Licorice for Excessive Thirst: Does It Work?
Does Licorice (Yashtimadhu) help with excessive thirst? Yes, particularly when the thirst arrives with a hoarse voice, a sore throat, post-fever dryness, or the parched feeling that follows tissue depletion. Ayurveda classifies persistent thirst as Trishna, and Bhavaprakash Nighantu places Yashtimadhu firmly in the Trishna-hara category of herbs that "remove thirst."
Licorice is sweet-bitter in taste (Madhura-Tikta Rasa), cold in potency (Sheeta Virya), and a recognised rejuvenative (Rasa-Dhatu Rasayana). The sweet-cold combination is the textbook profile for thirst that comes from tissue dryness rather than from raw heat alone. Where Sandalwood is the sharp Pitta-Daha cooler, Licorice is the slow, demulcent restorative. It coats and rehydrates the mucous membranes of the throat and stomach, which is why it works so well for post-illness and post-fever thirst.
Important framing first. Persistent thirst, especially when paired with frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, or fatigue, is a classic signal of diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, hypercalcemia, or thyroid disease. Get a blood-sugar test and electrolyte panel before treating new-onset polydipsia as a kitchen problem. Note also that Licorice can elevate blood pressure and lower potassium with prolonged daily use, so it is not the right choice for hypertensive patients or those on diuretics. It is an excellent adjunct for Pitta-thirst with throat involvement, post-fever recovery, and tissue-depletion dryness.
"Yashtimadhu is sweet in taste, cold in potency, and removes thirst (Trishna-hara), burning, and bleeding disorders."
Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Haritakyadi Varga
How Licorice Helps with Excessive Thirst
The mechanism is a quiet one and it explains why Licorice is the herb of choice for the kind of thirst that water alone will not fix. Yashtimadhu is sweet-bitter (Madhura-Tikta Rasa), cold in potency (Sheeta Virya), and acts as a true rejuvenative (Rasayana) on the plasma tissue (Rasa-Dhatu). Charaka Sutrasthana 22 traces Trishna to depletion of Rasa-Dhatu, which is the fluid layer that carries water through the body. Licorice rebuilds it.
Sweet taste (Madhura Rasa) nourishes and grounds, particularly the dry, depleted state that follows fever, surgery, vomiting, or any condition that has drawn fluid out of the tissues. Cold potency calms the residual Pitta heat that keeps the thirst signal firing even after hydration. The demulcent, slightly unctuous quality coats the throat and stomach lining, sealing in moisture rather than letting it evaporate, which is why post-illness throat-dryness responds so reliably.
Modern angle
Licorice root contains glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhetinic acid, and a family of flavonoids including liquiritin and isoliquiritin. The mucilaginous polysaccharides and saponins explain the demulcent, throat-coating effect. Glycyrrhizin has documented anti-inflammatory and mineralocorticoid activity, which is also the source of its main caveat. Daily use above 3 grams of root for more than two weeks can raise blood pressure and lower serum potassium, so the right dose is small and the right course is short.
For thirst paired with post-fever weakness, Licorice combines well with Shatavari and Amla, both of which add cooling Rasa-Dhatu nourishment without raising blood pressure. For heat exhaustion with throat dryness, a small dose of Yashtimadhu in warm milk works better than cold drinks.
How to Use Licorice for Excessive Thirst
For excessive thirst, the classical preparation of Licorice is the small, warm-milk dose taken in the evening or before bed. This is the form that delivers the Rasa-Dhatu nourishment and the throat-coating action without the heat or potassium-flushing risk of stronger preparations.
Yashtimadhu warm-milk preparation
- Take quarter to half a teaspoon (roughly 1 to 2 grams) of Licorice root powder.
- Simmer gently in 200 ml of milk, ideally whole cow's milk, for 5 minutes.
- Add a small pinch of cardamom if Vata is also high.
- Sip warm, ideally an hour before bed or mid-evening when the day's heat has settled.
- Use water instead of milk if you are dairy-intolerant or have heavy Pitta with Kapha congestion.
Dosage and duration
| Form | Dose | When | Anupana |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licorice powder (Yashtimadhu Churna) | 1 to 2 grams | Once daily, evening | Warm milk |
| Decoction (Kashaya) | 30 ml | Twice daily | Warm water with mishri |
| Tea blend (with Coriander) | 1 teaspoon of mix | Mid-morning | Plain |
Run the protocol for 7 to 14 days for post-fever thirst, then stop. Do not exceed two weeks of daily use without practitioner supervision, because Licorice can raise blood pressure and deplete potassium with extended use. Skip Licorice entirely if you have hypertension, congestive heart failure, kidney disease, or are taking diuretics, digoxin, or corticosteroids. Pregnant women should avoid it. For ongoing daily thirst protocols, switch to Coriander cold infusion, which has none of these constraints.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast does Licorice work for excessive thirst?
For post-fever or throat-dryness thirst, the demulcent effect is usually felt within 30 minutes of the warm-milk dose, with the deeper Rasa-Dhatu restoration building over 5 to 10 days. For Pitta-aggravation thirst with burning, expect 3 to 5 days. Stop at two weeks regardless. If thirst persists, that is the signal to get a blood-sugar and electrolyte workup, not to continue self-treating.
I am thirsty even after drinking water. Is Licorice the right choice?
The "hydration paradox" can come from three places. Salt overload and gut heat respond well to Licorice's cooling demulcent action. Tissue depletion after illness, blood loss, or fasting responds beautifully because Yashtimadhu rebuilds Rasa-Dhatu. Osmotic thirst from elevated blood sugar will not respond. Screen for diabetes first if frequent urination is also present.
Does Licorice mess with electrolytes and blood pressure?
Yes, this is the key caveat. Glycyrrhizin in Licorice causes sodium retention and potassium loss, which can raise blood pressure with daily use above 2 grams of root powder for more than two weeks. For thirst protocols, stay below 2 grams daily and cap the course at two weeks. Skip Licorice entirely if you are hypertensive, on diuretics, on digoxin, or pregnant. Coriander or watermelon are safer for long-term daily use.
Licorice vs other herbs for excessive thirst?
Licorice is the throat-coating, tissue-restoring choice, best for post-illness or post-fever thirst with hoarseness. Coriander (Dhanyaka) cold infusion is the safer daily option without blood-pressure risk. Sandalwood (Chandana) is the strongest Pitta-Daha cooler for thirst with burning. Watermelon (Tarbuza) is the food-form choice for summer thirst with low appetite.
Recommended: Start Licorice for Excessive Thirst
If you want to start using Licorice for excessive thirst today, here is the simplest starting point.
Best form: Yashtimadhu Churna in warm milk. Quarter to half a teaspoon of Licorice root powder simmered in 200 ml of warm milk, sipped slowly in the evening. The warm-milk anupana delivers the throat-coating and Rasa-Dhatu-restoring action that water cannot.
Kitchen version: CCF tea plus coconut water plus a pinch of Yashtimadhu. Use the daily Pitta-cooling protocol of Coriander, Cumin, and Fennel tea, add a quarter teaspoon of Licorice powder in the cup, follow with 200 ml of fresh coconut water. This combination handles heat thirst plus tissue depletion in one round.
Cause fork:
- Post-fever or post-illness dryness: Yashtimadhu in warm milk, evenings, for 7 to 10 days.
- Hoarse throat plus thirst: Same protocol with a pinch of cardamom.
- Heat-driven thirst: Licorice plus Coriander cold infusion, midday.
- Diabetic or hypertensive patient: Skip Licorice. Use Coriander or Sandalwood instead.
Find Licorice on Amazon ↗ Rock Sugar (Mishri) ↗
When to skip the herbs and see a doctor: persistent thirst with frequent urination needs a diabetes workup. Severe dehydration, with dizziness or confusion, is an emergency room visit. Thirst with unexplained weight loss needs endocrine evaluation. Skip Licorice entirely if you have hypertension or are pregnant.
Safety & Precautions
Licorice is one of the most-used herbs on earth, but it is also one of the very few Ayurvedic herbs with a well-documented, dose-dependent side-effect profile. The active compound glycyrrhizin is the reason for both its power and its cautions. The good news: nearly all of the risk is avoidable by understanding dose and form.
The Hypertension Warning (Read This First)
Glycyrrhizin inhibits the enzyme 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, which allows cortisol to act on mineralocorticoid receptors. The practical result is pseudoaldosteronism, the body behaves as if aldosterone is elevated. This means:
- Sodium and water retention, blood pressure rises
- Potassium loss through urine, risk of hypokalaemia
- In extreme cases: muscle weakness, arrhythmia, and oedema
Classical Ayurveda describes this directly: Licorice "increases water around the heart" and is contraindicated in hridroga (heart disease) and swelling. Modern cardiology agrees. Do not take therapeutic doses of whole-root Licorice if you have high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, kidney disease, low potassium, or a history of stroke. For any of these, DGL is the safe alternative.
Dose Matters Enormously
The difference between "daily tonic" and "adverse event" is dose and duration:
- Culinary/trace amounts (a piece of root in tea, a lozenge), safe for virtually everyone
- 1-3 g/day of powder, short-term (up to 4-6 weeks), safe for most healthy adults
- Above 3 g/day, or daily for months, real risk of BP elevation and potassium loss, even in previously healthy people
- DGL, no glycyrrhizin, effectively no BP risk at any typical dose
Drug Interactions
Licorice can meaningfully interact with several common medications. If you are on any of the following, consult your doctor before using therapeutic doses:
- Diuretics (especially thiazides and loop diuretics), compounds potassium loss dangerously
- Digoxin, low potassium increases digoxin toxicity risk
- Corticosteroids, Licorice extends their half-life and effect
- Warfarin, may alter bleeding risk
- Blood pressure medication, Licorice directly opposes the drug's action
- Oral contraceptives and hormone therapy, phyto-oestrogenic effect may potentiate
- Insulin and oral hypoglycaemics, Licorice can affect blood sugar in either direction
Pregnancy and Nursing
Classical Ayurveda states plainly: do not use in pregnancy. Modern observational data aligns, high Licorice intake during pregnancy is associated with preterm labour and second-trimester bleeding risk. Small culinary amounts and DGL are likely fine, but therapeutic whole-root use should be avoided. During breastfeeding, small amounts appear safe, but avoid prolonged high-dose use.
Other Cautions
- High Kapha individuals, Licorice's sweet, heavy, moist qualities can aggravate Kapha and worsen oedema, congestion, or sluggishness. Combine with ginger or black pepper to offset.
- Low potassium diet, Licorice increases potassium excretion. Pair with potassium-rich foods (banana, spinach, coconut water).
- Calcium absorption, chronic high-dose use may interfere with calcium absorption; classical texts flag caution in osteoporosis.
- Hypoglycaemia, Licorice can lower blood sugar; take with food if prone.
Signs You Are Taking Too Much
Watery weight gain, puffy face, ankle swelling, muscle weakness or cramps, headaches, and unexplained BP elevation. If any of these appear, stop immediately, effects usually resolve within 1-2 weeks once the herb is discontinued.
Other Herbs for Excessive Thirst
See all herbs for excessive thirst on the Excessive Thirst page.
▶ Classical Text References (5 sources)
Meat juice (Mamsarasa) which is not very thick, Rasala (curds churned and mixed with pepper powder and sugar), Raga (syrup which is sweet, sour and salty) and Khandava (syrup which has all the tastes, prepared with many substances), Panaka panchasara, (syrup prepared with raisins (draksha), madhuka, dates (karjura), kasmarya, and parushaka fruits all in equal quantities, cooled and added with powder of cinnamon leaves, cinnamon and cardamom etc) and kept inside a fresh mud pot, along with leav
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 3: Ritucharya adhyaya Seasonal
117-118 मोचखजूरपनसना रकेलप षकम ् आ ाततालका मयराजादनमधूकजम ् सौवीरबदरा कोलफ गु ले मातको वम ् वातामा भशुका ोडमक ु ू लक नकोचकम ् उ माणं यालं च बं ृहणं गु शीतलम ् दाह त यहरं र त प त सादनम ् वाद ुपाकरसं ि न धं व टि भ कफशु कृत ् Mocha (plantain), kharjura (dates) panasa (jack fruits) narikela (cocoanut ) parusaka amrataka , tala, kasmarya, rajadana, madhuka, badara, ankola, phalgu, slesmataka, vatama, abhisuka, aksoda, mukulaka, nikocaka, urumanam, and priyala make the body stout, not easily di
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 6: Annaswaroopa Food
Similarly so, are Madhuka – Licorice – Glycyrrhiza glabra) and Mrdvika (grapes) Madhuka and dry grapes – both have similar qualities.
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 9: Dravyadi Vigyaniya
Similarly so, are Madhuka – Licorice – Glycyrrhiza glabra) and Mrdvika (grapes) Madhuka and dry grapes – both have similar qualities.
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 9: Dravyadi Vigyaniya
But dry grape has mild purgative action, but Madhuka does not.
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 9: Dravyadi Vigyaniya
, 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, Chapter 10: Rasabhediyam Tastes, Their
, 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, Chapter 10: Rasabhediyam Tastes, Their
It usually contains Madanaphala (Randia spinosa), Licorice etc.
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 18: Vamana Virechana Vidhi
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, Chapter 20: Nasya Vidhi Nasal
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
Herbal smoking blends – Dhuma dravyani – For Mridu- mild kind of smoke, म ृदौ त या यगु गु गुलु मु त थौणेयशैलेयनलदोशीरवालकम ् वय गकौ तीमधुक ब वम जैलवालुकम ् ीवे टकं सजरसो यामकं मदनं लवम ् श लक कुं कुमं माषा यवाः कु द ु काि तलाः नेहः फलानां साराणां मेदो म जा वसा घ ृतम ् useful drugs are-Aguru, Guggulu, Musta, sthauneya, Shaileya, Nalada, Usheera, Valaka, Varanga, Kounti, Madhuka, Bilvamajja, elavaluka, Shrivestaka, Sarjarasa, Dhyamaka, Madana, Plava, Shallaki, Kumkuma, Masha, Yava, Kunduruk
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 21: Dhumpana Medicated Smoking
For Greeshma (summer) – कुमुदो पलक हारद ुवामधुकच दनम ् Kumuda, Utpala, Kalhara, Durva, Madhuka and Chandana (Sandalwood).
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 22: Gandushadi Vidhi Gargles
the ulcer should be covered with cotton swab soaked in a mixture of honey, melted ghee, Anjana – Srotonjana, ash of Ksyauma (flax), Phalini, fruit of Shallaki, Rodhra and Madhuka; then bandaging and other measures done as described previously.
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 29: Shastrakarma Vidhi
If the site of the burn does not get torn from an ulcer because of being deep rooted, then a paste of seed of Dhanyamala-(sour gruel), Yashti (licorice) and tila (sesame) should be applied; तलक क: समधुको घ ृता ता णरोपण: । Paste of tila (sesame), and Madhuka mixed with ghee heals the ulcer.
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 30: Kshar-AgniKarma Vidhi
If the site of the burn does not get torn from an ulcer because of being deep rooted, then a paste of seed of Dhanyamala-(sour gruel), Yashti (licorice) and tila (sesame) should be applied; तलक क: समधुको घ ृता ता णरोपण: । Paste of tila (sesame), and Madhuka mixed with ghee heals the ulcer.
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 30: Kshar-AgniKarma Vidhi
Source: Astanga Hridaya, Ch. 3, Ch. 6, Ch. 9, Ch. 9, Ch. 9, Ch. 10, Ch. 10, Ch. 18, Ch. 20, Ch. 21, Ch. 21, Ch. 22, Ch. 29, Ch. 30, Ch. 30
Similarly so, are Madhuka – Licorice – Glycyrrhiza glabra) and Mrdvika (grapes) Madhuka and dry grapes – both have similar qualities.
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Dravyadi Vigyaniya
, 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
It usually contains Madanaphala (Randia spinosa), Licorice etc.
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Vamana Virechana Vidhi
Sita, Yasthimadhu (licorice), Suvarnatwak, Padmaka, Raktayastika Kustha, tagara and other scents – perfumeries.
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Dhumpana Medicated Smoking
If the site of the burn does not get torn from an ulcer because of being deep rooted, then a paste of seed of Dhanyamala-(sour gruel), Yashti (licorice) and tila (sesame) should be applied;
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Kshar-AgniKarma Vidhi
Source: Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Dravyadi Vigyaniya; Rasabhediyam Tastes, Their; Vamana Virechana Vidhi; Dhumpana Medicated Smoking; Kshar-AgniKarma Vidhi
[249] Sauviranjana, tuttha, tapya-dhatu (maksika), manahshila, chaksushya (variety of kulattha), madhuka (Licorice – Glycyrrhiza glabra), loha bhasma(iron), precious stones, pushpanjana, saindhava, tusk of boar, kataka – strychnos potatorum may be used in the form of either powder or varti as collyrium which is excellent remedies for timira (cataract) and such other eye-diseases.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)
[278 ½- 279½] Recipe for restoration of hair: Application of the paste of tila – sesame (Sesamum indicum), amalaki – Phyllanthus emblica, kinjalka, madhuka– Licorice – Glycyrrhiza glabra and honey over the head restores the color of hair, and promotes hair growth.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)
Source: Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)
Also: Murva (Marsdenia tenacissima), Madhurasa/Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra — licorice), Danti (Baliospermum montanum), Pushkara Moola (Inula racemosa), Bala (Sida cordifolia), Atibala (Abutilon indicum), Kapikacchu (Mucuna pruriens), and Trikantaka/Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 10: Asavarishta-Sandhanakalpana (Fermented Preparations)
The famous Dashanga Lepa (ten-ingredient paste) is made from: Shirisha (Albizia lebbeck), Madhuyashti (Glycyrrhiza glabra, licorice), Tagara (Valeriana wallichii), Rakta Chandana (red sandalwood, Pterocarpus santalinus), Ela (Elettaria cardamomum, cardamom), Mansi (Nardostachys jatamansi, spikenard), Nisha Yugma (Curcuma longa and Berberis aristata), Kushtha (Saussurea lappa), and Balaka (Pavonia odorata).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)
By applying a paste of Yashti (licorice, Glycyrrhiza glabra), Indivara (blue lotus, Nymphaea stellata), Mridvika (raisins, Vitis vinifera), sesame oil, and ghee, Indralupta (alopecia areata) is cured and the hair becomes dense and strong.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)
This nourishing paste combines the anti-inflammatory licorice with cooling blue lotus and nutritive raisins in an oil-ghee base.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)
A paste of Rasna (Pluchea lanceolata), Nilotpala (blue lotus, Nymphaea stellata), Daru (Cedrus deodara), Chandana (sandalwood, Santalum album), Madhuka (licorice, Glycyrrhiza glabra), and Bala (Sida cordifolia), mixed with ghee and decoction -- this destroys Vata-type Visarpa (erysipelas/herpes).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)
Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 10: Asavarishta-Sandhanakalpana (Fermented Preparations); Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)
The intense pain caused by the fall of the surgical instrument on the body is pacified by irrigation with warm ghee mixed with Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra / licorice) (42).
— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 5: Agropaharaniya Adhyaya - Surgical Instruments and Procedures
Key principles: (1) Only close clean wounds, (2) Post-op lifestyle restrictions, (3) Seasonal adjustment of wound care frequency, (4) Emergency exceptions to protocol, (5) Warm ghee with licorice for post-surgical pain — licorice has proven anti-inflammatory properties.
— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 5: Agropaharaniya Adhyaya - Surgical Instruments and Procedures
Milk boiled with saindhava (rock salt), udicya, yashtimadhu (licorice), and pippali (long pepper), reduced to half — is beneficial for irrigation (seka) and also for ashchyotana (eye drops).
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 9: Vatabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Vata-type Conjunctivitis)
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)
Draksha (grapes), audra, chandana (sandalwood), yashtimadhu (licorice), yoshit-tira, and rajyanka — ground to a paste with ghee, these are recommended for tarpana (eye nourishment), seka (irrigation), and nasya (nasal therapy).
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 10: Pittabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Pitta-type Conjunctivitis)
Source: Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 5: Agropaharaniya Adhyaya - Surgical Instruments and Procedures; Uttara Tantra, Chapter 9: Vatabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Vata-type Conjunctivitis); Uttara Tantra, Chapter 10: Pittabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Pitta-type Conjunctivitis)
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.