Khus - Vettiver

Botanical Name:  Vetiveria Zizanioides

Common Name: Khas khas grass, Kus Kus grass, Vetiver

Hindi: Khus, Khas

Sanskrit: Usheer, Usira, Sugandhimula

Kannada: Lavancha, Vattiveeru, Laamancha

Telugu: Kuruveeru, Vettiveellu, Vettiveerum

Bengali: Khaskhas, Venaghas

Oriya: Ushira, Benachera

Marathi: Vala

Gujarati: Valo

Tamil: Vettiver

Malayalam: Ramacham

Punjabi: Panni, Khas

Description:

Khus grass is known by many names such as Khas Khas, Khus, Vetiver and Usheer/Usira (Ayurveda). In India, this grass is found throughout the plains, lower hills and on the riverbanks and in rich marshy soil. It is cultivated in the North Indian states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab and in the South Indian states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Khus grass has variety of uses from household to therapeutic. In some parts of India, the roots are used make curtains or screens. During summer season, these curtains were hanged on doors, windows and drenched with water to get cool air. The dried stem of grass is used to make brooms. The dried plant is also used to make roofs of Kutcha houses. Khas essence is added for flavouring syrups, sherbets and summer drinks.

Vetiver roots increase the ground water recharge capability of soils. It increases the biomass content in the soil upto 3 meters depth. It will be very difficult to add leaves and manure at that depth. Vetiver roots add the biomass as roots, and they decay after 18 months .

Medicinal Uses Of Khus/Vetiver

Vetiver of Khus grass roots have cooling, blood purifying, digestive and diuretic properties.

Vetiver is a coolant, but yet aids in digestion. It is widely used in treating fever, dysuria, burning sensation, fatigue syndrome, skin disorders etc.  Potable water prepared with this also has many health benefits.

Mainly the roots are used for medicinal purposes. These roots are aromatic and have sedative effect on nervous system. The roots are used to treat intestinal parasites, fever, skin diseases and poisonous stings. Vetiver oil is obtained from roots of plant. It is used for flavouring Khus Sharbat and in making of cosmetics, perfumes, soaps etc.

Some of the traditional medicinal of vetiver plant are listed below:-

Khus grass roots are ground to make paste. This paste is applied externally on poisonous stings (like scorpion sting), snakebite, and burn injuries. The topical application of paste is also useful in sprain, joint pain, gout, headaches.

The root decoction has tonic properties and used to cure weakness.

In high fever root decoction is given to reduce fever due to cooling nature of roots.

The decoction of stem is given in urinary tract infections.

The leaves juice gives relief in parasitic infestation on oral intake.

The root tea is useful remedy for tequila hangover.

In early stage of cataract, a medicated ghee, prepared from roots of Khas/vetiver is given twice a day in dose of 12-24 grams with turmeric.

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects

Vetiver has abortifacient, emmenagogue, and uterotonic (induce contraction or greater tonicity of the uterus, Uterotonics are used both to induce labor, and to reduce postpartum haemorrhage) properties. So its use is contraindicated in pregnancy. It is not suitable for babies and children under twelve years.