Durva Grass for Athlete's Foot: Does It Work?
Does Durva Grass (Bermuda grass, Cynodon dactylon) help with athlete's foot? As an external paste, it has a real classical basis. The Sharangadhara Samhita describes a paste of Durva and turmeric that destroys itching (Karandu), scabies (Pama) and ringworm (Dadru).
That last word matters. Ayurveda places athlete's foot under Dadrukushtha, the spreading, ring-shaped type of skin disease (Kushtha). It is driven by Pitta, the dosha of heat, together with Kapha, the dosha of moisture: sweat trapped between the toes creates the damp warmth where fungus thrives.
Durva is sweet and astringent in taste, cooling in potency (Sheeta Virya), and classed as a herb that relieves burning (Dahahara). The Sharangadhara Samhita calls it cooling and anti-itch. That makes it a good match for the red, burning, itchy side of athlete's foot, used on the skin rather than as a stand-alone cure.
How Durva Grass Helps with Athlete's Foot
Durva works on athlete's foot from the outside in, by cooling the skin and settling the itch.
Cooling the Pitta side
In Pitta-type athlete's foot, the skin burns, stings and turns red. Durva's cooling potency and its classical actions as a Pitta reducer (Pittahara) and burning reliever (Dahahara) answer that heat directly. The Sushruta Samhita uses Durva in cooling plasters that remove Pitta-type swelling.
Calming the itch
The Sharangadhara Samhita, in its chapter on topical pastes (Lepa Vidhi), describes Durva as cooling, anti-itch and anti-allergic. Its pastes are named for itching, scabies and ringworm, which is the Ayurvedic family that athlete's foot belongs to.
Why it is paired, not used alone
In the classical recipes, Durva rarely works by itself on the skin. The ringworm paste combines it with turmeric, and another itch paste adds haritaki, rock salt, Cassia tora and basil in buttermilk. Durva brings the cooling, soothing action; its partners bring the cleansing, anti-parasite side.
Durva is also astringent and classed as Stambhana, an astringent herb that stops oozing and bleeding, which suits cracked or weeping skin. Our sources cite no modern clinical trials of Durva for athlete's foot.
How to Use Durva Grass for Athlete's Foot
For athlete's foot, Durva is used only as an external paste. The fresh grass is what classical practice relies on.
Best form: Durva and turmeric paste
Crush fresh Durva with a little water to a thick paste and mix it with turmeric. This follows the Sharangadhara Samhita paste of Durva and turmeric for itching and ringworm. Apply a thin layer to the affected skin.
| Preparation | How to make it | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Durva and turmeric paste | Fresh Durva crushed with water, mixed with turmeric | Thin layer on itchy, ring-shaped patches |
| Durva buttermilk paste | Durva with haritaki, rock salt, Cassia tora and basil, mixed with buttermilk | Classical paste for itching and scabies |
| Plain Durva paste | Fresh Durva crushed with a little water | Thin layer on red, burning skin |
Practical tips
Turmeric stains skin and socks yellow, so wear old socks after applying it. Keep the feet clean and dry between applications, since trapped moisture is what feeds the problem.
Our sources give no fixed course length for Durva on athlete's foot. The general Ayurvedic home approach applies a remedy twice a day for at least two weeks, so give it that long before judging.
Use Durva only from a clean, unsprayed source. Grass from a lawn treated with herbicide, fungicide or pesticide is not safe to use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just use lawn grass on my feet?
Only if you are sure it has never been sprayed. Durva from a lawn treated with herbicide, fungicide or pesticide is unsafe. Wild or unsprayed grass, or a clean garden source, is the only kind to use.
Is Durva antifungal?
The classical texts describe it as cooling, anti-itch and anti-allergic, and name the Durva and turmeric paste for ringworm. In the same chapter, Cassia tora is the herb singled out as specifically antifungal, which is why Durva is best used in a combination.
Which type of athlete's foot does Durva suit?
The hot, red, burning, itchy Pitta type fits best, because Durva is cooling. For the white, soggy Kapha type, drying and warming measures come first.
Recommended: Start Durva Grass for Athlete's Foot
If you want to start using Durva for athlete's foot today, here is the simplest starting point.
Best form: a fresh Durva and turmeric paste, because that is the combination the Sharangadhara Samhita names for itching and ringworm.
Kitchen version: crush a handful of fresh, unsprayed Durva with a little water, stir in turmeric powder, and apply a thin layer to the affected skin. Wear old socks, as turmeric stains.
Dosha fork: if your feet burn and look red (Pitta type), Durva's cooling action is a good fit. If the skin is white, soggy and musty (Kapha type), focus first on keeping the feet dry.
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Safety: stop if a rash or new irritation appears, and see a doctor if the infection spreads or does not improve.
Safety & Precautions
Durva is generally regarded as one of the gentlest bleeding remedies in Ayurveda. It is a common grass, used fresh, and its classical doses are small.
The main caution: where it grows
Never use Durva from a lawn or garden treated with herbicide, fungicide or pesticide. Wild or unsprayed grass is the only safe medicinal source, and it should be washed thoroughly.
Other points to keep in mind
- Pregnancy: avoid the fresh juice in significant quantity without supervision.
- Blood sugar: if you take the juice with sugar or honey and have diabetes, watch your response or take it plain.
- Blood thinners: if you take anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication, speak with your doctor before using any herb for bleeding.
- Not a substitute for care: recurrent, heavy or unexplained bleeding needs medical evaluation. Durva is a traditional supportive herb.
Other Herbs for Athlete's Foot
See all herbs for athlete's foot on the Athlete's Foot page.
▶ Classical Text References (4 sources)
For Greeshma (summer) – कुमुदो पलक हारद ुवामधुकच दनम ् Kumuda, Utpala, Kalhara, Durva, Madhuka and Chandana (Sandalwood).
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Gandushadi Vidhi Gargles
30 सदा मू ना च धारयेत ् ल मीं गुहाम तगुहां ज टलां मचा रणीम ् वचां छ ाम त छ ां द ुवा स ाथकाना प ततः ने ह दनेहो तं त याचारं समा दशेत ् दवा व ने णे क डूराग शोफपूयकृत ् The patient should always wear on his head, potent herbs such as Lakshmi, Guha, Atiguha, Jatila, Brahmacharini, Vacha, Chatra, Atichatra, Durva or Siddharthaka.
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Shastrakarma Vidhi
Source: Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Gandushadi Vidhi Gargles; Shastrakarma Vidhi
Nalada (Vetiveria zizanioidis), harenu (Vitex negundo Linn), lodhra (Symplocos racemosa), madhuka (Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn), padmaka (Prunas cerasoides), durva (Cynodon dactylon) and sarjarasa (Shorea robusta) should be mixed with ghee and used externally as a pralepa.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 21: Erysipelas Treatment (Visarpa Chikitsa / विसर्पचिकित्सा)
The external application mentioned as pradeha may also be used for sprinkling or for preparation ghrita yoga or churna yoga used for dusting in wounds of visarpa, ghee cooked with durva juice promotes wound healing.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 21: Erysipelas Treatment (Visarpa Chikitsa / विसर्पचिकित्सा)
Oil cooked with durva juice or kampillaka or paste of daruharidra bark is an important ulcer healer.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 25: Wound Management (Dwivraniya Chikitsa / द्विव्रणीयचिकित्सा)
Source: Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 21: Erysipelas Treatment (Visarpa Chikitsa / विसर्पचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 25: Wound Management (Dwivraniya Chikitsa / द्विव्रणीयचिकित्सा)
Durva grass is cooling and anti-pruritic, Chakramarda is specifically antifungal (its seeds contain chrysophanol), and holy basil is antimicrobial.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)
Turmeric's curcumin is a proven anti-inflammatory, antipruritic, and antimicrobial agent, while Durva grass is cooling and anti-allergic.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)
Another paste for Karandu and Pama: Durva (Cynodon dactylon, bermuda grass), Abhaya (Haritaki/Terminalia chebula), Saindhava (rock salt), Chakramarda (Cassia tora), and Kutheraka (Ocimum basilicum/basil), mixed with buttermilk as a paste, destroys Karandu (itching) and Pama (scabies).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)
Durva grass is cooling and anti-pruritic, Chakramarda is specifically antifungal (its seeds contain chrysophanol), and holy basil is antimicrobial.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)
Another: a paste of Durva (bermuda grass) and Nisha (turmeric, Curcuma longa) destroys Karandu and Pama, eliminates Krimi (parasites) and Dadru (ringworm), and is known to cure Shita Pitta (urticaria/hives).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)
Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)
In case of pain or redness post-surgery, learn from me further formulations: gairika (red ochre), sariva, durva grass, barley paste, ghee, and milk.
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 17: Drishtigata Roga Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Diseases of Vision / Drishti Roga)
Paste of madhuka (licorice), utpala (blue lotus) filaments, and durva (Bermuda grass) applied on the head.
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 15: Chhedya Roga Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Diseases Requiring Excision)
In case of pain or redness post-surgery, learn from me further formulations: gairika (red ochre), sariva, durva grass, barley paste, ghee, and milk.
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 17: Drishtigata Roga Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Diseases of Vision / Drishti Roga)
Shatavari, black sesame, madhuka, blue lotus, durva (Bermuda grass), and punarnava should be properly applied as poultice.
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 26: Chapter 26
Durva (grass), nalamula (vetiver root), madhuka (licorice), chandana (sandalwood), and all the cooling groups — a plaster of these removes Pitta-type swelling (verse 4).
— 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); Uttara Tantra, Chapter 15: Chhedya Roga Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Diseases Requiring Excision); Uttara Tantra, Chapter 26: Chapter 26; 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.