Litsea, Medasaka
Indian Laurel, Gluey Litsea
Maidah Lakri (Unani)
Vardbari (Arabic)
Medasaka (Ayurveda)
Chan Gao Mu Jiang Zi (TCM)
Litsea glutinosa
Flora de Filipinas, 1880
Botanical name:
Litsea glutinosa (syn. Neolitsea chinensis, Sebifera glutinosa, L. sebifera, L. chinensis)
Parts used:
Bark
In China, the Bark and/or Leaf have been used synonymously
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Pungent, Bitter
Avicenna said Warm and Moist.
Uses:
1. Strengthens the Stomach, Benefits Qi:
-Digestive weakness, loss of appetie, fatigue
-Fattening
-regarded as a Nerve tonic
-“It is a general tonic” (Avicenna)
2. Strengthens Kidney, Benefits the Bones:
-Backache, Sciatica, Rheumatism
-Osteoporosis, Bone weakness in the elderly
-Bone fractures
-Aphrodisiac; “Stimulates the Sexual desire” (Avicenna)
3. Astringent:
-Diarrhea
-aids retention of Semen (prolongs Ejaculation)
4. Resists Poison:
-Boils, Abscesses (TCM)
-Antidote to Venomous Bites
5. Moves the Blood, Stops Bleeding: (TCM)
-Trauma, Bruising
-Bleeding due to injury
6. Externally:
-applied to bruises, strains
-applied to Arthritic and Rheumatic joints
-paste is applied over Fractures
-“useful when plastered in cases of Sprains, Fractures, Muscular Strains, Dislocations, Gout and Convulsions” (Avicenna)
-“good for treating callus and the hardening of joints” (Avicenna)
Dose:
1. Taken with Honey as a tonic
2. Barkl and Leaf can be used in similar doses.
Bark Powder: 3–5 grams
Bark in Decoction: 3–9 grams
Substitute:
1. Rheumatism and Joint pain, Colchicum (Unani)
2. Fractures and Lumbago, with Terminalia arjuna (Unani)
Corrective:
Honey
Main Combinations:
1. To heal Fractures, Litsea bark with Cissus, Terminalia arjuna, Bdellium, Mother of Pearl
2. Bruises, Strains, Arthritic joints, fresh bark is mixed with Armenian Earth and applied topically (Unani)
Cautions:
It can aggravate Bladder diseases, according to some sources.
Toxicity:
Main Preparations used:
Nothing at Present
1. Traditional and commercial uses of Litsea glutinosa (Lour.) CB Robinson (Lauraceae)
2. Ethnomedicinal Uses, Phytochemistry, and Therapeutic Potentials of Litsea glutinosa (Lour.) CB Robinson: A Literature-Based Review
3. Study of antioxdant, antiinflammatory and woundhealing activity of extracts of Litsea glutinosa
4. Antibacterial activity of Litsea glutinosa bark
5. Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of Litsea glutinosa
6. Analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory potential in Swiss albino mice and in vitro thrombolytic activity of hydroalcoholic extract from Litsea glutinosa …
7. Phytochemical Analysis and Understanding the Antioxidant and Anticancer Properties of Methanol Extract from Litsea glutinosa: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies
8. Hepatoprotective potency of Litsea glutinosa (L.) CB Rob. leaf methanol extract on H2O2-induced toxicity in HepG2 cells
9. Hepatoprotective activity of methanol extract of Litsea glutinosa against hepatotoxin induced toxicity
10. Study of analgesic activity of Litsea glutinosa (L.) ethanolic extract on Swiss albino mice.
11. Antinociceptive property of leaves extract of Litsea glutinosa
12. Anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemia effects of the alkaloid-rich extract from barks of Litsea glutinosa in ob/ob mice
13. Osteoprotective effect of Litsea glutinosa in ovariectomized wistar rats
14. Evaluation of Litsea glutinosa bark on immobilization stress induced sexual behavior and fertility of male rats
