Overview
Beeswax is one of the herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda for skin disorders. Madhusiktha (Beeswax) is the wax produced by honeybees. It is used extensively in Ayurvedic pharmacy as a base for ointments, creams, and suppositories. It has wound-healing and skin-protective properties. It pacifies Vata and Pitta doshas. It is a key ingredient in many external formulations.
How Beeswax Helps with Skin Disorders
According to Ayurvedic pharmacology, Beeswax has specific properties that make it valuable for addressing skin disorders:
- Potency (Virya): Sheeta (cold)
- Post-digestive (Vipaka): Madhura (sweet)
- Taste (Rasa): Kashaya (astringent), Madhura (sweet)
- Qualities (Guna): Snigdha (unctuous), Picchila (slimy)
Ayurvedic Properties
- Taste (Rasa)
- Astringent (Kashaya), Sweet (Madhura)
- Quality (Guna)
- Unctuous (Snigdha), Slimy (Picchila)
- Potency (Virya)
- Cold (Sheeta)
- Post-digestive (Vipaka)
- Sweet (Madhura)
- Also Known As
- English: Beeswax
Sanskrit: मधुसिक्थ, सिक्थक
Hindi: मोम
▶ Classical Text References (1 sources)
The patient should take ghrita with beeswax along with cold water as anupana.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 15: Digestive Disorders Treatment (Grahani Chikitsa / ग्रहणीचिकित्सा)
), sugar, milk, oil, fish fat, ghee cooked with beeswax is known as sneha sarkara, it relieves wound should be sprinkled with warm decoction of two panchamula (ie.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 25: Wound Management (Dwivraniya Chikitsa / द्विव्रणीयचिकित्सा)
The expert in cauterization should cauterize the spot with beeswax, oil, marrow, honey, muscle-fat, ghrita or various heated metallic sticks.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 25: Wound Management (Dwivraniya Chikitsa / द्विव्रणीयचिकित्सा)
Wounds deep and predominant in vata and in patients rough and delicate should be cauterized with fat or beeswax otherwise with iron stick or honey.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 25: Wound Management (Dwivraniya Chikitsa / द्विव्रणीयचिकित्सा)
[134] Varti (smoking wick/cigarette) is to be prepared out of shatahva, twak, bala roots, bark of shyonaka, eranda root, bark of bilva, aragvadha and beeswax, muscle-fat and ghee.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)
Source: Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 15: Digestive Disorders Treatment (Grahani Chikitsa / ग्रहणीचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 25: Wound Management (Dwivraniya Chikitsa / द्विव्रणीयचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)
Other Herbs for Skin Disorders
See all herbs for skin disorders on the Skin Disorders 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.