Overview
Durva Grass is one of the herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda for bleeding disorders. Durva (Cynodon dactylon) is the sacred Bermuda grass, extensively used in Hindu rituals and Ayurvedic medicine. It grows commonly as a creeping grass spreading through stolons. It is one of the most important Raktapitta-hara (anti-hemorrhagic) drugs. The juice is cooling, sweet, and astringent. It is used in epistaxis (nosebleeds), excessive menstruation, and other bleeding conditions. The fresh juice is applied externally on wounds and cuts to stop bleeding. It is also used in Pitta-dominant conditions, burning sensation, and excessive thirst. The grass has strong hemostatic properties. It is considered sacred and used in worship of Lord Ganesha. The roots spread extensively underground. Dose: juice 1-2 tola; paste externally.
How Durva Grass Helps with Bleeding Disorders
According to Ayurvedic pharmacology, Durva Grass has specific properties that make it valuable for addressing bleeding disorders:
- Potency (Virya): Sheeta (cold)
- Post-digestive (Vipaka): Madhura (sweet)
- Taste (Rasa): Madhura (sweet), Kashaya (astringent)
- Qualities (Guna): Laghu (light), Snigdha (unctuous)
Ayurvedic Properties
- Taste (Rasa)
- Sweet (Madhura), Astringent (Kashaya)
- Quality (Guna)
- Light (Laghu), Unctuous (Snigdha)
- Potency (Virya)
- Cold (Sheeta)
- Post-digestive (Vipaka)
- Sweet (Madhura)
- Also Known As
- English: Creeping Cynodon, Bermuda Grass, Doob Grass
Sanskrit: दूर्वा, शतपर्वा, शतवीर्या, भार्गवी, अनन्ता, सहस्रवीर्या
Hindi: दूब, दूबला
▶ 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
Other Herbs for Bleeding Disorders
See all herbs for bleeding disorders on the Bleeding 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.