Usheera

Many people do not know much about khus khus, so you might not know too much about the benefits of poppy seeds. Poppy is used as a medicine. Soaps, perfumes etc. are made from poppy oil. Apart from this, there are more khus sharbat benefits.

What is Khus Khus?

Poppy (khus-khus) is a medicine. Poppy is used as a medicine, as well as curtains, fans etc. are also made from the root of its plant. Cough can be taken in vomiting, burning sensation, sperm disorder, biliary disorder etc. Along with this, the benefits of poppy are also found in eye diseases, fever etc.

Name of Khus Khus in many languages

The botanical name of poppy is Vetiveria zizanioides (Linn.), Nash, Syn-Andropogon muricatus Retz. Chrysopogon zizanioides (Linn.) Robert), and is from Poaceae clans. Its other names are:

Khus in-

• Hindi – खस, गनरार, खस–खस, वीरन मूल, बेना

• English –  खस–खस ग्रास (Khus-khus grass) खस खस (Khus-khus), Vetiver grass (वेटीवर ग्रास)

• Sanskrit – वीरण, वीर, बहुमूलक, उशीर, नलद, सेव्य, अमृणाल, समगन्धक, जलवास

• Urdu – खस (Khas)

• Kannada – मुडिवाल (Mudival), वेट्टीवेरू (Vettiveru)

• Gujarati – सुगन्धिवालो (Sugandivalo)

• Telugu – कुरूवेरू (Kuruveru), वेटिट्वेरू (Vettiveru)

• Tamil –उशीरम (Ushiram), वेट्टिवेर (Vettiver)

• Bengali – वेणर मूल (Vener-mool), खसखस (Khaskhas)

• Nepali – खस (Khas)

• Punjabi – पानी (Panni)

• Marathi – वाला (Vala)

• Malayalam – रमाच्हम (Ramachham)

• Persian – खसदाना रेशा (Khusdana Resha), बीखीवाला (Bikhivala), खस (Khas);

• Arabic – इजेखिर (Izkhir)

The medicinal properties of Ushira are:

• Anti-inflammatory
• Antiseptic
• Antispasmodic
• Anti asthmatic
• Antigout
• Anti helminthic
• Expectorant
• Digestive
• Carminative
• Antioxidant
• Anti-bacterial
• Antifungal
• Aphrodisiac
• Vulnerary
• Cicatrisant
• Calming
• Nerve relaxant
• Diuretic
• Abortifacient 

Gundharam Properties

• Physical property (Guna) – Laghu, Snigdha

• Taste (Rasa) – Madhura, Tikta

• Potency (Veerya) – shita or cool

• Effect on doshas – balances Vata and Pitta doshas 

• Vipaka: Madhura,  

• Karma : Pacana, Pittaghna, Stambhana, Vataghna, Dabaklantihara, Kaphapttahrt.

Charaka in Charaka Samhita categorises Ushira as:

• Tikta Skandha – a group of bitter-tasting herbs
• Varnya – herbs helpful in improving complexion
• Daha Prasamana – herbs that relieve the burning sensation
• Shukrasodhana – herbs that improve sperm quality
• Stanyajanana – herbs that stimulate lactation
• Angamardaprasamana – herbs that help in relieving body aches

Better Digestive Health

Poor digestion is the cause of many problems in the body. When you are constipated, there is fatigue, tiredness and headache that accompany it. Similar is the case with other disorders of the stomach. Vetiver consumption can help in maintaining a normal digestive system functioning. It can help in curing acidity, belching as well as burning sensation. In summer seasons, a cool drink is made out of Vetiver roots which not only cools down the body but also helps in providing relief from diarrhoea, indigestion and fever.

Anti-Inflammatory

Ushira is a cool herb and it is its cooling effect which gives it its anti-inflammatory property. It has the ability to soothe all types of inflammations, but it works best on inflammations related to circulatory and nervous systems. These include sunstroke and dehydration which are both extremely dangerous. They usually occur together and can even cause death. It is recommended to drink a mango-khus sharbat when affected by sunstroke.

Works On Wounds

When affected by a wound, insect bite or rashes; use Vetiver. Its antiseptic property ensures that there is no buildup of bacteria or other pathogens on open wounds. In fact, Vetiver is blessed with a very special healing property. When applied on wounds, it gives impetus to the process of formation of new tissues. This means that the wounds fill up much more quickly and surprisingly they do not even leave unwanted scars. This is one of the reasons why Vetiver oil is applied in different situations like pregnancy stretch marks, allergies and even burns.

Vetiver As An Antioxidant

Antioxidant substances are those substances which help in reducing the buildup of oxidative stress in the body by washing away the free radicals that accumulate inside the body. These free radicals are quite dangerous as they can lead to the formation of malignant tumours which take the form of cancer. Vetiver is packed with a number of antioxidant elements and keeps the body free of free radicals.

Induces Calmness

Vetiver is a ‘nervine’; which means a tonic for nerves. It can help in easing out nervous system disorders by strengthening the neural connections. Vetiver can be helpful in providing relief from epilepsy, hysteria and even Parkinson’s disease. Being a powerful nerve tonic, Vetiver also helps in relieving the buildup of stress and anxiety. It is an amazing calmness inducing herb. Vetiver contains compounds like vetiselinenol, vetivenene, khusimol, khusimone and alpha- and beta-vetivone. These compounds have antioxidative, anxiolytic and neuroprotective effects which make Vetiver a potent herb to cure anxiety, depression and even dementia. This is the reason it is also used in naturotherapy. So in case you encounter an emotional outburst or are feeling very low, pop in some Vetiver and see the effects for yourself.

For Better Sexual Health

People suffering from sexual debility should know that there might be nothing wrong in your physiology but psychology. This means that at times the brain might not be able to send signals correctly which leads to poor libido. Ushira which is used to make cool beverages in the summer season can help improve your libido. Since Vetiver is a nerve tonic, it strengthens the neural connections and being a calming agent too, it significantly decreases the production of cortisol which is responsible for creating stress in the body. Further, it stimulates the brain to secrete sex hormones. Vetiver is equally helpful in males and females alike.

 Problems Of The Urinary Tract

Urinary tract problems are especially prevalent in females because their urinary tract is quite narrow and provides an easy passage for the pathogens to enter deep inside and cause infection. Vetiver has amazing anti-inflammatory properties and it can help in reducing the inflammation of the inner layer of the urethra, bladder or urinary tract.

 Ushira For A Sound Sleep

A number of sleeping disorders plague many people’s lives. Sleeping disorders like insomnia and apnea are quite perilous and can wreak havoc in a person’s life. Caused due to the malfunctioning of the respiratory system or central or peripheral nervous system, these disorders result in loss of sleep which means the person continuously feels tired and fatigued. They can even cause malfunctioning of other organs as sleep is important for the smooth functioning of the organs of the body. If you are affected with any sleep disorder, you must consider using Vetiver. Its regular usage can help in changing your breathing patterns and reducing snoring by activating the olfactory centres in the brain. Being a sedative, Vetiver also calms the nervous system and helps in inducing deep sleep.

Useful Parts of Khus Khus

You can use these parts of poppy seeds: –

• Poppy seed
• Khus plant oil

How to Use Khus Khus?

The quantity of poppy seeds used should be: –

• Poppy Powder – 3-6 grams
• Poppy Snow – 25-50 ml
• Khas ka sharbat – 20-40 ml

To get more benefit of poppy as a medicine, you should use it according to the consultation of a doctor.

Where is Khus Khus Found or Grown?

Poppy is cultivated in tropical regions all over India. It usually occurs on dry land, pond-puddle, lake or river banks. Along with this, it is also found in places like South India, Bengal, Rajasthan and Chota Nagpur etc. It reaches a height of 1200 meters.