Overview
Kapikacchu is one of the herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda for weakness & debility. Kapikacchu is the Vrishya seed for nerves and ojas, rich in L-DOPA. Dosed 3-6g of powder in warm milk, it steadies tremor, rebuilds Shukra, and calms Vata.
How Kapikacchu Helps with Weakness & Debility
According to Ayurvedic pharmacology, Kapikacchu has specific properties that make it valuable for addressing weakness & debility:
- Potency (Virya): Ushna (hot)
- Post-digestive (Vipaka): Madhura (sweet)
- Taste (Rasa): Madhura (sweet), Tikta (bitter)
- Qualities (Guna): Guru (heavy), Snigdha (unctuous)
Other Herbs for Weakness & Debility
See all herbs for weakness & debility on the Weakness & Debility page.
▶ Classical Text References (2 sources)
One pala of each of tvak-kshiri, shravani (munditika), draksha, murva, rushabhaka, jivaka, vira (vidarikanda), riddhi, kshirakakoli, brihati, kapikacchu, fruit of kharjura and meda should be made into paste by triturating with milk.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 11: Chest Injury and Emaciation Treatment (Kshatakshina Chikitsa / क्षतक्षीणचिकित्सा)
(Haritaki, bibhitaki, amalaki), draksa,kasmarya,kharjura,parusaka,patha,kantakari,goksura,bala,mahabala,truti(smaller cardamom), tamalaki, kapikacchu, meda, mahameda, madhuka, madhuka, salaparni, satavari, jivaka, prsniparni.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)
The 640 grams ghee and four times of milk, 10gm paste of each jivanti, triphala, meda, mridvika, rddhi, parusaka, samanga,chavika, bharangi, devadaru, kapikacchu, mahameda, talamastaka, kharjuramustaka, bisa,shaluka, shringi, jivaka, padmaka, shatavari, vidari, ikshu, brihati, two types of sariva, murva, gokshura, rishabhaka, shringataka, kasheruka, rasna, shalaparni, tamalaki, sukshmaila, shati, pushkaramula, punarnava, tugakshiri, kakoli, dhanvayasa, kharjura, akshota, vatama,munjata, abhishuk
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)
Later add 512 tolas (60144 l) of sesame oil and equal quantity of milk in this decoction, along with paste of 1 tola (12 gm) each of cardamom, ela, mamsi, nata, ushira, sariva, kushtha, chandana, bala, tamalaki, meda, shatapushpa, riddhi, jeevaka, kakoli, ksheerakakoli, shravani, atibala, nakha, mahashravani, jeevanti,vidari, kapikacchu, shatavari, mahameda, karkata, harenu, vacha, gokshura, eranda, rasna, kala, sahachara, bala, veera, shallaki, musta, tvak, patra, rishabhaka, balaka, ela, kunku
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 28: Vata Disorders Treatment (Vatavyadhi Chikitsa / वातव्याधिचिकित्सा)
Source: Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 11: Chest Injury and Emaciation Treatment (Kshatakshina Chikitsa / क्षतक्षीणचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 28: Vata Disorders Treatment (Vatavyadhi Chikitsa / वातव्याधिचिकित्सा)
That substance from which sexual desire toward women is aroused is called Vajikarana (aphrodisiac), like Nagabala (Grewia hirsuta) and the seed of Kapikacchu (Mucuna pruriens).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Purva Khanda, Chapter 4: Dipana-Pachana Adikathanam (Digestive Actions etc.)
Also add: Kapikacchu (Mucuna pruriens), Shankhapushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis), Bharangi (Clerodendrum serratum), Gaja Pippali (Scindapsus officinalis), Bala (Sida cordifolia), and Pushkaramoola (Inula racemosa) — each in two Palas (approx.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 8: Avalehakalpana (Confection/Electuary Preparations)
The Kalka (paste) ingredients are: Mridvika/Draksha (Vitis vinifera — raisins), Padmaka (Prunus cerasoides), Kushtha (Saussurea lappa), Pippali (Piper longum), Raktachandana (Pterocarpus santalinus — red sandalwood), Patraka (Cinnamomum tamala), Nagapushpa (Mesua ferrea), and Atmagupta/Kapikacchu fruits (Mucuna pruriens).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 9: Snehakalpana (Oleaginous Preparations - Ghrita and Taila)
Also: Murva (Marsdenia tenacissima), Madhurasa/Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra — licorice), Danti (Baliospermum montanum), Pushkara Moola (Inula racemosa), Bala (Sida cordifolia), Atibala (Abutilon indicum), Kapikacchu (Mucuna pruriens), and Trikantaka/Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 10: Asavarishta-Sandhanakalpana (Fermented Preparations)
Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Purva Khanda, Chapter 4: Dipana-Pachana Adikathanam (Digestive Actions etc.); Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 8: Avalehakalpana (Confection/Electuary Preparations); Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 9: Snehakalpana (Oleaginous Preparations - Ghrita and Taila); Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 10: Asavarishta-Sandhanakalpana (Fermented 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.