ø Cleanses the urinary system

Ø Fastens the healing of wounds

Ø Useful in emaciating or under nutrition conditions

Ø Increases the strength of body

Common Name:

Bamboo manna

Sanskrit Name:

Vanshlochana

Lt. Name:

Bambusa arundinacea

Bio energetics:

Rasa (Taste) – Madhura (Sweet); Kashaya (Astringent)

Guna (Characteristics) - Ruksha (Un-unctuous); Laghu (Light); Teekshna (Sharp in action)

Veerya (Potency) – Sheeta (Cold)

Vipaka (Post digestion effect) – Madhura (Sweet)

Chemical composition:

(+)- cellulose (41-44%), pentosans (21-23%), lignin (26-28%), ash (1.7-1.9%), silica (0.6-0.7%). Per 100 g of young shoots for green stem cultivators contain water (90g), protein (2.6g), fat (4.1g), carbohydrates (0.4g), fiber (1.1g), calcium (22.8mg), phosphorus (37mg), iron (1.1mg) and ascorbic acid (3.1mg). per 100 g os young shoots for yellow stem cultivators contain water (88g), protein (1.8g), fat (7.2g), fiber (1.2g), calcium (28.6mg), phosphorus (27.5mg) and iron (1.4mg).

Effect on Tridosha (Three bio humors):

Vanshlochana pacifies Vata and Pitta Doshas so it can be used effectively in management of all diseases which originate from aggravation of Vata/ Pitta or both.

Actions according to Ayurveda:

• Vasti Shodhana: Vanshlochana cleanses the urinary system
  
• Chhedana: Vanshlochanapossess cutting action so it is used in kidney stones
  
• Kushthsjit:Vanshlochana is useful in all skin diseases
  
• Vranajit: Vanshlochanafastens the healing of wounds.
  
• Bruhana: Vanshlochananourishes the body so increases the bulk of body
  
• Vrushya: Vanshlochanais a good aphrodisiac
  
• Balya: Vanshlochanaincreases the strength of body
  
• Swashjit: Vanshlochanais useful in respiratory distress
  
• Kshayajit:Vanshlochana is useful in emaciating or under nutrition conditions.
  

Medicinal value:

• The extracts of Bambusa arundinacea have been used in Indian folk medicine to treat various inflammatory conditions. The plant has got antiulcer activity also. It is thought that these two properties in the same extract are very much useful in the treatment of inflammatory conditions. It is well known fact that the most of the available antiinflammatory drugs are ulcerogenic. The antiinflammatory effect of the methanol extract of the leaves of Bambusa arundinacea against carrageenin-induced as well as immunologically induced paw oedema and also its antiulcer activity in albino rats have been studied and found to be significant when compared to the standard drugs. The combination of methanol extract and phenylbutazone (Non-Steroidal Antiinflammatory Agent, NSAIA) has been studied and found to be the most potent antiinflammatory activity experimentally with least toxic (no ulcerogenic) activity. Thus, the combination of herbal product (methanol extract of Bambusa arundinacea) with modern medicine (NSAIAs) will produce the best antiinflammatory drug and will be useful for long-term treatment of chronic inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis with peptic ulcer, which are common. Bamboo is used in manufacturing a number of products, like building materials, carpentry, farming, forestry, hunting and fishing apparatus, fuel and lighting, household, domestic and personal items, pulp and paper.
  
• Antiinflammatory and antiulcer activities of Bambusa arundinacea arundinaceaM. Muniappan Department of Pharmacology, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute (Deemed University), Porur, Chennai 600116, India and T. Sundararaj Department of Microbiology, Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani, Chennai 600113, India

• Young shoots or sprouts of common bamboos are used as food in third world countries. Evidences suggest the presence of cyanogenic glucoside like anti-thyroidal substance in bamboo shoots (BS) but effect of prolonged BS consumption on thyroid status under conditions of varying iodine nutriture remains unexplored. The study was undertaken to evaluate goitrogenic content, in vitro anti thyroid peroxidase (TPO) activity and in vivo anti thyroid potential of BS with and without extra iodide. Significant increase in thyroid weight as well as higher excretion of thiocyanate and iodine along with marked decrease in thyroid peroxidase activity, T4 and T3 levels were observed in BS fed group. Chronic BS consumption gradually developed a state of hypothyroidism. Extra iodide had reduced the anti-thyroidal effect of BS to an extent but could not cancel it because of excessive cyanogenic glucoside, glucosinolate and thiocyanate present in it.
  
• Effect of bamboo shoot, Bambusa arundinacea (Retz.) Willd. on thyroid status under conditions of varying iodine intake in rats.Chandra AK, Ghosh D, Mukhopadhyay S, Tripathy S.Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata 700009, India.
• Its sprouts are acrid, bitter and laxative and are helpful in inflammations, ulcers and wounds.
  
• The bamboo resin (tabasheer, banshalochan) has astringent, acrid, sweet, cooling, expectorant, constipating, cardiotonic, haemostatic, aphrodisiac, and diuretic properties. It is used to treat infantile epilepsy.
  
• Bamboo is used as an abortifacient for kidney troubles.
  
• It is healthy for the different humors of our body, increases the sperm count.
  
• It is beneficial in thirst, cough, fever, respiratory disorders too; bile disorder due to tuberculosis, blood impurities, leprosy with jaundice, wounds, ulcers, jaundice, and painful flow of urine can be cured with consu mption of manna.
  
• Besides it has other uses in case of abortion, pregnancy and post delivery problems  

Useful part:

Bamboo leaves, Bamboo Exudate, Roots, Sprouts, Fruit

Doses: