Ayurvedic Properties
- Taste (Rasa)
- Bitter (Tikta), Pungent (Katu), Astringent (Kashaya)
- Quality (Guna)
- Light (Laghu), Dry (Ruksha)
- Potency (Virya)
- Cold (Sheeta)
- Post-digestive (Vipaka)
- Pungent (Katu)
- Key Constituents
- Cyperene, Cyperol, Cyperotundone, Essential oil, Alpha-cyperone, Sesquiterpenes
- Also Known As
- English: Nut Grass, Cyperus
Sanskrit: मुस्तक, मुस्ता, कुराल, वारिद, मेघाह्व, गुण्डूका
Hindi: मोथा, नागरमोथा
Overview
Musta (Cyperus rotundus), commonly known as Nutgrass and called Xiang Fu in Chinese medicine, is the Indian variety of the common nutgrass found in most marshy areas and river bottoms. Its rhizome has a pungent, bitter, and astringent rasa, cooling virya, and pungent vipaka. With energetics of PK- V+ (in excess), it pacifies Pitta and Kapha while potentially aggravating Vata in excess.
Musta acts on the plasma, blood, muscle, and marrow and nerve tissues, primarily influencing the digestive, circulatory, and female reproductive systems. Its actions include stimulant, carminative, astringent, alterative, emmenagogue, antispasmodic, and anthelmintic properties. It is one of the most important herbs for treating female disorders, relieving menstrual pain, dispelling premenstrual congestion of blood and water, and serving as one of the most effective menstrual regulators.
Musta is also one of the best digestive stimulants for Pitta constitution and an effective stimulant for the liver. It improves absorption in the small intestine, stops diarrhea, and helps destroy parasites. It should be avoided in cases of constipation or high Vata.
Musta is typically prepared as a decoction (low simmer) or powder (250 mg to 1 g).
Source: The Yoga of Herbs, Section B: Special Oriental/Ayurvedic Herbs
Ayurvedic Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Rasa (taste) | Pungent, bitter, astringent |
| Vīrya (energy) | Cooling |
| Vipāka (post-digestive) | Pungent |
| Guṇa (quality) | Light, dry |
| Doṣa effect | Dos.aHIIHFW3.ï9 |
| Dhātu (tissue) | Plasma, blood, muscle, nerve |
| Srotas (channel) | Digestive, circulatory, female reproductive |
Therapeutic Actions
- Dı-panı-ya: Enkindles digestion
- Pacanı-ya: Digests undigested food
- Amapa-cana: Digests toxins Śu-lapraśamana Alleviates intestinal spasms and pain Purı-s.asam . grahan.ı̄ya Stoolforming, stops diarrhoea
- Lekhanı-ya: Reduces accumulations
- Kan. .du-ghna: Stops itching
- Kus.t.ha: Benefits skin diseases
- A-rtavajanana: Promotes menses Stanyaśodhana Purifies breast milk
- Jantuhara: Vermifuge
- Jvarahara: Alleviates fevers
- Svedana: Diaphoretic
- Biomedical: Carminative, emmenagogue, galactagogue, cholagogue, alterative, astringent, antispasmodic, anthelmintic, analgesic, aromatic, diaphoretic, febrifuge
Dosage & Combinations
Dosage: 0.5–12g per day or 3–15ml of a 1:3 @ 25% tincture. Fever It directly treats all the causes of fever: low agni, ama and excess pitta in the rasa dhatu. Its diaphoretic effect can be very useful for clearing ama and excess heat from the plasma and blood while also rectifying the digestive fire (Gogte 2000).
Safety & Contraindications
Contraindications: Do not use a high dose in excessive vata aggravation as it can be; too drying
Safety: No drug–herb interactions are known. Chapter 6 PLANT PROFILES
How to Use Nut Grass by Condition
Explore how Nut Grass is used for specific health concerns — with dosage, preparation methods, and classical references for each.
▶ Classical Text References (5 sources)
References in Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan
) or water mixed with honey, or water boiled with jalada (musta – Nut grass).
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Ritucharya adhyaya Seasonal
Tikta Gana – group of bitters :त तः पदोल ाय ती वालकोशीर च दनम ् भू न ब न ब कटुका तगरा गु व सकम ् न तमाला वरजनी मु त मूवाट पकम पाठापामागकां यायोगुडू चध वयासकम ् प चमल ू ं महा या यौ वशाल अ त वषावचा Patoli, Trayanti – Gentiana kurroa, Valaka, Usira – Vetiveria zizanioides, Chandana – Sandalwood, Bhunimba – The creat (whole plant) – Andrographis paniculata, Nimba – Neem – Azadirachta indica, Katuka – Picrorhiza kurroa, Tagara – Indian Valerian (root) – Valeriana wallichi, Aguru, Vatsaka – Hol
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Rasabhediyam Tastes, Their
Source: Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Ritucharya adhyaya Seasonal; Rasabhediyam Tastes, Their
References in Charaka Samhita
The 500 ml of milk prepared with paste of 10 gm each punarnava, dried ginger and mustaka;
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 12: Edema Treatment (Shvayathu Chikitsa / श्वयथुचिकित्सा)
Take 40 gm fine powder each of svarajjikā and yava-kshara, four varieties of salt, iron bhasma, trikatu, triphala, pippalimula, pealed seeds of vidanga, mustaka, ajamodā, devadāru, bilva, indrayava, root of chitraka, pāthā, ativishā and liquorice;
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 12: Edema Treatment (Shvayathu Chikitsa / श्वयथुचिकित्सा)
Take kuṣṭha, aguru, devadāru, kaunti, cinnamon, padmaka, cardamom, sugandhabālā, palāśa, mustaka, priyangu, thauneyaka, nāgakeśara, jatāmāmsi, tālisapatra, plava, tejapatra, coriander, sriveshtaka, dhyāmaka, piper longum, sprikkā and nakha.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 12: Edema Treatment (Shvayathu Chikitsa / श्वयथुचिकित्सा)
The poisons of the immobile (earthen and plant) origin are: the roots (including rhizomes) of mustaka, puskara, kraunca, vatsanabha (Aconitum ferox), balahaka, karkata, kalakuta, karavira (Nerium indicum / Cerbera thevetia), palaka, indrayudha taila, meghaka, kusa-puspaka, rohisa, pundarika, langalaki (Gloriosa superb), anjanabhaka, sankoca, markata, sringi-visa, halahala, and such other poisonous roots.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 23: Poison Treatment (Visha Chikitsa / विषचिकित्सा)
[190-191] (pippali, pippalimula, chavya, chitraka, nagara), talisapatra, ela, maricha, twak, alkali of palasa, mustaka and yavaksara.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)
Source: Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 12: Edema Treatment (Shvayathu Chikitsa / श्वयथुचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 23: Poison Treatment (Visha Chikitsa / विषचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)
References in Sharangadhara Samhita
Patoladi Kvatha: Patola (Trichosanthes dioica), Madhuka (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Triphala, Katuka (Picrorhiza kurroa), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Mustaka (Cyperus rotundus), Parpata (Fumaria indica), and the two types of Chandana (red and white sandalwood) — these should be decocted in water.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 1: Svarasadikalpana (Svarasa, Kalka, Kvatha, etc.)
Triphala, Mustaka (Cyperus rotundus), Khadira (Acacia catechu), Nimba (Azadirachta indica), the two Haridras (turmeric and tree turmeric), Patola (Trichosanthes dioica), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Katuka (Picrorhiza kurroa), and Vidanga (Embelia ribes) — this decoction destroys Kushtha (skin diseases).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 2: Kvathakalpana (Decoction Preparations)
Avipattikar Churna: Shunthi (dry ginger — Zingiber officinale), Maricha (black pepper — Piper nigrum), Pippali (long pepper — Piper longum), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Vibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Mustaka (Cyperus rotundus), Vidanga (Embelia ribes), and Sharkara (sugar) —.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 3: Churnakalpana (Powder Preparations)
Trivrit (Operculina turpethum), Svarnapatri (Cassia angustifolia, senna), Mustaka (Cyperus rotundus), Madhuka (Glycyrrhiza glabra, licorice), Bala (Sida cordifolia), both Haridras (turmeric and daruharidra), Nagara (Zingiber officinale, dry ginger), Triphala, and Katurohi (Picrorhiza kurroa).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 18: Brain Tremor / Parkinsonism (Mastishka Vepana)
Trivrit (Operculina turpethum), Svarnapatri (Cassia angustifolia, senna), Mustaka (Cyperus rotundus), Madhuka (Glycyrrhiza glabra, licorice), Bala (Sida cordifolia), both Haridras (turmeric and daruharidra), Nagara (Zingiber officinale, dry ginger), Triphala, and Katurohi (Picrorhiza kurroa).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 17: Brain Tremor / Parkinsonism (Mastishka Vepana)
Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 1: Svarasadikalpana (Svarasa, Kalka, Kvatha, etc.); Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 2: Kvathakalpana (Decoction Preparations); Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 3: Churnakalpana (Powder Preparations); Parishishtam, Chapter 18: Brain Tremor / Parkinsonism (Mastishka Vepana); Parishishtam, Chapter 17: Brain Tremor / Parkinsonism (Mastishka Vepana)
References in Sushruta Samhita
Musta (nut grass), phena (coral calcium), sea utpala (lotus), krimi (worm-wood), ela (cardamom), amalaki seeds, talisha, shaila (rock), gairika (red ochre), ushira (vetiver), and shankha (conch) — these ground with breast milk make the anjana.
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 10: Pittabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Pitta-type Conjunctivitis)
Mahaushada (ginger), pippali (long pepper), musta (nut grass), saindhava (rock salt), and white maricha (pepper) — ground with matulunga (citron) juice — this eye anjana quickly destroys pishtaka (paste-like eye lesion).
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 11: Kaphabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Kapha-type Conjunctivitis)
Source: Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 10: Pittabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Pitta-type Conjunctivitis); Uttara Tantra, Chapter 11: Kaphabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Kapha-type Conjunctivitis)
References in Sushruta Samhita
Kala-kuta, Vatsa-nabha, Sarshapaka, Palaka, Kardamaka, Vairataka, Mustaka, Sringi-visha, Prapaun-darika, Mulaka, Halahala, Maha-visha and Karkataka, numbering thirteen in all, are the bulb-poisons.
— Sushruta Samhita, Kalpa Sthana, Chapter 2: Sthavara-Visha-Vijnaniya
Shivering and a numbness of the limbs are the effects of a case of Mustaka-poisoning.
— Sushruta Samhita, Kalpa Sthana, Chapter 2: Sthavara-Visha-Vijnaniya
Kala-kuta, Vatsa-nabha, Sarshapaka, Palaka, Kardamaka, Vairataka, Mustaka, Sringi-visha, Prapaun-darika, Mulaka, Halahala, Maha-visha and Karkataka, numbering thirteen in all, are the bulb-poisons.
— Sushruta Samhita, Sthavara-Visha-Vijnaniya
Shivering and a numbness of the limbs are the effects of a case of Mustaka-poisoning.
— Sushruta Samhita, Sthavara-Visha-Vijnaniya
Source: Sushruta Samhita, Kalpa Sthana, Chapter 2: Sthavara-Visha-Vijnaniya; Sthavara-Visha-Vijnaniya
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.