Overview
Gambhari is one of the herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda for skin disorders. Gambhari (Gmelina arborea) is one of the Dashamula (Brihat Panchamula) group of drugs. It is a large deciduous tree found throughout India. The fruit is sweet and sour, described as Vrishya (aphrodisiac) and Rasayana (rejuvenative). The root is the main medicinal part used in Dashamula combinations. The tree bark, root, flowers, and fruits all have therapeutic applications. Gambhari fruit is specifically noted for its cooling effect despite Ushna Virya, and it alleviates burning sensation (Daha) and excessive thirst (Trishna). It is among the key ingredients of Dashamularishta and Chyawanprash.
How Gambhari Helps with Skin Disorders
According to Ayurvedic pharmacology, Gambhari has specific properties that make it valuable for addressing skin disorders:
- Potency (Virya): Ushna (hot)
- Post-digestive (Vipaka): Katu (pungent)
- Taste (Rasa): Tikta (bitter), Madhura (sweet), Kashaya (astringent)
- Qualities (Guna): Guru (heavy)
Other Herbs for Skin Disorders
See all herbs for skin disorders on the Skin Disorders page.
▶ Classical Text References (5 sources)
- Daha (burning sensation)
- Trishna (excessive thirst)
- Jwara (fever)
- Prameha (diabetes/urinary disorders)
- Visha (poisoning)
Source: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 3
, Rishabhaka, Madhuka – Licorice – Glycyrrhiza glabra, Madhuka – Madhuka longifolia, Bimbi – Coccinia grandis / indica, Vidari – Pueraria tuberosa, the two Sravani – Mundi and Sravani, Ksheerasukla, Tugaksiri, the two Ksheerini, Gambhari, the two Saha, milk, sugarcane, Gokshura, Ksaudra, Draksa etc.
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Rasabhediyam Tastes, Their
Tikta Gana – group of bitters :त तः पदोल ाय ती वालकोशीर च दनम ् भू न ब न ब कटुका तगरा गु व सकम ् न तमाला वरजनी मु त मूवाट पकम पाठापामागकां यायोगुडू चध वयासकम ् प चमल ू ं महा या यौ वशाल अ त वषावचा Patoli, Trayanti – Gentiana kurroa, Valaka, Usira – Vetiveria zizanioides, Chandana – Sandalwood, Bhunimba – The creat (whole plant) – Andrographis paniculata, Nimba – Neem – Azadirachta indica, Katuka – Picrorhiza kurroa, Tagara – Indian Valerian (root) – Valeriana wallichi, Aguru, Vatsaka – Hol
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Rasabhediyam Tastes, Their
Either Rasanjana (Aqueous extract of Berberis aristata), Brihat Pancamula (Agnimantha, Shyonaka, Gambhari, Patala, Bilva), Guggulu – along with the fresh juice of Agnimnatha is suitable;
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Dvividha Upakramaneeya
Source: Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Rasabhediyam Tastes, Their; Dvividha Upakramaneeya
Make paste of panchamoola (bilva, shyonaka, gambhari, patala and gambharika), abhaya, trikatu, pippalimoola, saindhava, rasna, two kshara (sarjika and yavakshara), ajaji, vidanga and sati and prepare medicated ghee with sukta, juice of matulunga and ardraka, suṣkamoolaka, kolambu, chukrika, pomengranate, butter milk, mastu (supplement liquid portion in the curd/yoghurt), suramanda (indigenous beer beverage prepared from fermented cereals) sauviraka (acidic fermented liquid obtained from wheat),
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 15: Digestive Disorders Treatment (Grahani Chikitsa / ग्रहणीचिकित्सा)
Decoction should be prepared out of bilva, shyonaka, gambhari, patala, ganikarika, shalaparni, prashanaparni, brihati, kantakari, gokshuara, haritaki, bibhitaka, amalaki, chavika, bharangi, chitraka, kulattha, pippali moola, patha, kola and yava.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 18: Cough Treatment (Kasa Chikitsa / कासचिकित्सा)
1:77-85) alongwith hingu- Ferula asafetida (L), arka- Calotropis Gigantea (Linn) roots, dashamula (bilva, syonaka, gambhari, patala, ghanikarnika, salaparni, prishnaparni, brahati, kantakari, gokshura), snuhi, chitraka and punarnava to be taken in equal quantity.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)
[45] The following formula used in right dose quickly alleviates the painful vataja dysuria: Oil, fat of pig and bear and ghee cooked with the decoction and paste of- punarnava, eranda, shatavari, pattura, vrishchira, bala, pasanabheda, dashamula (bilva, shonaka, gambhari, patala, ganikarnika, salaparni, prishnaparni, brahati, kantakari and gokshura), kulattha, kola, yava, with five types of salt which is useful in pain associated in vataja type of dysuria.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)
[81] Decoction prepared out of punarnava, devadaru, panchamula (roots of bilva, syonaka, gambhari, patala, ganikarnika), rasna, barley grains, bilva (fruit), kulattha, kola.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)
Source: Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 15: Digestive Disorders Treatment (Grahani Chikitsa / ग्रहणीचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 18: Cough Treatment (Kasa Chikitsa / कासचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)
The ingredients are: Patala (Stereospermum suaveolens), Aranikas (Premna mucronata and Clerodendrum phlomidis), Kashmarya (Gmelina arborea), Bilva (Aegle marmelos), Araluka (Ailanthus excelsa), Gambhari (Gmelina arborea), the two Brihatis — Brihati (Solanum indicum) and Kantakari (Solanum surattense), Pippali (Piper longum), Shringi (Pistacia integerrima), Draksha (Vitis vinifera), Amrita/Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), and Abhaya/Haritaki (Terminalia chebula).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 8: Avalehakalpana (Confection/Electuary Preparations)
half that quantity of Gambhari (Gmelina arborea);
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 9: Snehakalpana (Oleaginous Preparations - Ghrita and Taila)
Bibhitaka, Nimba (neem), Gambhari, Shiva, Shelu, Kakini — oil Nasya with each individually surely destroys premature greying.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 8: Nasya Vidhi (Nasal Therapy)
Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 8: Avalehakalpana (Confection/Electuary Preparations); Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 9: Snehakalpana (Oleaginous Preparations - Ghrita and Taila); Uttara Khanda, Chapter 8: Nasya Vidhi (Nasal Therapy)
The Mahat Panchamula (Major Five Roots) consists of: bilva (Aegle), agnimantha, tirakata (shyonaka), patala, and kashmari (Gambhari) (verse 68).
— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 38: Dravyasangrahaniya Adhyaya - On the Collection of Drugs
The Mahat Panchamula (Major Five Roots) consists of: bilva (Aegle), agnimantha, tirakata (shyonaka), patala, and kashmari (Gambhari) (verse 68).
— Sushruta Samhita, Dravyasangrahaniya Adhyaya - On the Collection of Drugs
Source: Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 38: Dravyasangrahaniya Adhyaya - On the Collection of Drugs; Dravyasangrahaniya Adhyaya - On the Collection of Drugs
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.