Monday, 29 April 2013

Vasambu Health Benefits: Cure For Gastritis in Babies


Vasambu is a magic herb and has amazing health benefits and uses. It is called "Pullavallathi" in Tamil, meaning it assists young mothers to raise their babies easily without any sickness. Vasambu is called "Sweet Flag" in English. Usually a piece of vasambu is tied to the babies hand, so that when the babies suck on that piece of vasambu they won't have any stomach ailments. Vasambu helps to get rid of  all gastric problems. Vasambu also stores well and can be stored in the pantry for almost a year. To use vasambu as a home remedy, a long piece of vasambu is heated on the flame directly till it burns and turns black. When we burn vasambu, it emits a really nice smell. Let the vasambu cool and then pound the burnt part of the vasambu in a mortar and pestle till you get a nice fine powder. Because it gets crisp when we burn it, it can be powdered easily. Mix the powder with honey and have it for at least three days. The amount of the vasambu powder depends on the age. For young babies, when you feel they have bloated stomach and they are not eating well, mix one-fourth tsp with honey and give them.  Adults can have 1 tsp of the powder mixed with honey. The powder is not bitter at all, though it looks charcoal black.

1. Take a piece of vasambu, dip one end in pure castor oil and hold it directly over the fire. It will catch fire and burn. Make sure to take a long piece so the heat won't burn your hand.

2. Once the vasambu turns black, remove it from fire and let cool. Powder the burnt part in a mortar and pestle to a fine powder.

3. Take the required amount of powder and mix it with honey to make a thick paste.

  • Be careful when burning vasambu, as it catches fire easily.
  • You can dip the whole vasambu piece in castor oil and then burn it over fire using tongs.
  • Powder it finely, else it will be difficult to have it.
  • Have it daily once, for three days.


  1. This is a great inspiring article. I am pretty much pleased with your good work. You put really very helpful gastro health information. I will do this for my son, He is having gastric problem from last one week. Thanks to sharing this. Looking to reading your next post! Thanks once again.

  2. Hi,Added to this i would say it can be taken seeped as a tea and drink that water with vasambu. I had taken that and seen excellent result. I had given this to my friend and he felt a great relief as well and passed on to another friend of him. It is an excellent cure.

  3. Very useful information about vasambu. Can we powder vasambu directly without burning it? This is for storage purpose and use it whenever we want to use the powder. Vasambu powder is sold in shops in its own colour. What is the way to powder it without turning it into black by burning it? Kindly reply.

    1. The best way to powder it is by pounding the vasambu to pieces and sun drying covered in a thin mesh. Once crisp, powder it in a dry mixer, sieve to get a fine powder and store...

  4. Hi, Ramya...Great job ..the presentation is very nice ..
    R vasambu and vayambu same or different . There is another blog about it but the pics are same ?

    1. Vasambu and vayambu are same, vayambu is the Malayalam name for sweet flag...

  5. i am told that vasambu along with turmeric powder can be used to cure foot corns by applying them on the corn for few days. please advise whether this is correct. also pleas confirm whether bamboo leaves act as duetric ie it removes accumulated water in joints thereby reducing swelling. please do help