Overview
Pushkaramoola is one of the herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda for cough. This hardy perennial is in the same family as Europe’s elecampane (Inula helenium). Pushkaramoola literally means ‘lotus root’ and is a big-rooted, aromatic tonic with a specific affinity for the heart, lungs and digestive tract.
How Pushkaramoola Helps with Cough
According to Ayurvedic pharmacology, Pushkaramoola has specific properties that make it valuable for addressing cough:
- Potency (Virya): Heating
- Post-digestive (Vipaka): Pungent
- Taste (Rasa): Bitter, pungent
- Qualities (Guna): Light, unctuous and penetrating
Ayurvedic Properties
- Taste (Rasa)
- Bitter, pungent
- Quality (Guna)
- Light, unctuous and penetrating
- Potency (Virya)
- Heating
- Post-digestive (Vipaka)
- Pungent
- Dosha Effect
- VK–, P
- Key Constituents
- Sesquiterpene lactones Phytosterols `-sitosterol Essential oil (Bone 1996)
- Dhatu
- Plasma, blood, muscle, nerve, reproductive
- Srotas
- Digestive, respiratory, urinary, female reproductive, circulatory, nervous
▶ Classical Text References (3 sources)
Marichadyam choornam contains one kudava (192 gm) of maricha, kunchika, ambashtha (patha), vrikshamlah, ten pala (480 gm) of amlavetas, half pala (24 gm) each of sauvarchala, bidha, pakya, yavakshara, saindhava, sathi, pushkaramoola, hingu and hingushivatika (vamsapatri).
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 15: Digestive Disorders Treatment (Grahani Chikitsa / ग्रहणीचिकित्सा)
In half tula of the decoction of nidigdhika(Solanum xanthocarpum), the powder or paste of one karsha of each of chitraka, pippalimula, vyosha, hingu, duralabha, shati, pushkaramoola, shreyasi, surasa, vacha, bharangi, chinnaruha, rasna, shringi, draksha should be added.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 18: Cough Treatment (Kasa Chikitsa / कासचिकित्सा)
Two palas of each among dashamoola, swayamgupta, shankahpushpi, shati, bala, hasti pippali, apamarga, pippalimoola, chitraka, bharangi, pushkaramoola should be added with one adhaka of water, these drugs should be cooked till the grains of yava becomes soft.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 18: Cough Treatment (Kasa Chikitsa / कासचिकित्सा)
Peya prepared out of yavani, pippali, bilwa, nagara, chitraka, rasna, ajaji, prithakparni, palasha, shati and pushkaramoola by adding snigdha, amla and lavana dravyas is beneficial in vataja kasa.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 18: Cough Treatment (Kasa Chikitsa / कासचिकित्सा)
Source: Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 15: Digestive Disorders Treatment (Grahani Chikitsa / ग्रहणीचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 18: Cough Treatment (Kasa Chikitsa / कासचिकित्सा)
If the patient suffers from edema and pain in the peri-anal region, and if there is suppression of the digestive power, then he should be treated with the combination of powder of trikatu [(Sunthi (Zingiber officinale), pippali (Piper longum)and maricha (Piper nigrum)], pippalimool (Piper longum), patha (Cissampelos parrira), hingu (Ferula narthex), chitraka (Plumbago Zylanica), sauvarchala (one kind of salt), pushkarmool(Inula racemosa), jeera (Cuminum cyminum), Pulp af bilva (Aegle marmelos),
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 14: Hemorrhoids Treatment (Arsha Chikitsa / अर्शचिकित्सा)
Source: Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 14: Hemorrhoids Treatment (Arsha Chikitsa / अर्शचिकित्सा)
Also add: Kapikacchu (Mucuna pruriens), Shankhapushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis), Bharangi (Clerodendrum serratum), Gaja Pippali (Scindapsus officinalis), Bala (Sida cordifolia), and Pushkaramoola (Inula racemosa) — each in two Palas (approx.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 8: Avalehakalpana (Confection/Electuary Preparations)
Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 8: Avalehakalpana (Confection/Electuary Preparations)
Safety & Precautions
Contraindications: None known. DOSAGE
Safety: No drug–herb interactions are known.
Other Herbs for Cough
See all herbs for cough on the Cough page.
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.