Overview
Aragvadha is one of the herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda for irritable bowel syndrome. A gentle laxative used to clear pitta from the intestines.
How Aragvadha Helps with Irritable Bowel Syndrome
According to Ayurvedic pharmacology, Aragvadha has specific properties that make it valuable for addressing irritable bowel syndrome:
- Potency (Virya): Cold
- Post-digestive (Vipaka): Sweet
- Taste (Rasa): Sweet
- Qualities (Guna): Heavy, unctuous
Ayurvedic Properties
- Taste (Rasa)
- Sweet
- Quality (Guna)
- Heavy, unctuous
- Potency (Virya)
- Cold
- Post-digestive (Vipaka)
- Sweet
- Dosha Effect
- VPK–
- Key Constituents
- Glycosides Anthraquinones Fistulic acid, sennosides Sugars Saccharose Sterols (Swami Prakashananda Ayurveda Research Centre 1992, Williamson 2002)
- Dhatu
- Plasma, blood
- Srotas
- Digestive, circulatory
▶ Classical Text References (5 sources)
Lists 32 medicinal ingredients including aragvadha, haridra, nimba mixed with ox-bile and mustard oil for treating difficult skin diseases, leucoderma, alopecia, ringworm, fistula, piles, and papular eruptions.
— Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana — Fundamental Principles, Chapter 3: External Applications & Skin Treatments (Aragvadhiya Adhyaya / आरग्वधीय अध्याय)
Decoction of triphala, aragvadha, patha, saptaparna, vatsaka, musta, madana, and nimba controls madhumeha and related diseases.
— Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana — Fundamental Principles, Chapter 23: Over-nutrition & Under-nutrition Disorders (Santarpaniya Adhyaya / सन्तर्पणीय अध्याय)
Purgative drugs in parts of latex, root, bark, leaf, flower and fruit wholly or individually of shyama, trivrit, chaturangula (aragvadha), tilvaka, mahavriksha, saptala, shankhini, danti and dravanti are to be used according to requirement.
— Charaka Samhita, Vimana Sthana — Specific Medical Principles, Chapter 8: Physician's Approach to Disease (Rogabhishagjitiya Vimana / रोगभिषग्जितीय विमान)
decoction of urubuka (Ricinus communis), decoction of satala (Euphorbia Tirucalli) and trayamana (Gentiana kurrhoa) or decoction of aragvadha (Cassia fistula).
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 13: Abdominal Diseases Treatment (Udara Chikitsa / उदरचिकित्सा)
Duralabha, two types of karanja (karanja, lata karanja), saptaparna, vatsaka, sadgrantha (vacha), madanaphala, murva, patha and aragvadha should be mixed with equal quantity of gomutra and boiled and prepared as per kshara kalpana.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 15: Digestive Disorders Treatment (Grahani Chikitsa / ग्रहणीचिकित्सा)
Source: Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana — Fundamental Principles, Chapter 3: External Applications & Skin Treatments (Aragvadhiya Adhyaya / आरग्वधीय अध्याय); Sutra Sthana — Fundamental Principles, Chapter 23: Over-nutrition & Under-nutrition Disorders (Santarpaniya Adhyaya / सन्तर्पणीय अध्याय); Vimana Sthana — Specific Medical Principles, Chapter 8: Physician's Approach to Disease (Rogabhishagjitiya Vimana / रोगभिषग्जितीय विमान); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 13: Abdominal Diseases Treatment (Udara Chikitsa / उदरचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 15: Digestive Disorders Treatment (Grahani Chikitsa / ग्रहणीचिकित्सा)
Purgation (rechana) should be done using Pita (Fumaria indica), Mulya, Abhaya (Terminalia chebula), Dhatri (Emblica officinalis/Amla), Dracha, Aragvadha (Cassia fistula), and Saindhava (rock salt) — using their juice or powder, or with castor oil (eranda taila).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 1: Diseases of the Liver (Yakrit Roga Adhikara)
Aragvadha (Cassia fistula) is a mild purgative.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 1: Diseases of the Liver (Yakrit Roga Adhikara)
Purgation (rechana) should be done using Pita (Fumaria indica), Mulya, Abhaya (Terminalia chebula), Dhatri (Emblica officinalis/Amla), Dracha, Aragvadha (Cassia fistula), and Saindhava (rock salt) — using their juice or powder, or with castor oil (eranda taila).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 1: Diseases of the Liver (Yakrit Roga Adhikara)
Aragvadha (Cassia fistula) is a mild purgative.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 1: Diseases of the Liver (Yakrit Roga Adhikara)
Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 1: Diseases of the Liver (Yakrit Roga Adhikara)
That which moves the undigested, adhered waste materials in the Koshtha (GI tract) downward without digesting them — that is Sramsana (mild purgative), like Kritamalaka/Amaltas (Cassia fistula).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Purva Khanda, Chapter 4: Dipana-Pachana Adikathanam (Digestive Actions etc.)
Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Purva Khanda, Chapter 4: Dipana-Pachana Adikathanam (Digestive Actions etc.)
The Aragvadhadi Gana consists of: aragvadha (purging cassia), madana, gopaghna, ghorataki, kutaja, patha, patala, murva, indrayava, saptaparna, nimba (neem), kurutaka, dasikurutaka, guduchi, chitraka, sharngesthi, karanja (two types), patola, kirata-tikta (chirayita), and sushavi (verse 6).
— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 38: Dravyasangrahaniya Adhyaya - On the Collection of Drugs
The Aragvadhadi Gana consists of: aragvadha (purging cassia), madana, gopaghna, ghorataki, kutaja, patha, patala, murva, indrayava, saptaparna, nimba (neem), kurutaka, dasikurutaka, guduchi, chitraka, sharngesthi, karanja (two types), patola, kirata-tikta (chirayita), and sushavi (verse 6).
— Sushruta Samhita, Dravyasangrahaniya Adhyaya - On the Collection of Drugs
Source: Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 38: Dravyasangrahaniya Adhyaya - On the Collection of Drugs; Dravyasangrahaniya Adhyaya - On the Collection of Drugs
Aragvadha group decoctions with Pippali and cold water-urine are Kapha-fever destroyers.
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 39: Jvarapratishedha
The decoction groups include aragvadha and others.
— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 36: Bhumipravibhagiya Adhyaya - On Classification of Land for Medicinal Plants
The decoction groups include aragvadha and others (verse 12).
— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 37: Mishrakaadhyaya - The Miscellaneous Chapter
The Aragvadhadi Gana consists of: aragvadha (purging cassia), madana, gopaghna, ghorataki, kutaja, patha, patala, murva, indrayava, saptaparna, nimba (neem), kurutaka, dasikurutaka, guduchi, chitraka, sharngesthi, karanja (two types), patola, kirata-tikta (chirayita), and sushavi (verse 6).
— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 38: Dravyasangrahaniya Adhyaya - On the Collection of Drugs
the leaves of putika and aragvadha;
— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 39: Shodhanasanshmaniya Adhyaya - On Purification and Pacification
Source: Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 39: Jvarapratishedha; Sutra Sthana, Chapter 36: Bhumipravibhagiya Adhyaya - On Classification of Land for Medicinal Plants; Sutra Sthana, Chapter 37: Mishrakaadhyaya - The Miscellaneous Chapter; Sutra Sthana, Chapter 38: Dravyasangrahaniya Adhyaya - On the Collection of Drugs; Sutra Sthana, Chapter 39: Shodhanasanshmaniya Adhyaya - On Purification and Pacification
Safety & Precautions
Contraindications: Even though it is traditionally; used in pregnancy, as it causes a; downwards movement it must; be used with caution
Safety: Even though it is traditionally used in pregnancy, as it causes a downwards movement it must be used with caution. No drug–herb interactions are known.
Other Herbs for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
See all herbs for irritable bowel syndrome on the Irritable Bowel Syndrome page.
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.