Kakamachi: Benefits, Uses & Dosage

Sanskrit: काकमाची Botanical: Solanum nigrum Linn.

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Ayurvedic Properties

Taste (Rasa)
Bitter (Tikta), Pungent (Katu)
Quality (Guna)
Light (Laghu), Unctuous (Snigdha)
Potency (Virya)
Not excessively hot (Ushna (hot) / Anushna)
Post-digestive (Vipaka)
Pungent (Katu)
Key Constituents
Solanin (Solanine alkaloid), glycoalkaloids
Also Known As
English: Garden Nightshade, Black Nightshade
Sanskrit: काकमाची, काकाहवा, ध्वांक्षमाची
Hindi: मकोय, गुर्दी

What is Kakamachi (Black Nightshade / काकमाची)?

Kakamachi (Solanum nigrum) or Makoy is a common weed found up to 6000 feet elevation. The berries and whole plant are used medicinally. It is described as bitter, pungent, light, unctuous, with anushna (not excessively hot) potency. It is especially valued as a liver tonic (Yakritottejaka) and rejuvenative. The text notes it benefits the eyes (Chakshushya), voice (Svarya), treats fever, swellings, and skin diseases. The ripe berries are edible and nutritious. The plant contains Solanin (Solanine) alkaloid which can be toxic in large doses. This is an important hepatoprotective herb used in liver disorders including hepatitis and cirrhosis. Solanine content requires careful dosing. Verse refs: pages 438-439.

Source: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 3

Therapeutic Actions (Karma)

  • Rasayana (rejuvenative)
  • Yakritottejaka (liver stimulant)
  • Chakshushya (beneficial for eyes)
  • Svarya (improves voice)
  • Jvaraghna (reduces fever)
  • Shothahara (reduces swelling)
  • Hridya (cardiotonic)
  • Kushthaghna (treats skin diseases)

Source: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 3

How to Use Kakamachi by Condition

Explore how Kakamachi is used for specific health concerns — with dosage, preparation methods, and classical references for each.

Classical Text References (4 sources)

References in Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan

72-73 हि त दोष यं कु ठ व ृ या सो णा रसायनी काकमाची सरा वया चा गेय ला अि नद पनी यश अ नल ले म हतो णा ा हणी लघुः Kakamachi (Solanum nigrum) mitigates the three doshas, useful in skin diseases, is aphrodisiac, hot in potency, rejuvenator, causes easy movement of faeces, and is good for voice.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Annaswaroopa Food

(Kukkuta) Chicken and Spotted deer should not be taken along with curds Uncooked meat along with bile radish along with black gram Sheep meat along with leaves of Kusumba herb Germinated grains along with Bisa Lakucha Phala along with black gram soup (masha supa) Banana along with butter milk is not recommended Curds along with Tala phala (Palm date) Pippali, Maricha and honey Kakamachi along with jaggery Black pepper along with fish or during digestion of fish - 33-36.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Anna Raksha Vidhi

Source: Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Annaswaroopa Food; Anna Raksha Vidhi

References in Charaka Samhita

The leaves of upodika, tanduliya, vira, vastuka, suvarchala (one kind of salt) yava, avalguja, kakamachi (Solanum nigrum), ruhupatra, mahapatra, amlika, jivanti (Leptadenia reticulata), shati (Hedychium spicatium) and gunjanaka (Abrus pricatorius) should be cooked with curd and fried with ghee as well as oil.

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

After the digestion of this drug the patient should take wholesome food in small quantity and should avoid using kulattha, kakamachi etc.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 16: Anemia Treatment (Pandu Chikitsa / पाण्डुचिकित्सा)

This recipe should be taken by the patient in a quantity equal to a fruit of udumbara according to the power of digestion every day and should be given the desired food excluding kulattha, kakamachi etc.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 16: Anemia Treatment (Pandu Chikitsa / पाण्डुचिकित्सा)

[266 ½- 268½] Mahaneela taila: Paste of ten pala of each of the root of adityavalli and black variety of saireyaka – Barleria prionitis, leaves of surasa – Cinnamonum zeylanica, black variety of sana – Brassica alba, markava (bhringaraja – Eclipta alba), kakamachi – Solanum nigrum, yastimadhu –Glycrrhiza glabra and devadaru – Cedrus deodara.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)

The paste or decoction of kakamachi, haritaki, vacha, musta, shunthi and patha should be given to drink to the woman whose milk is slimy for the purification of milk.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 30: Gynecological Disorders Treatment (Yonivyapat Chikitsa / योनिव्यापत्चिकित्सा)

Source: Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 14: Hemorrhoids Treatment (Arsha Chikitsa / अर्शचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 16: Anemia Treatment (Pandu Chikitsa / पाण्डुचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 30: Gynecological Disorders Treatment (Yonivyapat Chikitsa / योनिव्यापत्चिकित्सा)

References in Sharangadhara Samhita

Similarly, triturate it for one day with the juice of Kakamachi (Solanum nigrum).

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

Ghee and milk of goat, buffalo, and cow, Upodika (Basella alba), Kakamachi (Solanum nigrum), bamboo shoots, and Sunishannaka (Marsilea quadrifolia) are recommended.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 65: Diet for Bleeding Disorders (Vatarakta Pathyapathyam)

Ghee and milk of goat, buffalo, and cow, Upodika (Basella alba), Kakamachi (Solanum nigrum), bamboo shoots, and Sunishannaka (Marsilea quadrifolia) are recommended.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 54: Diet for Bleeding Disorders (Vatarakta Pathyapathyam)

Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 12: Rasadishodhana-Maranakalpana (Mercury and Rasa Preparations); Parishishtam, Chapter 65: Diet for Bleeding Disorders (Vatarakta Pathyapathyam); Parishishtam, Chapter 54: Diet for Bleeding Disorders (Vatarakta Pathyapathyam)

References in Sushruta Samhita

The Surasadi Gana consists of: surasa (basil), shveta-surasa, phanijjhaka, arjaka, bhustrina (lemongrass), sugandhaka, sumukha, kalamala, kutheraka, kasamarda, chavaka, kharapushpa, vidanga, katphala, surasini, nirgundi, kulahala, ondura-karnika, phanji, prachiva, laka, kakamachi, and vishamushtika (verse 18).

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 38: Dravyasangrahaniya Adhyaya - On the Collection of Drugs

Sour amalaki and rock salt (saindhava) — and bitter kakamachi — aggravate Pitta due to hot potency.

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 40: Dravyarasagunavipaka-vijnaniya Adhyaya - On the Knowledge of Substances, Tastes, Properties, and Post-Digestive Effects

An adequate quantity of clarified butter duly cooked with the seeds of Apamarga and of the two kinds of S'veta, Sirisha, and Kakamachi (previously) pasted with the urine of a cow is known as the Amrita-Ghrita.

— Sushruta Samhita, Kalpa Sthana, Chapter 7: Dundhubhi-Svaniya

The Surasadi Gana consists of: surasa (basil), shveta-surasa, phanijjhaka, arjaka, bhustrina (lemongrass), sugandhaka, sumukha, kalamala, kutheraka, kasamarda, chavaka, kharapushpa, vidanga, katphala, surasini, nirgundi, kulahala, ondura-karnika, phanji, prachiva, laka, kakamachi, and vishamushtika (verse 18).

— Sushruta Samhita, Dravyasangrahaniya Adhyaya - On the Collection of Drugs

Sour amalaki and rock salt (saindhava) — and bitter kakamachi — aggravate Pitta due to hot potency.

— Sushruta Samhita, Dravyarasagunavipaka-vijnaniya Adhyaya - On the Knowledge of Substances, Tastes, Properties, and Post-Digestive Effects

Source: Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 38: Dravyasangrahaniya Adhyaya - On the Collection of Drugs; Sutra Sthana, Chapter 40: Dravyarasagunavipaka-vijnaniya Adhyaya - On the Knowledge of Substances, Tastes, Properties, and Post-Digestive Effects; Kalpa Sthana, Chapter 7: Dundhubhi-Svaniya; Dravyasangrahaniya Adhyaya - On the Collection of Drugs; Dravyarasagunavipaka-vijnaniya Adhyaya - On the Knowledge of Substances, Tastes, Properties, and Post-Digestive Effects

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.