Ayurvedic Properties
- Taste (Rasa)
- Sweet (Madhura), Astringent (Kashaya)
- Quality (Guna)
- Heavy (Guru), Unctuous (Snigdha)
- Potency (Virya)
- Cold (Sheeta)
- Post-digestive (Vipaka)
- Sweet (Madhura)
- Key Constituents
- Malic acid, Pectin, Vitamins, Sorbitol, Quercetin, Fiber
- Also Known As
- English: Apple
Sanskrit: सेवफल, सिम्बिफल
Hindi: सेव
What is Apple (Sev / सेव)?
Sev (Apple) is a temperate fruit cultivated extensively in Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The fruit is sweet-astringent, nutritive and excellent for the heart. It is heavy to digest but nourishing. Apple is one of the most popular fruits globally. The fruit is eaten fresh, as juice and in preserves. It is beneficial in heart disease and general debility. Apple contains pectin which is beneficial for digestion. Dose: As food. Verse: 47.
Source: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 6
Apple: Ayurvedic Properties and Uses
Rasa (Taste): Sweet variety — slightly astringent; Sour variety — mainly astringent. Virya: Cooling. Vipak: Sweet (sweet apples), Pungent (sour apples). Dosha: Good for pitta and kapha; too drying for vata unless well-cooked and spiced. The skin is hard to digest and can cause gas. Do not eat the seeds — they are astringent and bitter and can cause vata aggravation.
- Constipation, bleeding gums, over-salivation and stomatitis: Raw apple relieves constipation, bleeding gums and over-salivation. Traditionally used for stomatitis (inflammation of the oral mucous membrane or cold sores in the mouth).
- Burning sensations (gastritis, colitis, bladder infections): Apple juice is helpful for burning sensations in pitta conditions such as gastritis, colitis and bladder infections.
- Bowel regularity: Peel and chew an apple thoroughly, an hour or so after a meal, to help regularize the bowels and to clean the tongue and teeth.
- Diarrhea and dysentery: Peel and cook a couple of apples until soft. Add a pinch of nutmeg, saffron and 1 teaspoon of ghee and eat slowly.
- Heart tonic dessert: Remove skins and core from 5 apples, blend or mash to pulp. Add honey to taste, ½ teaspoon powdered cardamom, a pinch each of saffron and nutmeg, and 10 drops of rose water. About ½ cup can be eaten at least an hour after the meal. Do not take milk, yogurt or fish at least 4 hours before or after eating this pulp. This dessert is a good energetic food for the heart muscles, relaxes blood vessels and helps relieve swelling of the feet. Traditionally used for varicose veins, insomnia, sexual debility and arthritis.
Source: Ayurvedic Cooking for Self-Healing, Chapter 8: Foods for Healing — Fruits
Therapeutic Actions (Karma)
- Hridya (cardiotonic)
- Brinhana (nourishing)
- Grahi (absorbent)
Source: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 6
How to Use Apple by Condition
Explore how Apple is used for specific health concerns — with dosage, preparation methods, and classical references for each.
▶ Classical Text References (3 sources)
References in Charaka Samhita
When external application of paste prepared from pomegranate, wood apple, lodhra (Symplocos racemosa), white yam and citron or of whitish emblica myrobalans mixed with ghee and sour wheat porridge is done over head area it proves useful.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 22: Thirst Disorders Treatment (Trishna Chikitsa / तृष्णाचिकित्सा)
Source: Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 22: Thirst Disorders Treatment (Trishna Chikitsa / तृष्णाचिकित्सा)
References in Sharangadhara Samhita
By daily oiling with the seed oil of Indravaruni (Citrullus colocynthis, bitter apple/colocynth), the hair becomes black like a bee (Bhringi) -- i.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)
Red rice, barley, green gram (Vigna radiata), wheat (Triticum aestivum), tortoise meat, soup from arid-land animals, grapes (Vitis vinifera), wood apple (Limonia acidissima), and coconut (Cocos nucifera) are recommended.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 30: Diet for Insanity (Unmada Pathyapathyam)
Wood apple (Limonia acidissima), pomegranate (Punica granatum), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), and all bitter substances should always be consumed by people with Amlapitta (hyperacidity).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 64: Diet for Hyperacidity (Amlapitta Pathyapathyam)
Red rice, barley, green gram (Vigna radiata), wheat (Triticum aestivum), tortoise meat, soup from arid-land animals, grapes (Vitis vinifera), wood apple (Limonia acidissima), and coconut (Cocos nucifera) are recommended.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 19: Diet for Insanity (Unmada Pathyapathyam)
Wood apple (Limonia acidissima), pomegranate (Punica granatum), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), and all bitter substances should always be consumed by people with Amlapitta (hyperacidity).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 53: Diet for Hyperacidity (Amlapitta Pathyapathyam)
Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application); Parishishtam, Chapter 30: Diet for Insanity (Unmada Pathyapathyam); Parishishtam, Chapter 64: Diet for Hyperacidity (Amlapitta Pathyapathyam); Parishishtam, Chapter 19: Diet for Insanity (Unmada Pathyapathyam); Parishishtam, Chapter 53: Diet for Hyperacidity (Amlapitta Pathyapathyam)
References in Sushruta Samhita
In food, include kapittha (wood apple) and the five great roots (maha-panchamula).
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 9: Vatabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Vata-type Conjunctivitis)
Kutannata, sphotaphala, jjaka, bilva (bael), pattura, arka (calotropis), kapittha (wood apple), and bhanga (hemp).
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 11: Kaphabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Kapha-type Conjunctivitis)
Also ajaka, sphotaka, kapittha (wood apple), bilva (bael), nirgundi (vitex), and jasmine flowers.
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 11: Kaphabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Kapha-type Conjunctivitis)
Kapittha (wood apple) stalk with honey, and svayangupha fruits — these four formulations are beneficial as anjana for both types.
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 17: Drishtigata Roga Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Diseases of Vision / Drishti Roga)
Mango and jambu (rose apple) flowers — with their juice, harenuka should be ground.
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 17: Drishtigata Roga Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Diseases of Vision / Drishti Roga)
Source: Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 9: Vatabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Vata-type Conjunctivitis); Uttara Tantra, Chapter 11: Kaphabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Kapha-type Conjunctivitis); Uttara Tantra, Chapter 17: Drishtigata Roga Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Diseases of Vision / Drishti Roga)
Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Ayurvedic treatments should be pursued under the guidance of a qualified practitioner (BAMS/MD Ayurveda). Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment. Content is sourced from classical Ayurvedic texts and may not reflect the latest medical research.