Overview
Dhanyaka is one of the herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda for skin disorders. Unique in that though Ushna Virya, it also has cooling and soothing effects due to Madhura Vipaka. Fresh leaves have more cooling properties than dried seeds.
How Dhanyaka Helps with Skin Disorders
According to Ayurvedic pharmacology, Dhanyaka has specific properties that make it valuable for addressing skin disorders:
- Potency (Virya): Ushna (hot)
- Post-digestive (Vipaka): Madhura (sweet)
- Taste (Rasa): Kashaya (astringent), Tikta (bitter), Madhura (sweet), Katu (pungent)
- Qualities (Guna): Laghu (light), Snigdha (unctuous)
Ayurvedic Properties
- Taste (Rasa)
- Astringent (Kashaya), Bitter (Tikta), Sweet (Madhura), Pungent (Katu)
- Quality (Guna)
- Light (Laghu), Unctuous (Snigdha)
- Potency (Virya)
- Hot (Ushna)
- Post-digestive (Vipaka)
- Sweet (Madhura)
- Key Constituents
- Essential oil (0.5-1%), Linalool/Coriandrol (45-55%), Geraniol, Pinene
- Also Known As
- Sanskrit: धान्यक, कुस्तुम्बरी, धानी
Hindi: धनिया
What the Classical Texts Say
107 आ का त तमधुरा मू ला न च प तकृत ् Ardrika (coriander) is bitter and sweet in taste, diuretic and does not increase pitta.
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 6: Annaswaroopa Food
Shuka Dhanya Varga – Group of corns with spikes – अथ शूकधा य वगः र तो महान ् सकलम तूणकः शकुना तः सारामख ु ो द घशक ु ो रो शूकः सग ु ि धकः १ पु ः पा डुः पु डर कः मोदो गौरसा रवौ का चनो म हषः शूको द ूषकः कुसुमा डकः २ ला गला लोहवाला याः कदमाः शीतभी काः पत गा तपनीया च ये चा ये शालयः शुभाः ३ Types of rice – Rakta (red), mahan (big sized rice), kalama, turnaka, shakunahruta, saaramukha, deerghashuka (having long sharp spike at the ends), sugandhika (having good smell), rodhrashuka, pundra, pandu,
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 6: Annaswaroopa Food
– 10 – 11 Truna dhanya Varga – group of grains produced by grass like plants – क गक ु ो वनीवार यामाका द हमं लघु ११ त ृणधा यं पवनकृ लेखनं कफ प त त ् Kangu, Kodrava, Neevara, Shyamaka and other grains are cold in potency, easily digestible, increases Vata, Lekhana (scraping, scarificient) and balance Kapha and Pitta.
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 6: Annaswaroopa Food
21-24 योषकटवीवरा श ु वड गा त वषाि थराः ह गुस ौवचलाजाजीयवानीधा य च काः नशी ब ृह यौ हपुषा पाठामूलं च के बुकात ् एषां चूण मधु घ ृतं तैलं च सदशांशकम ् स तु भः षोडशगुणैयु तं पीतं नहि त तत ् अ त थौ या दकान ् सवा ोगान यां च त वधान ् ोगकामलाि व वासकासगल हान ् बु मेधा म ृ तकरं स न या ने च द पनम ् Powder of Vyosha- (Trikatu – pepper, long pepper and ginger), Katvi, Vara (Triphala), Shigru (drum stick), Vidanga (False black pepper – Embelia ribes), Ativisha, Sthira (Desmodium gangeticum), Hingu – (A
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 14: Dvividha Upakramaneeya
it should be neglected and allowed to remain inside for the night; Next morning he is made to drink warm water either processed with ginger and coriander or plain.
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 19: Vasti Vidhi Enema
Source: Astanga Hridaya, Ch. 6, Ch. 6, Ch. 6, Ch. 14, Ch. 19
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.