Ayurvedic Properties
- Taste (Rasa)
- Astringent (Kashaya), Sweet (Madhura)
- Quality (Guna)
- Heavy (Guru), Unctuous (Snigdha)
- Potency (Virya)
- Cold (Sheeta)
- Post-digestive (Vipaka)
- Sweet (Madhura)
- Key Constituents
- Catechutannic acid, Tannins, Mucilage
- Also Known As
- English: Silk Cotton Gum, Mochras
Sanskrit: मोचरस, शाल्मलीनिर्यास, पिच्छा
Hindi: मोचरस
What is Mocharas?
Cut into the bark of the silk cotton tree and it weeps a yellowish-brown gum. That gum, called Mocharas (Mocharasa), is one of Ayurveda's most trusted binding remedies, the kind classical physicians reached for when the body was losing too much, whether through loose stools or bleeding.
In English it is known as Silk Cotton Gum or Mochras. It comes from the silk cotton tree (Shalmali), recorded botanically as Bombax malabaricum DC. and in the Sahasra Yoga drug index as Salmalia malabarica Schott & Endl.
The Bhavaprakash Nighantu describes it separately from the tree because of its specific therapeutic importance. Drop it into water and it dissolves into a slippery, mucilaginous solution, a soothing (demulcent) quality that sits alongside its strong astringency.
Benefits of Mocharas
Mocharas tastes astringent (Kashaya) and sweet (Madhura). It is heavy (Guru) and unctuous (Snigdha), cooling in potency (Sheeta Virya), and sweet after digestion (Madhura Vipaka). That profile explains almost everything it is used for: it holds things in and cools.
Diarrhea and Dysentery
The Bhavaprakash Nighantu calls Mocharas one of the best drugs for diarrhea (Atisara) and dysentery (Pravahika). Its actions are absorbent (Grahi), meaning it dries excess fluid in the gut, and binding (Stambhana), meaning it checks loss.
Combined with honey and the juice of Mocharasa (Bombax ceiba gum), it removes all types of Atisara (diarrhea).
Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 1
Bleeding Disorders
The same text names Mocharas among the best remedies for bleeding disorders (Raktapitta), and lists it as alleviating bleeding (Raktapittahara). Its cooling, astringent nature balances Pitta, the dosha of heat that Ayurveda links to bleeding.
Hemorrhoids
The Charaka Samhita includes Mocharas in several hemorrhoid preparations in Chikitsa Sthana, Chapter 14, for example as a powder taken with goat milk alongside lotus, sandalwood, sesame and lodhra.
Women's Health
In Chikitsa Sthana, Chapter 30, on gynecological disorders, Charaka lists Mocharas in a locally applied paste with palasha bark, jambu bark and dhataki flowers, and in a larger compound of astringent herbs.
Male Vitality
The Bhavaprakash Nighantu also describes Mocharas as an aphrodisiac (Vrishya) used in seminal debility, consistent with its sweet, heavy, nourishing qualities.
How to Use Mocharas
Mocharas is a gum, so it is usually powdered or dissolved. The Bhavaprakash Nighantu gives the dose as 1 to 2 masha, a small classical unit of weight.
| Form | Dose | Best For | When to Take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gum powder | 1 to 2 masha (classical dose) | Diarrhea, dysentery, bleeding | As directed by a practitioner |
| With honey | As set by a practitioner | Diarrhea | As directed |
| Powder in a compound, with goat milk | As set by a practitioner | Hemorrhoids | As directed |
| Paste, applied locally | As set by a practitioner | Gynecological complaints | External use |
The vehicle (anupana) matters: the Sharangadhara Samhita pairs it with honey for diarrhea, and the Charaka Samhita uses goat milk in a hemorrhoid formula. In classical practice it most often appears in combination with other astringent herbs rather than alone.
Safety & Side Effects
Our classical sources record no specific contraindications, drug interactions or overdose signs for Mocharas. That reflects a gap in the data, not a guarantee of safety.
Its actions do suggest where to be careful. Mocharas is binding and absorbent, designed to stop loss. In Ayurvedic reasoning, a strongly binding substance is not something to take when you are constipated, and it is heavy, which can sit poorly when digestion is weak.
Diarrhea with high fever or blood, and any unexplained bleeding, need medical assessment first. If you are pregnant, nursing, treating a child, or taking any medication, speak with a qualified practitioner or doctor before using it.
Recommended: Start Here
If you want to try Mocharas, the simplest classical path is the one the Sharangadhara Samhita records for diarrhea: the gum taken with honey. The Bhavaprakash Nighantu sets the dose at 1 to 2 masha, a small classical weight, and a practitioner can translate that into a measured amount for you.
If your concern is bleeding rather than digestion, read our bleeding disorders page first, and see a doctor about the cause before reaching for any remedy.
Find Mocharas Powder on Amazon ↗ Silk Cotton Gum ↗
Safety note: Mocharas is strongly binding, so avoid it when constipated, and check with a practitioner if you are pregnant, nursing or on medication.
Mocharas vs Other Herbs & Supplements
Our sources do not rank Mocharas head to head against other herbs, but they do set out the practical choices you face with it.
| Comparison | Mocharas | Alternative | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mocharas vs the silk cotton tree | The gum, described separately for its therapeutic importance | The tree itself (Shalmali) | For diarrhea, dysentery and bleeding, the classical text singles out the gum. |
| Alone vs in formulas | Can be taken with honey for diarrhea | Compound formulas in Charaka and Sharangadhara | Classical texts mostly use it in combinations; a practitioner can choose the right one. |
| Internal vs external | Powder taken by mouth | Paste applied locally | Charaka uses both, internal for hemorrhoids and local paste in gynecological care. |
Mocharas for Specific Populations
Our sources give no population-specific guidance for Mocharas, so the advice here leans on caution.
Pregnancy & Nursing
No safety information is recorded for pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid self-use and ask a qualified practitioner.
Children
Diarrhea in children can turn serious quickly through fluid loss. Seek medical care first, and use Mocharas only if a practitioner sets a dose.
Elderly
Older adults prone to constipation should be careful with a strongly binding remedy, and its heaviness may not suit weak digestion.
Athletes
The Bhavaprakash Nighantu lists Mocharas as an aphrodisiac (Vrishya), but our sources record no use for strength, stamina or recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mocharas made from?
It is the gum that seeps from the bark of the silk cotton tree (Shalmali) when the bark is cut. It is yellowish-brown and dissolves in water to form a mucilaginous solution.
Why is Mocharas used for diarrhea?
It is astringent, absorbent (Grahi) and binding (Stambhana). The Bhavaprakash Nighantu calls it one of the best drugs for diarrhea and dysentery.
Is Mocharas cooling?
Yes. It is cooling in potency (Sheeta Virya) and balances Pitta, which is why it is also used for bleeding disorders.
What does Mocharas contain?
Our data lists catechutannic acid, tannins and mucilage. The tannins fit its astringent taste, and the mucilage its soothing quality.
Which classical texts mention Mocharas?
It appears in the Bhavaprakash Nighantu, the Charaka Samhita (hemorrhoid and gynecological chapters), the Sharangadhara Samhita, and the Sushruta Samhita, which lists it in the Priyangvadi group of herbs.
How to Use Mocharas by Condition
Explore how Mocharas is used for specific health concerns — with dosage, preparation methods, and classical references for each.
▶ Classical Text References (3 sources)
References in Charaka Samhita
To this, the powders of mocharasa, (one pala), samanga (one pala) Phalini (one pala) and seeds of kutaja (Holarrhina antidysenterica) (three palas) should be added and boiled again till it becomes semi-solid and till it sticks to the stirring spoon.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 14: Hemorrhoids Treatment (Arsha Chikitsa / अर्शचिकित्सा)
Powder of nilotpala (Nelumbo nucifera), samanga, mocharasa, chandan (Santalum album),, tila (Sesamum indicum) and lodhra (Symplocus racemosa) should be taken along with goat-milk.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 14: Hemorrhoids Treatment (Arsha Chikitsa / अर्शचिकित्सा)
In this decoction jivanti, kutaki, pippali, pippalimoola, nagara, devadaru, indrajava, Flower of shalmali, shatavari, rakta chandana, utpala, katphala, chitraka, musta, priyangu, ativisha, sarivan, pollens of padma, utpala, majitha bhatakataiya, bilva, mocharasa and patha.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 14: Hemorrhoids Treatment (Arsha Chikitsa / अर्शचिकित्सा)
Patha, kernel of jamun, kernel of mango, shilabheda, rasanjana, ambashtha, mocharasa, lajjalu, bark of kutaja, kesara, ativisha, bilva, musta, lodhra, gairika, aralu, maricha, shunthi, mridvika, red sandal, katphala, indrayava, ananta, dhataki, madhuka and arjuna all these drugs should be collected in pushya constellation in equal quantity.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 30: Gynecological Disorders Treatment (Yonivyapat Chikitsa / योनिव्यापत्चिकित्सा)
A paste of bark of palasha, sarja, bark of jambu, lajjalu, mocharasa, flower of dhataki should be applied locally.
— 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 30: Gynecological Disorders Treatment (Yonivyapat Chikitsa / योनिव्यापत्चिकित्सा)
References in Sharangadhara Samhita
Combined with honey and the juice of Mocharasa (Bombax ceiba gum), it removes all types of Atisara (diarrhea).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 1: Svarasadikalpana (Svarasa, Kalka, Kvatha, etc.)
The powders to add are: Rasanjana (extract of Berberis aristata), Mocharasa (Bombax ceiba gum resin), Trikatu — Shunthi (Zingiber officinale), Maricha (Piper nigrum), Pippali (Piper longum) — Triphala — Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Bibhitaka (Terminalia bellirica), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis) — Lajjalu (Mimosa pudica), Chitraka (Plumbago zeylanica), Patha (Cissampelos pareira), Bilva (Aegle marmelos), Indrayava (Holarrhena antidysenterica seeds), and Tvak (Cinnamomum zeylanicum).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 8: Avalehakalpana (Confection/Electuary Preparations)
Also: Lajjalu (Mimosa pudica), Dhataki (Woodfordia fruticosa), Bilva (Aegle marmelos), Patha (Cissampelos pareira), Mocharasa (Bombax ceiba resin), Musta (Cyperus rotundus), and Ativisha (Aconitum heterophyllum) — each one Pala (approx.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 8: Avalehakalpana (Confection/Electuary Preparations)
Lajjalu (Mimosa pudica), Dhataki (Woodfordia fruticosa), Bilva (Aegle marmelos), Patha (Cissampelos pareira), Mocharasa (Bombax ceiba resin), Musta (Cyperus rotundus), and Ativisha (Aconitum heterophyllum) — each one Pala (approx.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 8: Avalehakalpana (Confection/Electuary Preparations)
Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 1: Svarasadikalpana (Svarasa, Kalka, Kvatha, etc.); Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 8: Avalehakalpana (Confection/Electuary Preparations)
References in Sushruta Samhita
The Priyangvadi Gana consists of: priyangu, samajña, dhataki, punnaga, nagapushpa, chandana, kuchandan, mocharasa, sanjana, kumbhi, kastotoja, padmakesara, yojanavalli, and dirghamula (verse 45).
— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 38: Dravyasangrahaniya Adhyaya - On the Collection of Drugs
The Priyangvadi Gana consists of: priyangu, samajña, dhataki, punnaga, nagapushpa, chandana, kuchandan, mocharasa, sanjana, kumbhi, kastotoja, padmakesara, yojanavalli, and dirghamula (verse 45).
— Sushruta Samhita, Dravyasangrahaniya Adhyaya - On the Collection of Drugs
Source: Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 38: Dravyasangrahaniya Adhyaya - On the Collection of Drugs; Dravyasangrahaniya Adhyaya - On the Collection of Drugs
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.