Ayurvedic Properties
- Taste (Rasa)
- Tikta, Katu, Madhura
- Quality (Guna)
- Laghu, Ruksha, Tikshna
- Potency (Virya)
- Ushna
- Key Constituents
- Essential oil (1.5-2%), Costunolide (sesquiterpene lactone), Dehydrocostus lactone, Saussurea lactone, Inulin
- Also Known As
- Sanskrit: कुष्ठ, रोगघ्न, पारिभद्र, वाप्य
Hindi: कूठ, कुठ, कुड
What is Kushtha?
Kushtha means ‘skin disease’ and refers to its ability to treat many skin disorders. It is a large plant with sweet aromatic roots. It looks a bit like burdock (they are from the same family). When you smell a plant with such a warm fragrance think ‘digestive promoter’, ‘fluid drying’ and ‘stagnation clearing’.
Ayurvedic Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Rasa (taste) | Pungent, sweet, bitter, astringent |
| Vīrya (energy) | Heating |
| Vipāka (post-digestive) | Pungent |
| Guṇa (quality) | Dry, light, penetrating |
| Doṣa effect | VPK=, VP+ in excess |
| Dhātu (tissue) | All tissues |
| Srotas (channel) | Digestive, circulatory, respiratory, nervous |
Therapeutic Actions
- Lekhanı-ya: Toxic residue scraper Śukraśodhana Semen purifier
- Va- jı-karan.a: Enhances sexual appetite
- Dı-pana: Appetiser
- Pa-cana: Digests ama Śu-lapraśamana Stops intestinal spasms and pain
- Vedana-stha-pana: Analgesic
- Jvaraghna: Alleviates fever Ka-saśva-sahara Alleviates cough and breathing difficulties
- Mu-travirecana: Diuretic Raktaśodhana Purifies the blood
- Kus.t. haghna: Alleviates skin diseases
- Stambhana: Stops leakages
- Rasa- yana: Rejuvenative for prana and the blood
- Stanyajanana: Promotes lactation
- Biomedical: Carminative, digestive, alterative, diuretic, antispasmodic, bronchodilator, aromatic, astringent, aphrodisiac, analgesic
Safety & Contraindications
Contraindications: With excess dryness and very; high vata it should be combined; with demulcent herbs such as; sesame, shatavari, bala. Caution; with high pitta in the digestive; tract
Safety: No drug–herb interactions are known.
Dosage & Combinations
Dosage: 1–9g per day dried or 3–15ml of a 1:3 @ 25% tincture.
Combinations:
- Cardamom, fennel, ginger for abdominal bloating, flatulence Chapter 6 PLANT PROFILES or pain from obstructed prana or cold due to excess vata.
- Manjishtha, kutki, chiretta in bloody/’mucusy’ stool.
- Triphala, senna, rhubarb to regulate peristalsis.
- Trikat. u in asthma or allergic attacks.
- Guduchi in gout with pitta and vata conditions of the joints.
- Shatavari, ajwain, turmeric, rose for uterine spasms.
- Turmeric, ashwagandha for benefiting sperm quality.
How to Use Kushtha by Condition
Explore how Kushtha is used for specific health concerns — with dosage, preparation methods, and classical references for each.
▶ Classical Text References (3 sources)
References in Astanga Hridaya
Kustha-svitra-krimi nidanam (diagnosis of leprosy, leucoderma and parasites).
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 1: Ayushkameeya Adhyaya
Kustha cikitsita (treatment of leprosy).
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 1: Ayushkameeya Adhyaya
In order to get over it, Tikta ghrita (medicated ghee recipe described in the treatment of kustha chapter 19 of Chikitsa sthana), purgation therapy and blood letting should be resorted to.
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 3: Ritucharya adhyaya Seasonal
Virechyah – persons suitable for purgation therapy:वरे कसा या गु माश व फोट य गकामलाः जीण वरोदरगर छ ल हहल मकाः व धि त मरं काचः य दः प वाशय यथाः यो नशु ा यरोगाः को ठगाः कृमयो वाता मू वगं र तं मू ाघातः शकृ णाः हः वा या च कु ठमेहा याः Diseases requiring purgation therapy areGulma – Tumors of the abdomen, Arsha – Piles, Visphota- blisters, Vyanga – discolored patch on face, Kamala – Jaundice, Liver disease Jeernajwara - Chronic fever, Udara – ascites, interstinal obstruction Poisoning, Chroni
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 18: Vamana Virechana Vidhi
13-15 For Shamana- Madyama, medium kind of smoke शमने श लक ला ा प ृ वीका कमलो पलम ् य ोधोद ु बरा व थ ल रो वचः सताः यि टमधु सुवण वक् प कं र तयि टका ग धा चाकु ठतगराः useful drugs are - shallaki, Laksha,Prithvika, Kamala, Utpala, Barks of Nyagrodha, Udumbara, Asvattha, Plaksa and Rodhra; Sita, Yasthimadhu (licorice), Suvarnatwak, Padmaka, Raktayastika Kustha, tagara and other scents – perfumeries.
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 21: Dhumpana Medicated Smoking
Source: Astanga Hridaya, Ch. 1, Ch. 1, Ch. 3, Ch. 18, Ch. 21
References in Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan
Kustha-svitra-krimi nidanam (diagnosis of leprosy, leucoderma and parasites).
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Ayushkameeya Adhyaya
Kustha cikitsita (treatment of leprosy).
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Ayushkameeya Adhyaya
In order to get over it, Tikta ghrita (medicated ghee recipe described in the treatment of kustha chapter 19 of Chikitsa sthana), purgation therapy and blood letting should be resorted to.
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Ritucharya adhyaya Seasonal
Virechyah – persons suitable for purgation therapy:वरे कसा या गु माश व फोट य गकामलाः जीण वरोदरगर छ ल हहल मकाः व धि त मरं काचः य दः प वाशय यथाः यो नशु ा यरोगाः को ठगाः कृमयो वाता मू वगं र तं मू ाघातः शकृ णाः हः वा या च कु ठमेहा याः Diseases requiring purgation therapy areGulma – Tumors of the abdomen, Arsha – Piles, Visphota- blisters, Vyanga – discolored patch on face, Kamala – Jaundice, Liver disease Jeernajwara - Chronic fever, Udara – ascites, interstinal obstruction Poisoning, Chroni
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Vamana Virechana Vidhi
Sita, Yasthimadhu (licorice), Suvarnatwak, Padmaka, Raktayastika Kustha, tagara and other scents – perfumeries.
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Dhumpana Medicated Smoking
Source: Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Ayushkameeya Adhyaya; Ritucharya adhyaya Seasonal; Vamana Virechana Vidhi; Dhumpana Medicated Smoking
References in Charaka Samhita
The mahatikta ghritam indicated in paittika kustha should also be given by the intelligent physician for the alleviation of visarpa.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 21: Erysipelas Treatment (Visarpa Chikitsa / विसर्पचिकित्सा)
Warm kustha (costus) oil added with pakya kshara (prepared medicinal alkali) or warm cow’s urine or decoction of vata kaphahara leaves should be used as affusion on the affected part.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 21: Erysipelas Treatment (Visarpa Chikitsa / विसर्पचिकित्सा)
), sour curd, yeast, kustha (Saussurea lappa C.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 25: Wound Management (Dwivraniya Chikitsa / द्विव्रणीयचिकित्सा)
8 parts- kustha- Saussurea lappa C.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)
If pain (in the cardiac region) aggravates on consumption of food, demises during digestion and relieved on empty stomach, the patient should be given (powder of) devadaru, kustha, tilvaka, two salts (saindhava, sauvarchala), vidanga and ativisha along with hot water.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)
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); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)
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.