vastuka :

Definition

Certain plant parts of Vāstuka are eaten as a vegetable (śāka), according to Caraka in his Carakasaṃhitā sūtrasthāna (chapter 27), a classical Āyurvedic work. The plant is therefore part of the Śākavarga group of medicinal plants, referring to the “group of vegetables/pot-herbs”. Caraka defined such groups (vargas) based on the dietic value of the plant. Note that Chenopodium murale is a synonym of Chenopodiastrum murale.

Synonyms

Synonyms in Ayurveda: vastuka, cilli, brihat bala, rakta, cillika, gauda vastuka, katinjara, vastuka bheda , shaka patra, kambira, prasadaka , Yavasaka

Yavaśāka - because it grows in the fields of barley (and also wheat)

Chenopodium: chenos = goose, podos = foot

murale: wall-

Chenopodiastrum: similar to Chenopodium

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