Rasa (Taste)
Tikta, Kashaya, Katu.
The primary taste perceived on the tongue.
Musta (English Name- Nut grass, Purple nutsedge, Nutsedge, Java Grass, Coco grass.)
It is a colonial, perennial herb, 7–40 cm tall with fibrous roots and reproduces largely by rhizome and tubers.
Medicinal Plant
Musta (English Name- Nut grass, Purple nutsedge, Nutsedge, Java Grass, Coco grass.)
Cyperus rotundus · Cyperaceae
It is a colonial, perennial herb, 7–40 cm tall with fibrous roots and reproduces largely by rhizome and tubers.
Scientific Name
Cyperus rotundus
Family
Cyperaceae
Hindi Name
Motha, Nagarmotha
Used Part
Kanda (Tuber)
Botanical Description
About the Musta Plant
Morphology and field-identification notes as documented in our Dravyaguna library.
It is a colonial, perennial herb, 7–40 cm tall with fibrous roots and reproduces largely by rhizome and tubers. Rhizomes may grow in any direction in the soil. Those growing upward produces shoot and roots. The rhizomes that are growing downwards or horizontally form individual tubers or chains of tubers. Mature individual tubers are dark reddish-brown about 12 mm thick and vary from 10 to 35 mm long. The leaves are dark green, shiny, narrow and grass-like ranging in size from 5 to 12 mm wide to 50 cm long. The upright stems support a much-branched inflorescence with bisexual flowers.
Ayurvedic Properties
Rasa Panchaka — Classical Properties
The five-fold framework Ayurveda uses to describe a drug — Rasa, Guna, Vipaka, Veerya and its effect on the doshas.
Guna (Qualities)
Laghu, Ruksha
Physical and energetic attributes of the dravya.
Vipaka (Post-digestive Effect)
Katu
Taste that emerges after complete digestion.
Dosha Karma (Action on Doshas)
Kapha pitta Shamaka
Effect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha doshas.
Veerya (Potency)
Sheeta
Heating (ushna) or cooling (sheeta) energy.
Ayurvedic Actions (Karma)
Deepniya, Grahi, Jvaraghna, Stanya Shodhan , Trishna Nigrahana.
Modern Phytochemistry
Chemistry & Pharmacology
How modern science maps onto the classical understanding of this dravya.
Pharmacological Action
What the Science Says
Antioxidant.Wound healing, Anti-pyretic, Anti-diarrhoeal, Anti-allergy or Anti-histaminic activity, Anti-hyperglycemic Anti-microbial , Anti-convulsant,.
Phytoconstituents
Active Compounds
B-selinine, cypernone, keto-alcohols, a-rotunol, b-rotunol, cineol, linolenic, linolic, oleic, myristic acid, steoric acid and glycerol
Therapeutic Usage
Clinical Applications of Musta
Classical Ayurvedic indications drawn directly from the Dravyaguna tradition — paired with the preparations recommended in shastra.
01
grams of coarse powder of the rhizome is taken and decoction is made. To this a pinch of ginger powder is added and administered. This cures most of the problems related to stomach and intestine.
02
Musta cure the complaint of pinworm infestation and related problems like nausea, anorexia, itching of the anus in about 10-12 days time.
03
Fine paste prepared with plaintain juice helps breast milk purification: Rhizome is taken and rubbed with plantain juice and fine paste is made. This is administered to the breast feeding mother in cases where breast milk is vitiated or the child is getting indigestion due to breast milk..
Always consult a qualified Ayurvedic physician before using any herb therapeutically. Dose, anupana and Prakriti-specific suitability matter.
Yoga / Kalpana
Classical Formulations
Common Ayurvedic preparations where Musta is a key ingredient.
- Musta Churna, Mustakarishta, Panchamula kvatha with musta, Musta Hima.
Shastra Pramana
Classical Reference
अनूपदेशे यज्जातं मुस्तकं तत्प्रशस्यते । तत्रापि मुनिभिः प्रोक्तं वरं नागरमुस्तकम् ||