VANSHLOCHAN (BAMBOO MANNA)

DEFINITION

Vanshlochan is also known as Bamboo silica, Banslochan, Tabashir and Bamboo Manna. Vanshlochan is used in many Ayurvedic medicines as a stimulant, cooling, sweet, tonic, aphrodisiac, hemostatic, expectorant, anti-cough, and diuretic. The discharge of the eyes of bamboo is known as Vanshlochan.

Vanshlochan is a siliceous concretion that discharged from the joints of the Bambousa arundinacae or bamboo (female) plant and generally it is present inside the hollow stems of bamboo tree. This is bluish-white, opaque, hard, and found as irregular fragments. It does not get easily dissolved in water but it absorbs a great deal of water.

Vanshlochan is very effective in impotence, debility, male sexual disorders, asthma, cough, bronchitis, burning sensations, blood disorders, fever, tuberculosis, and leprosy. This is used in many types of respiratory disorders.

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION VANSHLOCHAN

1. Botanical name:- Bambusa arundinacea
2. Kingdom:- Plantae – Plants
3. Subkingdom:- Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
4. Family: Gramineae / Poaceae – Grass family
5. Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
6. Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
7. Class: Liliopsida – Monocotyledons
8. Subclass: Commelinidae
9. Order: Cyperales
10. Genus: Bambusa Schreb. – bamboo P
11. Species: Bambusa arundinacea, Willd. – bamboo P

SYNONYM OF VANSHLOCHAN

1. Bambusa bambos L
2. Arundo bambos L
3. Hindi names – Tabasheer, Bans, Kattang
4. English names:- Eye of Bamboo, Bamboo manna, Bamboo, Katanga Bamboo, Spiny bamboo
5. Assamese name – Bnah
6. Bengali name – Behar, Bans
7. Gujarati name – Vanskapur, Wans
8. Kannada name – Andebidiru, Biduru
9. Malayalam name – Illi, Mulla, Mungil
10. Oriya name – Bengu
11. Telugu name – Mullavendru, Mullabongu
12. Tamil name – Mukku Mungil, Mungil
13. Marathi name – Bambu
14. Punjabi name – Magar Bans
15. Uttar Pradesh name – Kanwas
16. Jammu name – Lamberi
17. Unani name –Tabaashir, Tabasheer, Tabaschir
18. Siddha name – Moongiluppu
19. Tehran –Tabashhir-i-qalami
20. Arabic –Tabashira
21. Ayurvedic names –Tugakshiri, Vanshlochan, Tvakshiri, Tuga, Vanshalochana, Banslochan, Vansharochana, Vanshrochan, Vanshkarpura

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS

1. Vansharocana – Which removes bad smell and improves the taste
2. Tuga – This destroys the laghutva
3. Shubha – It has good qualities
4. Yavaphala – Its fruit resembles barley
5. Tvakkshiri, Tavaksheeri, Tabasheer, Tavasheer – Its latex looks like milk
6. Vanshakarpura – This looks like Karpura
7. Truna Dhwaja, Trunadvaja – This is superior among all the grasses
8. Shataparva – It has the presence of 100 or more than 100 leaves
9. Yavaphala – Its fruits are yava shaped
10. Other names of Vanshlochan –
11. Shataparva, Tvacisara, Shabdamala, Karmara, Keecake, Maskara, Suparva, venu, Trinaketu, Tvaksara,Tejana, Baddha Dalaya, Karmuka, Tvachisaraka, Keechaka

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF VANSHLOCHAN

Parts Used – Dried resin, Root, Tender shoot

Dosage of Vanshlochan – 50 to 100 ml

 CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF VANSHLOCHAN

1. Silica 90.56%
2. Potash 1.10%
3. Peroxide of Iron 0.90%
4. Alumina 0.40%
5. Moisture 4.87%

MEDICINAL USES OF VANSHLOCHAN

1. Vanshlochan has Vata-Pitta shamakproperties which helps to pacifies vata and pitta dosha from the body
2. It acts as Chedan which discharges adherent phlegm or other humours from the body
3. It has Vasti Shodhan actions which cleanses the urinary system
4. It has Kushthaharproperties that cures all types of skin disorders
5. Vanshlochan acts as Vrishyawhich improves the overall health of the body
6. It has Vajikarakaction that increases sexual power
7. It acts as Balyathat increase strength of the body
8. It has Svashharfunction which treats all types of respiratory disorders and also cures asthma
9. It has Mutralaaction that promotes the secretion of urine
10. It is Dahtu-Vardhakthat nourishes Dhatus
11. It has Viryavardhakaction that increases the sperm count in males
12. It acts as Shitalwhich gave cooling effects on the body
13. This is used in Pittasaraand Raktapitta, and it treats bleeding disorders such as heavy menstrual periods and nasal bleeding
14. Used in Kushta,which treats the skin diseases
15. Used in Shopha, which removes inflammation from the body
16. It used in Vrana that heals the wounds and ulcers
17. Used inMutrakrichra, which treats dysuria and urinary retention
18. Used in Prameha, It treats diabetes and Urinary tract disorders
19. This heals the Arsha– Haemorrhoids
20. Uses in Daha– Burning sensation of the stomach, burning sensation of the eyes, gastritis, neuropathy
21. Uses in Asra – Blood disorders such as skin disorders, skin abscess, and bleeding disorders like nasal bleeding and menorrhagia
22. Vanshlochan provides the strength to the bones and make the bones healthy
23. It provides flexibility to the skin
24. This is good for bones, nails, hairs
25. It provides strength to the arteries of the heart
26. This also provides strength to the connective tissues of the body
27. This herb is also known as Beauty Mineral

HEALTH BENEFITS OF VANSHLOCHAN 

1. Vanshlochan contains Micronutrients which are very essential for the body
2. It acts as atonic and improves overall body health
3. This helps to removeobstruction heart, lungs, and mind 
4. It acts as an immuno-booster that improves the body immunity
5. This acts as a Diuretic which cleanses urinary tract
6. It cures skin disorders, brittle nails, and hairs
7. It treats respiratory disorders and or chest infections
8. This has expectorant actionand it helps to increases the bronchial secretion and enhance the expulsion of mucus by air passages through the lungs
9. This herb helps to gain the bodyweight
10. This acts as a good Aphrodisiac that stimulates the sexual desire
11. This helps to strengthens muscles, tendons andnerves 
12. It helps to increases potencyand fertility
13. It has carminativeaction which relieves flatulence
14. It is used to treat impotency, urinary infections, and weakness
15. This is used in the treatment of Chest disorders, cough, and  asthma
16. Its also used in the treatment of Alzheimer disease
17. This helps in faster healing of fractured bones
18. It has a very effectiveremineralizing agent
19. It shows very beneficial effects in the conditions of chronic inflammation, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, painful joints, and low bone density
20. It treats abnormal discharge from the vagina
21. This is a natural herb that used to treat male sexual disorders such as low libido, premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, and impotence
22. Vanshlochan contains Anti-arthritic properties
23. It is good Antacid
24. It has Anti-bacterial and Anti-viral properties
25. It has also anti-cancerous property
26. The Anti-arthritic property of this drug helps to treat gout and arthritis-like problems from the bones
27. It has Anti-hypertensive action lower the blood pressure
28. It has Anti-pyretic action which treats the fever
29. It has Anti-ulcer action that may heal ulcers of the stomach
30. It has Anti-oxidant properties
31. It acts as Bronchodilator.