Herb × Condition

Devadaru for Back Pain

Sanskrit: देवदारु | Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) Loud.

How Devadaru helps with Back Pain according to Ayurveda. Classical references, dosage, preparation methods, and what modern research says.

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Overview

Devadaru is one of the herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda for back pain. Devadaru (Cedrus deodara, Fam. Pinaceae) is Himalayan Cedar or Deodar, found abundantly in the Western Himalayas at 5000-7000 feet. The tree grows to enormous size — 150 feet tall with girth of 20+ feet. Wood is reddish-brown, aromatic, durable, and insect-resistant. The heartwood and oil are used medicinally. It is bitter-pungent with hot potency, making it useful in Kapha-Vata conditions. Key therapeutic indications include fever, worm infestations, skin diseases, obesity, and urinary disorders. Devadaru oil (Cedarwood oil) is used externally for joint pains and skin diseases. The tree holds sacred significance in Indian tradition. Multiple synonyms reflect its divine association (Deva = divine, Daru = wood). Note: some texts confuse Devadaru with Pita Devadaru (Ougeinia dalbergioides) which is a different plant. Book reference: Karpuradi Varga, shloka 22-25.

How Devadaru Helps with Back Pain

According to Ayurvedic pharmacology, Devadaru has specific properties that make it valuable for addressing back pain:

  • Potency (Virya): Ushna (hot)
  • Post-digestive (Vipaka): Katu (pungent)
  • Taste (Rasa): Tikta (bitter), Katu (pungent)
  • Qualities (Guna): Laghu (light), Snigdha (unctuous)

Ayurvedic Properties

Taste (Rasa)
Bitter (Tikta), Pungent (Katu)
Quality (Guna)
Light (Laghu), Unctuous (Snigdha)
Potency (Virya)
Hot (Ushna)
Post-digestive (Vipaka)
Pungent (Katu)
Key Constituents
Cedarwood oil (from heartwood) — contains Atlantone, Deodarone. Oleoresin from bark. Terpenes and sesquiterpenes present.
Also Known As
English: Himalayan Cedar, Deodar, Indian Cedar
Sanskrit: देवदारु, देवकाष्ठ, दारु, दैवदारु, सुरदारु, भद्रदारु, मदराव, दारुक, इन्द्रदारु
Hindi: देवदार, दियार
Classical Text References (8 sources)
  • Jwara (fever)
  • Krimi (worms/parasites)
  • Kushtha (skin diseases)
  • Prameha (urinary disorders/diabetes)
  • Medoroga (obesity)
  • Kasa (cough)
  • Shwasa (asthma)
  • Arsha (hemorrhoids)
  • Vataroga (diseases of Vata)

Source: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 1

1 Upanaha Sweda उपनाहो वचा क वशताहवादे वदा भः धा यैः सम तैः ग धै च रा ना एर ड जटा मषैः Upanaha Sweda is application of poultice prepared from Vacha (Acorus calamus), Kinva-yeast, Shatahva (Dill), Devadaru – (Himalayan cedar (bark) – Cedrus deodara) etc.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Swedana Vidhi Sudatuin Therapy /

Source: Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Swedana Vidhi Sudatuin Therapy /

1 Upanaha Sweda उपनाहो वचा क वशताहवादे वदा भः धा यैः सम तैः ग धै च रा ना एर ड जटा मषैः Upanaha Sweda is application of poultice prepared from Vacha (Acorus calamus), Kinva-yeast, Shatahva (Dill), Devadaru – (Himalayan cedar (bark) – Cedrus deodara) etc.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Swedana Vidhi Sudatuin Therapy /

Similar is the case of Anuvasana – fat enema and Matra basti – fat enema with very little oil 34-36 Anu taila जीव तीजलदे वदा जलद व से यगोपी हमं दाव व मधुक लवागु वर पु ा व ब वो पलम ् धाव यौ सरु भं ि थरे कृ महरं प ं ु ट रे णक ु ां कि ज कं कमला वलां शतगुणे द ये अ भ स वाथयेत ् ३७ तैला सं दशगण ु ं प रशो य तेन तैलं पचेत ् स ललेन दशैव वारान ् पाके पे चदशमे सममाजद ु धं न यं महागुणमुश यणुतैलमेतत ् ३८ Jivanti, Jala, Devadaru, Jalada, Twak, Sevya, Gopi (sariva), Hima, Darvi twak, Madhuka, Plava, A

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Nasya Vidhi Nasal

Source: Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Swedana Vidhi Sudatuin Therapy /; Nasya Vidhi Nasal

Mixture of haritaki, dried ginger and devadaru taken with lukewarm water, or punarnava mixed with all the above drugs taken with cow‘s urine relieves swelling produced by all the three dosha.

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

Milk prepared with dry ginger and daruharidra or prepared with shyama, castor root and black pepper, or prepared with cinnamon, devadaru, punarnava and dry ginger;

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

The paste prepared from devadaru (Cedrus deodara), palasha (Butea monosperma), arka (Calotropis procera), hastipippali (Scindapsus officinalis), shigru (Moringa oleifera) and ashvagandha (Withania somnifera) added with cow’s urine should be applied on the abdomen as pradeha (paste) [108].

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

The ingredients like pippali (Piper longum), madan (Randia spinosa), bilva (Aegle marmelons), shatavha, madhuka, kushtha (Saussurea lappa) shati (Hadychium spicatium), pushkarmoola (Inula racemosa), chitrak (Plumbego zylanicum), devadaru (Cedrus deodara) made in paste, added sesame oil 4 times to kalka then added milk 2 times more the oil and prepare the medicated oil as per standard procedures.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 14: Hemorrhoids Treatment (Arsha Chikitsa / अर्शचिकित्सा)

The 11 ingredients ending with devadaru (in verse 131) should be mixed with oil and ghee and applied in the dry and painful type of hemorrhoids after application of medicament the hemorrhoids discharge the mucous and blood and relieve pain, itching and swelling of dry hemorrhoids.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 14: Hemorrhoids Treatment (Arsha Chikitsa / अर्शचिकित्सा)

Source: Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 12: Edema Treatment (Shvayathu Chikitsa / श्वयथुचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 13: Abdominal Diseases Treatment (Udara Chikitsa / उदरचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 14: Hemorrhoids Treatment (Arsha Chikitsa / अर्शचिकित्सा)

Another paste: Darvi (Berberis aristata), radish seeds (Mulaka Bija, Raphanus sativus), Talaka (orpiment), Suradaru (Cedrus deodara, Himalayan cedar), and betel leaf (Tambula Patra, Piper betle) -- each one Karsha (12g) individually.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)

Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)

A decoction prepared from Agnimantha (Premna integrifolia), Shati (Hedychium spicatum), Patha (Cissampelos pareira), Shunthi (dry ginger — Zingiber officinale), and Devadaru (Cedrus deodara) should be used in all diseases of the head (Shiroroga).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 2: Kvathakalpana (Decoction Preparations)

— Indravaruni (Citrullus colocynthis), Bharangi (Clerodendrum serratum), Devadaru (Cedrus deodara), Yavanika (Trachyspermum ammi), Kustumburu (Coriandrum sativum), and Shiva (Terminalia chebula) — all in equal proportions should be powdered.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 3: Churnakalpana (Powder Preparations)

Also: Chavika (Piper retrofractum), Hapusha (Juniperus communis — juniper), Dhanya (Coriandrum sativum), Kramuka (Areca catechu — betel nut), Katuki/Katurohhini (Picrorhiza kurroa), Musta (Cyperus rotundus), Triphala — Haritaki, Bibhitaka, Amalaki — Rasna (Pluchea lanceolata), Devadaru (Cedrus deodara), and the two Nishas — Haridra (Curcuma longa) and Daruharidra (Berberis aristata).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 10: Asavarishta-Sandhanakalpana (Fermented Preparations)

Shatapushpa (dill), Devadaru (Cedrus deodara), Shephali (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis), Sthula Jiraka (cumin), Eranda Mula (castor root) and seeds, Rasna, Mulaka (radish), and Shigru (Moringa oleifera).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 2: Sveda Vidhi (Sudation Therapy)

Another paste: Devadaru (Cedrus deodara), Nata (Valeriana wallichii), Kushtha (Saussurea lappa), Nalada (Vetiveria zizanioides/Nardostachys jatamansi), and Vishvabheshaja (dry ginger, Zingiber officinale), with Kanjika and oil -- this paste destroys Vata headache.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)

Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 2: Kvathakalpana (Decoction Preparations); Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 3: Churnakalpana (Powder Preparations); Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 10: Asavarishta-Sandhanakalpana (Fermented Preparations); Uttara Khanda, Chapter 2: Sveda Vidhi (Sudation Therapy); Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)

Matulunga (citron), agnimantha, bhadradaru (Himalayan cedar), mahaushadha (ginger), ahimstra, and rasna — a plaster/application (pralepa) of these destroys Vata-type swelling (verse 3).

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

Matulunga (citron), agnimantha, bhadradaru (Himalayan cedar), mahaushadha (ginger), ahimstra, and rasna — a plaster/application (pralepa) of these destroys Vata-type swelling (verse 3).

— Sushruta Samhita, Mishrakaadhyaya - The Miscellaneous Chapter

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

Perform oblations with sticks of Khadira (Acacia catechu), Palasha (Butea monosperma), Devadaru (Cedrus deodara), and Bilva (Aegle marmelos) — or of Nyagrodha (Ficus benghalensis), Udumbara (Ficus racemosa), Ashvattha (Ficus religiosa), and Madhuka (Madhuca longifolia) — smeared with curd, honey, and ghee, while reciting the Pranava (Om) and Maha-vyahritis.

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 2: Shishyopanayaniya Adhyaya - Initiation of the Student

Madhuka (licorice), rajani (turmeric), pathya (haritaki), and devadaru (cedar) should be ground.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 9: Vatabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Vata-type Conjunctivitis)

Also saindhava (rock salt), devadaru (cedar), shunthi (dry ginger), and matulunga (citron) juice with ghee.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 9: Vatabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Vata-type Conjunctivitis)

Or milk prepared with rajani (turmeric) and devadaru (cedar) with rock salt.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 9: Vatabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Vata-type Conjunctivitis)

Sweating or paste application should be done with barley grass, shunthi (ginger), devadaru (cedar), kushtha (costus).

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 11: Kaphabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Kapha-type Conjunctivitis)

Source: Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 2: Shishyopanayaniya Adhyaya - Initiation of the Student; Uttara Tantra, Chapter 9: Vatabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Vata-type Conjunctivitis); Uttara Tantra, Chapter 11: Kaphabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Kapha-type Conjunctivitis)

Safety & Precautions

Contraindications: High pitta

Safety: No drug–herb interactions are known.

Other Herbs for Back Pain

See all herbs for back pain on the Back Pain 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.