Ayurvedic Properties
- Taste (Rasa)
- Bitter, astringent, sweet
- Quality (Guna)
- Dry, light
- Potency (Virya)
- Cooling
- Post-digestive (Vipaka)
- Sweet
- Dosha Effect
- PK<, V
- Key Constituents
- Lignans Phyllanthin, hypophyllanthin Flavonoids Astragalin, rutin, quercetin Triterpenes Lupeol, sitosterol Alkaloids Tannin Geraniin (Bone 1996, Williamson 2002)
- Dhatu
- Plasma, blood, fat, reproductive
- Srotas
- Digestive, reproductive, urinary
Overview
Phyllanthus (Phyllanthus niruri), known in Sanskrit as Bhumyamalaki, is a cooling tridoshic herb from the Euphorbiaceae family with particular affinity for the liver. Its energetics are bitter, astringent, and sweet in taste with cooling virya and pungent vipaka. It balances all three doshas (VPK=) and acts on the bone, plasma, and blood tissues through the circulatory, digestive, and skeletal systems.
Phyllanthus is best known for its hepatoprotective properties and its use in treating hepatitis, jaundice, and diseases of the liver and spleen. Its key actions include alterative, cholagogue (bile-stimulating), vulnerary (wound-healing), anti-inflammatory, and diuretic effects. It is also indicated for skin rashes, itch, venereal diseases, diabetes, and anemia. The whole plant is used medicinally, making it a versatile remedy in Ayurvedic practice.
Source: The Yoga of Herbs, Chinese Herbs
Ayurvedic Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Rasa (taste) | Bitter, astringent, sweet |
| Vīrya (energy) | Cooling |
| Vipāka (post-digestive) | Sweet |
| Guṇa (quality) | Dry, light |
| Doṣa effect | PK<, V |
| Dhātu (tissue) | Plasma, blood, fat, reproductive |
| Srotas (channel) | Digestive, reproductive, urinary |
Therapeutic Actions
- Yakr. duttejaka: Increases the strength of the liver
- Kus.t. haghna: Destroys skin diseases
- Kan.d.u-hara: Alleviates itching
- Ka- sahara: Stops coughing
- Biomedical: Antiviral, hepatoprotective, cholagogue, diuretic, lithagogue, alterative, immunoregulator, antitussive, haemostatic
Dosage & Combinations
Dosage: Pregnancy. 1–6g per day dried or 5–15ml of a 1:5 @ 25% tincture.
Combinations:
- Manjishtha bhringaraja, kutki, chiretta in liver disorders.
- Gurmar, amalaki, cardamom as part of a diabetic regime.
- Neem, manjishtha, bakuchi, turmeric for skin inflammations.
- Chiretta and guduchi in conditions where the immune system is compromised.
- Manjishtha, gokshura in pelvic inflammatory disorders. Chapter 6 PLANT PROFILES
Safety & Contraindications
Safety: No drug–herb interactions are known.
How to Use Bhumyamalaki by Condition
Explore how Bhumyamalaki is used for specific health concerns — with dosage, preparation methods, and classical references for each.
▶ Classical Text References (2 sources)
References in Charaka Samhita
), tamalaka (Phyllanthus urinaria Linn.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 17: Hiccup and Dyspnea Treatment (Hikka Shvasa Chikitsa / हिक्काश्वासचिकित्सा)
Juice of tamalaki (Phyllanthus urinaria Linn.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 17: Hiccup and Dyspnea Treatment (Hikka Shvasa Chikitsa / हिक्काश्वासचिकित्सा)
), sauvarchala (variety of salt), tamalaki (Phyllanthus urinaria Linn.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 17: Hiccup and Dyspnea Treatment (Hikka Shvasa Chikitsa / हिक्काश्वासचिकित्सा)
[258-259] Krishna sarpa vasadi –rasakriya: Rasakriya (thin paste) prepared of the fat of black snake cobra, honey, the juice of amalaki – phyllanthus emblicais useful in curing all eye-diseases like kacha (cataract), arbuda (tumor in the eyes) and discharge from the eyes.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)
Five pala each of pippali – Piper longum, triphala (haritaki–Terminalia chebula, vibhitaka –Terminalia bellerica, amalaki–Phyllanthus emblica), anjana, prapaundarika, manjistha – Rubia cordifolia, lodhra – Symplocos racemose, black variety of aguru – Aquallaria agallocha, utpala – Nymphaea alba, amrasthi (seeds of Mango –Mangifera indica), krishna – kardama (black mud), mrinala – Lotus stalk, rakta chandana- Pterocapus santalinus Linn.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)
Source: Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 17: Hiccup and Dyspnea Treatment (Hikka Shvasa Chikitsa / हिक्काश्वासचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)
References in Sharangadhara Samhita
Also: Bala (Sida cordifolia), Bhumi Amali (Phyllanthus niruri), Vasa (Adhatoda vasica), Mudgaparni (Phaseolus trilobus), Jivanti (Leptadenia reticulata), Shati (Hedychium spicatum), Jivaka (Microstylis wallichii), Rishabha (Microstylis muscifera), Musta (Cyperus rotundus), Pushkara (Inula racemosa), and Kakanasika (Martynia annua).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 8: Avalehakalpana (Confection/Electuary Preparations)
Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 8: Avalehakalpana (Confection/Electuary Preparations)
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.