Herb × Condition

Danti for Skin Disorders

Sanskrit: दन्ती | Baliospermum montanum Muell-Arg.

How Danti helps with Skin Disorders according to Ayurveda. Classical references, dosage, preparation methods, and what modern research says.

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Overview

Danti is one of the herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda for skin disorders. Danti (Baliospermum montanum) is a small shrub found mainly in hilly regions. The root and seeds are the main medicinal parts. It is a powerful purgative herb, described as sharp (Tikshna) in quality and hot (Ushna) in potency. It acts primarily through purgation (Virechana). The text describes it as useful in Kapha and Pitta disorders, abdominal diseases, skin conditions (Kushtha), worm infestations, splenic enlargement (Pliha), and swellings (Shotha). It is one of the chief purgative herbs mentioned in Ayurveda. The doses mentioned are 1-5 grains for seeds and various preparations for the root. Verse refs: pages 400-401.

How Danti Helps with Skin Disorders

According to Ayurvedic pharmacology, Danti has specific properties that make it valuable for addressing skin disorders:

  • Potency (Virya): Ushna (hot)
  • Post-digestive (Vipaka): Katu (pungent)
  • Taste (Rasa): Katu (pungent), Tikta (bitter)
  • Qualities (Guna): Tikshna (sharp), Ushna (hot), Sara (flowing)

Other Herbs for Skin Disorders

See all herbs for skin disorders on the Skin Disorders page.

Classical Text References (7 sources)
  • Udara Roga (abdominal disorders)
  • Arsha (hemorrhoids)
  • Gulma (tumors)
  • Kushtha (skin diseases)
  • Krimi (worms)
  • Vibandha (constipation)

Source: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 3

Example – द ती रसा यै तु या प च क य वरे चनी मधुक य च म ृ वीका, घ ृतं ीर य द पनम ् Danti and Chitraka – Though Danti – Baliospermum montanum is identical with Chitraka (plumbago zeylanica) in respect of Rasa (taste) etc, Danti is a purgative while Chitraka is not.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Dravyadi Vigyaniya

Hence, purgation is the Prabhava of Danti.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Dravyadi Vigyaniya

For preparing Teekshna Kshara – alkali of strong potency the admixture should be similar to that of previous – alkali of medium potency and also the paste of Langalika, Danti, Chitraka, Ativisha, Vacha, Svarjika, Kanakaksiri, Hingu, sprouts of Putika, Talapatri and Bida salt and alkali prepared as usual and used after a lapse of seven days.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Kshar-AgniKarma Vidhi

Source: Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Dravyadi Vigyaniya; Kshar-AgniKarma Vidhi

Ghee obtained from buffalo’s milk and processed with nagadanti (Croton oblongifolius), trivrit (Operculina turpethum), danti, dravanti (Balliospermum montanum), snukpaya, madanaphala and one adhaka of cow's urine is an effective remedy in case of poison due to snake and insect bite and in gara visha.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 23: Poison Treatment (Visha Chikitsa / विषचिकित्सा)

This final chapter of Kalpa Sthana describes 48 purgative preparations of Danti (Baliospermum montanum) and Dravanti (Croton tiglium), completing the pharmacopeia with strong purgatives.

— Charaka Samhita, Pharmaceutical Preparations of Danti and Dravanti (Dantidravanti Kalpa Adhyaya / दन्तीद्रवन्तीकल्प अध्याय)

Source: Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 23: Poison Treatment (Visha Chikitsa / विषचिकित्सा); Pharmaceutical Preparations of Danti and Dravanti (Dantidravanti Kalpa Adhyaya / दन्तीद्रवन्तीकल्प अध्याय)

Trivrit, Triphala, Danti, and others for virechana (purgation) in colon disorders;

— Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana — Fundamental Principles, Chapter 2: Dehusked Seeds of Apamarga & Panchakarma (Apamarga Tanduliya Adhyaya / अपामार्गतण्डुलीय 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)

or prepared with guduchi, dry ginger and danti;

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 12: Edema Treatment (Shvayathu Chikitsa / श्वयथुचिकित्सा)

Make decoction of 10 gm each of roots of patola, devadāru, danti, trāyamānā, pippali, haritaki, indrāyana, liquorices, sandal wood, katukā, dāruhridrā and samudraphala.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 12: Edema Treatment (Shvayathu Chikitsa / श्वयथुचिकित्सा)

Take one part each of the fine sieved powder of pippali (Piper longum), nagara (Zingiber officinale), danti (Baliospermum montanum), chitraka (Plumbago zeylanica) and vidanga (Embelia ribes), and add it to two parts of abhaya (Terminalia chebula).

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 13: Abdominal Diseases Treatment (Udara Chikitsa / उदरचिकित्सा)

Source: Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana — Fundamental Principles, Chapter 2: Dehusked Seeds of Apamarga & Panchakarma (Apamarga Tanduliya Adhyaya / अपामार्गतण्डुलीय अध्याय); Vimana Sthana — Specific Medical Principles, Chapter 8: Physician's Approach to Disease (Rogabhishagjitiya Vimana / रोगभिषग्जितीय विमान); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 12: Edema Treatment (Shvayathu Chikitsa / श्वयथुचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 13: Abdominal Diseases Treatment (Udara Chikitsa / उदरचिकित्सा)

Also included are: Shodhana (purification) methods for Jayapala (Croton tiglium), various Vishas (poisons), Vatsanabha (aconite), Bhallataka (Semecarpus anacardium — marking nut), and other toxic substances used in Rasa Shastra (Ayurvedic alchemy and iatrochemistry).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 12: Rasadishodhana-Maranakalpana (Mercury and Rasa Preparations)

Supplementary verses (Anukta Samgraha Shlokas) — Purification of Jayapala (Croton tiglium): Jayapala seeds are freed from their outer skin and internal impurities, then purified by processing with buffalo milk and specific cleansing procedures.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 12: Rasadishodhana-Maranakalpana (Mercury and Rasa Preparations)

Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 12: Rasadishodhana-Maranakalpana (Mercury and Rasa Preparations)

— Chitraka, Trivrit, Danti, and Tejohva each one Pala separately;

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 4: Gutikakalpana (Tablet/Pill Preparations)

Danti (Baliospermum montanum) one Karsha, and Trivrit (Operculina turpethum) one Karsha.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 4: Gutikakalpana (Tablet/Pill Preparations)

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)

The hard bowel requires Snuhi latex (Euphorbia neriifolia), Hemachira, and Danti fruit (Baliospermum montanum).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 4: Virechana Vidhi (Purgation Therapy)

Trivrit, Hapusha (Juniperus communis), Danti (Baliospermum montanum), Saptala (Acacia concinna), Katurohi (Picrorhiza kurroa), and Svarnachiri — grind all and soak in cow's urine for three days.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 4: Virechana Vidhi (Purgation Therapy)

Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 4: Gutikakalpana (Tablet/Pill Preparations); Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 10: Asavarishta-Sandhanakalpana (Fermented Preparations); Uttara Khanda, Chapter 4: Virechana Vidhi (Purgation Therapy)

Ghee with trivrit (Operculina), indra-yava, chitraka, and danti paste, finely powdered with trikatu.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 17: Drishtigata Roga Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Diseases of Vision / Drishti Roga)

Chitraka (Plumbago), danti (Baliospermum), bilva (Aegle), agni (fire-plant), hayamaraka, and the excrement of pigeon, heron, and vulture serve as penetrating agents.

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 36: Bhumipravibhagiya Adhyaya - On Classification of Land for Medicinal Plants

Ajagandhaa, ajashringi, gavachi, langalahvaya, putika, chitraka, patha, vidanga, ela, harenuka, the three pungents (trikatu), barley, salts, manashila, kasisa, trivrit, danti, haritala, and surashtri — these are the drugs for purificatory suppositories (shodhana varti).

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 36: Bhumipravibhagiya Adhyaya - On Classification of Land for Medicinal Plants

Chirabilva, agni (agnimantha), danti, chitraka, and hayamaraka, along with the excrement of pigeon, heron, and vulture — these are bursting/penetrating (darana) agents.

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 37: Mishrakaadhyaya - The Miscellaneous Chapter

the three pungents (trikatu), barley, salts, manashila, kasisa, trivrit, danti, haritala, and surashtri (verse 14) — these are the drugs for purificatory suppositories.

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 37: Mishrakaadhyaya - The Miscellaneous Chapter

Source: Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 17: Drishtigata Roga Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Diseases of Vision / Drishti Roga); Sutra Sthana, Chapter 36: Bhumipravibhagiya Adhyaya - On Classification of Land for Medicinal Plants; Sutra Sthana, Chapter 37: Mishrakaadhyaya - The Miscellaneous Chapter

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.