Vamsha
Bambusa bambos
Vamsha (Bambusa bambos) is a plant used in Ayurveda. Choline from bamboo leaves has high oral bioavailability (~70%). Flavonoids (orientin, vitexin, isoorientin) from leaves have moderate bioavailability (~15-25%). Silicon absorption is enhanced in acidic pH; co-administer with citric acid or Amalaki (vitamin C source).
| Botanical name | Bambusa bambos |
|---|---|
| Family | Poaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Poales |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 2705752 · Wikidata Q15509516 · NCBI Taxonomy 207296 |
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Vamsha |
Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)
| Property | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rasa (Taste) | Madhura, Kashaya | Primary taste |
| Guna (Quality) | Laghu, Ruksha | Physical quality |
| Virya (Potency) | Sheeta | Heating/Cooling effect |
| Vipaka (Post-digestive) | Madhura | Post-digestive effect |
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Vamshalochana (bamboo manna) Churna, Capsule, Tablet, Avaleha (Sitopaladi Churna), Kwatha (decoction of leaves), Svarasa (stem juice)
Standard Dosage: Vamshalochana: 250 mg-1 g twice daily; Bamboo shoot/leaf preparation: 3-6 g twice daily; as part of Sitopaladi Churna: 1-3 g with honey
Bioavailability: Vamshalochana (bamboo manna/tabasheer) is primarily silica (70-90% SiO2), mostly as amorphous opaline silica with moderate bioavailability (~25-35% as orthosilicic acid in gastric acid). Choline from bamboo leaves has high oral bioavailability (~70%). Flavonoids (orientin, vitexin, isoorientin) from leaves have moderate bioavailability (~15-25%). Silicon absorption is enhanced in acidic pH; co-administer with citric acid or Amalaki (vitamin C source).
Optimal Timing: After meals with honey for respiratory conditions; morning with warm milk for general tonic effect
Standardized Extract: Vamshalochana standardized to >70% SiO2 by gravimetric/ICP-OES analysis; bamboo leaf extract standardized to >3% total flavonoids (as orientin equivalent by HPLC)
Shelf Life: Vamshalochana (manna): indefinite if stored dry (inorganic mineral); Leaf powder: 12 months; Capsules/Tablets: 24-36 months
Storage: Vamshalochana in airtight containers, protected from moisture (silica is hygroscopic). Leaf products in airtight, light-resistant containers at 15-25 deg C.
Marker Compounds: Silicon dioxide (amorphous), Orientin, Vitexin, Isoorientin, Isovitexin, Choline, p-Coumaric acid, Ferulic acid, Tricin
Extraction Methods
- Collection of natural bamboo manna (exudate from nodes)
- Aqueous decoction of leaves
- Hydroethanolic extraction (50-60% ethanol) of leaves
- Acid digestion for silicon quantification
- Ethanol extraction of bamboo shoots
Synergistic Combinations
- Sitopaladi Churna components: Vamshalochana + Pippali + Ela + Twak + Mishri - classical respiratory formula
- Pravala Pishti (coral calcium) - complementary mineral supplementation
- Amalaki - vitamin C enhances silicon absorption
- Yashtimadhu - demulcent synergy for respiratory conditions
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Laboratory and animal studies12
- 2025. Natural Oil and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review of Therapeutic BenefitsCurrent topics in medicinal chemistry. PMID 40770474 · doi:10.2174/0115680266370871250726131232
- 2025. Bambusa balcooa bamboo-reinforced concrete beams: experimental and FEM investigation for energy-efficient pavement constructionEnvironmental science and pollution research international. PMID 38795293 · doi:10.1007/s11356-024-33661-8
- 2025. The prospect of bamboo and non-fodder rice husk for sustainable bioethanol productionEnvironmental science and pollution research international. PMID 40119991 · doi:10.1007/s11356-025-36271-0
- 2021. Build-up of labile, non-labile carbon fractions under fourteen-year-old bamboo plantations in the Himalayan foothillsHeliyon. PMID 34485734 · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07850
- 2021. Ecological restoration of coal fly ash-dumped area through bamboo plantationEnvironmental science and pollution research international. PMID 33641101 · doi:10.1007/s11356-021-12995-7
- 2021. Assessment of eco-hydrological parameters for important sympodial bamboo species in Himalayan foothillsEnvironmental monitoring and assessment. PMID 34226956 · doi:10.1007/s10661-021-09231-7
- 2020. Rooting behaviour and soil properties in different bamboo species of Western Himalayan Foothills, IndiaScientific reports. PMID 32188913 · doi:10.1038/s41598-020-61418-z
- 2017. In vitro flowering in Bambusa bambos (L.) Voss, an anatomical perspectiveIndian journal of experimental biology. PMID 30184418
- 2017. In situ functionalized nanobiocomposites dressings of bamboo cellulose nanocrystals and silver nanoparticles for accelerated wound healingCarbohydrate polymers. PMID 27702499 · doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.08.065
- 2016. A novel method of extraction of bamboo seed oil (Bambusa bambos Druce) and its promising effect on metabolic symptoms of experimentally induced polycystic ovarian diseaseIndian journal of pharmacology. PMID 27127318 · doi:10.4103/0253-7613.178833
- 2015. Identification of beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol in Bambusa bambos (L.) Voss leaf extract using HPLC and its estrogenic effect in vitroJournal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis. PMID 26246431 · doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2015.06.024
- 2011. Accessibility of Enzymatically Delignified Bambusa bambos for Efficient Hydrolysis at Minimum Cellulase Loading: An Optimization StudyEnzyme research. PMID 21904671 · doi:10.4061/2011/805795
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