Licorice for Tooth Disorders: Does It Work?
Does Licorice (Yashtimadhu) help with tooth disorders (Danta Roga)? Yes, in a specific and useful way that the better-known dental herbs miss. Where neem scrubs plaque and cloves numb pain, Licorice nourishes and soothes. It is the gum-healer of the Ayurvedic toolkit, the herb that calms a hot, bleeding, ulcerated mouth and helps damaged mucosa knit itself back together.
Classical Ayurveda gives Yashtimadhu a sweet and slightly bitter taste (Madhura and Tikta Rasa), a cold potency (Sheeta Virya) and an unctuous quality. Bhavaprakash Nighantu lists its karmas as Vrana Ropana (wound healing), Shothahara (anti-inflammatory), Pitta Shamaka (pacifies Pitta), and Kanthya (throat soothing). These are exactly the actions a hot, bleeding, ulcerated mouth needs. Astanga Hridaya places Madhuka among the cooling group herbs used in Gandusha (medicated mouth rinse) and external pastes for inflamed wounds.
Licorice fits best on Pitta patterns of tooth disorder, hot bleeding gums, mouth ulcers near the gum line, post-extraction healing, and the burning sensitivity that follows enamel erosion (Kapalika). It also helps Vata dry sensitive teeth because of its moistening sweet taste. For thick Kapha plaque it is a poor solo choice and should be paired with neem.
How Licorice Helps with Tooth Disorders
The Ayurvedic logic for using Licorice on tooth disorders sits at the intersection of three properties: sweet taste (Madhura Rasa), cold potency (Sheeta Virya), and unctuous moistening quality. None of these are the obvious mouth-care properties most people expect. They are exactly what an inflamed, ulcerated, hot mouth needs in order to heal.
For Pitta bleeding gums (Raktaja and Pittaja Dantaveshta), Yashtimadhu's primary action is Pitta Shamaka, pacifying the inflamed, heat-driven gum margin. The cold potency calms the burning sensation, the sweet taste rebuilds the irritated mucosal lining, and the Shothahara action reduces the local swelling. Bhavaprakash Nighantu categorises this exact combination as the standard treatment for hot, ulcerated, bleeding tissue anywhere in the body.
For mouth ulcers and gum erosions near the teeth, the Vrana Ropana action, wound healing, is the most important karma. Glycyrrhizin and its metabolite glycyrrhetinic acid are documented to accelerate mucosal repair, inhibit prostaglandin-driven inflammation and shield the underlying tissue from further acid erosion. This is the same compound that gives licorice its well-known action on gastric ulcers, transposed onto the mucosa of the mouth.
For Vata dry, sensitive, receding-gum patterns, the unctuous and sweet quality is moistening and rebuilding where neem or babool alone would worsen the dryness. Astanga Hridaya recognises Madhuka as a Brimhana (nourishing) drug, which is the rationale for adding licorice to formulations meant to rebuild thin or dry tissue.
Modern phytochemistry adds three notes that line up with the classical pattern. First, licorice extract inhibits Streptococcus mutans, the main cavity-causing bacterium, at concentrations easily reached with a gargle. Second, glycyrrhizin is anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer through documented action on cortisol metabolism in mucosal tissue. Third, licorice has demonstrated activity against the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis. The classical karmas of Vrana Ropana and Pitta Shamaka map directly onto these pharmacological actions.
How to Use Licorice for Tooth Disorders
For tooth disorders, Licorice works best as a slow-contact preparation: gargle, paste, or chewed root, anything that keeps the sweet and soothing extract on the inflamed gum for at least thirty seconds. Capsules taken for systemic use do almost nothing for dental tissue.
1. Licorice Mouth Rinse (Kavala)
Boil 1 teaspoon of dried licorice root (Yashtimadhu) in 1.5 cups of water for 10 minutes until reduced to about 1 cup. Strain, cool to warm. Hold and swish in the mouth for 30 to 60 seconds, three times a day. Especially useful for hot bleeding gums, mouth ulcers and post-extraction soreness.
2. Licorice Tooth Paste / Powder
Mix equal parts licorice powder, neem powder and a small pinch of rock salt. Add enough water to make a fingertip paste. Massage gently into the gum margin once a day, leave for two minutes, then rinse. The sweet taste is unusual but the gum response is fast.
3. Chewed Licorice Stick
Take a small piece of dried licorice root, about 5 cm. Chew the end into a frayed brush and use it like a Datuna for gentle gum massage. The released glycyrrhizin coats the tissue directly. Discard after one use, replace daily.
4. Licorice and Sesame Oil Pulling (Gandusha)
Mix half a teaspoon of licorice powder into 1 tablespoon of warm sesame oil. Swish slowly in the mouth for 5 to 10 minutes, spit out, rinse with warm water. Once daily on an empty stomach. Excellent for dry, sensitive, receding-gum patterns.
Dosage Reference
| Form | Dose | Anupana / Use | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licorice mouth rinse | 1 cup decoction, 3x/day, 30–60 sec swish | Warm water, plain | Pitta bleeding, mouth ulcers |
| Licorice + neem tooth paste | Fingertip paste, 1x/day | With rock salt | Gum margin care, daily use |
| Chewed licorice stick | 1 stick (5 cm), once daily | Saliva (direct chew) | Gum massage, sensitive teeth |
| Licorice + sesame oil pulling | 0.5 tsp powder in 1 tbsp oil, 5–10 min | Sesame oil carrier | Vata dry teeth, post-extraction |
Cautions
Internal long-term use of licorice can raise blood pressure and cause potassium loss through its effect on cortisol metabolism. For dental use, mouth rinses and pastes spat out after use are safe at the doses above. Avoid daily systemic licorice supplements in pregnancy, in hypertension, or in chronic kidney disease. The dental routes are localised and generally well tolerated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Licorice really help bleeding gums?
Yes, especially in Pitta patterns where the gums are red, hot, and bleed easily on brushing. The sweet and cooling action of Yashtimadhu calms the inflamed gum margin, while glycyrrhizin reduces the inflammatory cascade that drives the bleeding. Most people see meaningful improvement within one to two weeks of daily mouth rinses.
Is Licorice safe to use in the mouth every day?
For local mouth use, yes, the doses you spit out are tiny. The concern with licorice is systemic, glycyrrhizin can raise blood pressure and lower potassium when swallowed in large daily doses over months. A mouth rinse, paste or chewed stick where you spit afterwards is safe even for long use. Avoid swallowing concentrated licorice extract daily if you have hypertension.
Licorice vs Cloves for tooth disorders, which is better?
Different jobs entirely. Cloves are the fast pain-killer for sharp Vata tooth pain and the antimicrobial for active cavities. Licorice is the gum-healer for hot, bleeding, ulcerated Pitta patterns and for post-procedure healing. In a mouth with both pain and bleeding, the two herbs are often combined: clove for the tooth, licorice for the gum.
Will Licorice prevent cavities?
Partially. Licorice extract inhibits Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis, two key cavity and gum disease pathogens, but it is not as broadly antimicrobial as neem or peelu. The best cavity-prevention routine pairs licorice for gum healing with neem or peelu for plaque control.
Recommended: Start Licorice for Tooth Disorders
If you want to start using Licorice for tooth disorders today, the highest-yield move is a twice-daily licorice and neem mouth rinse. This single change addresses both the inflamed-gum and the plaque sides of dental disease, and it works in two to three weeks for most people with mild to moderate gum inflammation.
Best Form
For active bleeding gums and mouth ulcers, a warm licorice decoction held in the mouth for 30 to 60 seconds three times a day. For daily prevention, a licorice and neem tooth powder used with a soft brush morning and night. For dry sensitive teeth, licorice powder mixed into warm sesame oil and used for oil pulling (Gandusha).
Kitchen Version
If you have a piece of dried licorice root in the kitchen, simmer 1 teaspoon of root chips in 1.5 cups of water for 10 minutes, strain, cool, and use as a mouth rinse. The decoction keeps for 24 hours in the fridge. No special equipment needed.
Dosha Fork
If your tooth pattern is Pitta-dominant (bleeding gums, hot pain, ulcers, post-extraction healing), licorice is the ideal match, use it plain. If Vata (dry sensitive teeth, receding gums), combine with sesame oil pulling. If Kapha (thick plaque, swollen boggy gums, bad breath), licorice alone is not enough, combine with neem and clove.
Find Licorice on Amazon ↗ Licorice Tooth Powder ↗
When to See a Dentist Anyway
Licorice supports gum healing; it does not drain abscesses or repair cavities. If you have facial swelling, fever, pus, throbbing pain that wakes you at night, or gums that bleed continuously for more than three weeks despite consistent care, see a dentist within a few days. Untreated dental abscesses can spread to facial spaces and become a true emergency.
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 Tooth Disorders
See all herbs for tooth disorders on the Tooth Disorders 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.