Ayurvedic Properties
- Taste (Rasa)
- Bitter (Tikta), Pungent (Katu)
- Quality (Guna)
- Light (Laghu), Sharp (Tikshna)
- Potency (Virya)
- Hot (Ushna)
- Post-digestive (Vipaka)
- Pungent (Katu)
- Key Constituents
- Geranium oil (volatile), Geraniol
- Also Known As
- English: Rosha Grass
Sanskrit: रोहिष, रोहिश, भूतृण, सुगन्धतृण
Hindi: रोहिष, रोशा घास
What is Rosha Grass?
If you have ever crushed a blade of lemongrass between your fingers, you already know something about Rosha Grass. This aromatic grass carries a strong lemon-like fragrance, and Ayurveda has long put that scent to work in the kitchen, in perfumery and in medicine.
Rosha Grass is known in Sanskrit as Rohisha (Rohisha), and Hindi speakers call it rosha ghaas. Other Sanskrit names include Bhutrina (Bhutrina) and Sugandhatrina (Sugandhatrina), the second of which simply means "fragrant grass." Its botanical name is Cymbopogon schoenanthus Linn., and it grows mainly in central and southern India.
The root and leaves are the parts used medicinally. On distillation the grass yields an essential oil the Bhavaprakash Nighantu calls Geranium oil, rich in a compound called geraniol. Classical sources describe it as a stimulant, a carminative (something that relieves gas) and a digestive, used for Kapha and Vata disorders, indigestion and worm infestations.
A note on identity
Rohisha is one of several closely related aromatic grasses. The Bhavaprakash Nighantu also describes it as a variety or synonym of the fever grass, and the drug index of the Sahasra Yoga lists Rohisha under Cymbopogon martini, the source of palmarosa oil. If you buy a product, check the botanical name on the label.
Benefits of Rosha Grass
Our sources describe Rosha Grass through a short list of therapeutic actions (karma), the classical term for what a herb does in the body. Most of them trace back to its bitter (Tikta) and pungent (Katu) taste, its light (Laghu) and sharp (Tikshna) qualities, and its hot potency (Ushna Virya), meaning it has a warming effect.
Digestion and appetite
The Bhavaprakash Nighantu calls Rosha Grass an appetizer (Deepana), a herb that kindles the digestive fire (agni), the body's capacity to digest food. It is also described as carminative, which is why it is linked with gas and flatulence and with indigestion.
Warm, light and sharp herbs are the classical answer to sluggish digestion, so these uses follow directly from its property profile.
Worm infestations
The same text lists it as anthelmintic (Krimighna), meaning it helps expel intestinal worms. This is the basis for its connection to parasites and worms.
Heart support
Rosha Grass is described as cardiotonic (Hridya), a term for herbs considered good for the heart. Our knowledge graph links it to heart disease on the strength of this action. Charaka Samhita mentions rohisha in its chapter on the three vital organs (Trimarmiya Chikitsa) as one of several powders to be inhaled.
The patient should also inhale powders of rohisha, jiraka, vacha, tarkari, choraka or powders of twak, patra, maricha, ela, upakunchika.
Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana, Chapter 26
Fever
Where the Bhavaprakash Nighantu treats Rohisha as a variety of fever grass, it calls it antipyretic (Jvarahara), meaning fever-reducing, and notes that the essential oil has antipyretic properties.
Balancing Kapha and Vata
Its warmth and lightness make Rosha Grass a Kapha-reducing herb (Kaphashamaka). Kapha is the heavy, cool, stable dosha, so a hot, light, sharp herb counters it directly. Classical sources also list it for Vata disorders.
Head applications
The Sushruta Samhita includes rohisha in a warm poultice for the head.
The head should be anointed with pleasantly warm poultices of sarala, kushtha, shankha (conch), devakashtha (devadaru), rohisha, ground with salt.
Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 26
How to Use Rosha Grass
Our sources give one internal dose for Rosha Grass, as a decoction (kashaya), a tea made by simmering the herb in water until it reduces. The classical sources also describe two external uses: inhaled powder and a warm head poultice.
| Form | Dose | Best For | When to Take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decoction (kashaya) of root and leaves | 2 to 4 masha | Indigestion, gas, worms, Kapha and Vata complaints | Our sources do not specify timing |
| Inhaled powder | Not specified | Used alongside other powders in Charaka's treatment of the vital organs | Under practitioner guidance |
| Warm poultice on the head | Not specified | Head applications, ground with salt and other herbs (Sushruta Samhita) | Under practitioner guidance |
A masha is a classical Ayurvedic unit of weight. Our sources do not give a modern conversion, so ask a qualified practitioner to translate this into a measured amount for you.
In the kitchen
The grass is also used as a flavoring agent, and its essential oil is used in perfumery. Our sources do not cover an anupana (anupana), the vehicle such as honey or warm water that a herb is taken with, or any seasonal guidance.
Safety & Side Effects
Our sources do not list specific contraindications, drug interactions or overdose signs for Rosha Grass. That absence is not proof of safety; it means the classical texts we draw on are silent.
What its properties suggest
Rosha Grass is hot in potency (Ushna Virya), sharp (Tikshna) and pungent in its post-digestive effect (Katu Vipaka), which describes how a herb acts after digestion. In Ayurvedic reasoning, herbs with this profile reduce Kapha but can aggravate Pitta, the hot dosha. If you run hot, have acid reflux or tend toward inflammation, use it cautiously.
Essential oil
The distilled oil is a concentrated product used in perfumery. Our sources give no internal dose for the oil, so do not swallow it. The only internal dose in our sources is for the decoction of the grass.
Pregnancy, nursing and medications
Our sources do not cover use in pregnancy or while nursing, or interactions with medicines. Speak to a qualified practitioner or your doctor before using it in those situations, and do not use it in place of medical care for heart disease or fever.
Recommended: Start Here
The simplest classical way to start with Rosha Grass is the one our sources actually describe: a decoction of the dried grass, simmered in water and strained. The classical dose is 2 to 4 masha, a traditional unit of weight, so have a practitioner help you measure it.
This fits best if your complaint is a heavy, slow digestion with gas, the kind of pattern Ayurveda links to excess Kapha. Its warming, light and sharp qualities are what make it useful there.
When shopping, read the label for the botanical name. Rosha Grass is Cymbopogon schoenanthus, while palmarosa products usually come from Cymbopogon martini, and lemongrass is sold under other names again.
Find Rosha Grass on Amazon ↗ Dried Rosha Grass ↗ Palmarosa Oil (external use) ↗
Because it is a hot herb, people with a Pitta tendency or who are pregnant should check with a qualified practitioner first.
Rosha Grass vs Other Herbs & Supplements
Rosha Grass sits in a family of aromatic grasses that are easy to mix up. Our sources do not compare it with popular supplements, so the useful comparisons here are with its close relatives.
| Comparison | Rosha Grass | Alternative | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosha Grass vs palmarosa | Cymbopogon schoenanthus, per the Bhavaprakash Nighantu; yields an oil rich in geraniol | Cymbopogon martini, which the Sahasra Yoga drug index lists under the name Rohisha | The same Sanskrit name covers both in different texts. Check the botanical name on any product. |
| Rosha Grass vs fever grass | Described as appetizer, anthelmintic and cardiotonic | The Bhavaprakash Nighantu treats Rohisha as a variety of fever grass, with fever-reducing and appetizer actions | Our sources treat these as overlapping. For digestion, either description applies; for fever, the fever grass entry is the relevant one. |
| Rosha Grass vs culinary lemongrass | Strong lemon-like fragrance, used as a flavoring and in medicine | Our sources do not describe culinary lemongrass separately | Our sources do not cover this comparison, so we cannot say they are interchangeable. |
Rosha Grass for Specific Populations
Our sources say very little about how Rosha Grass should be used by different groups of people. What follows is cautious by design.
Pregnancy and Nursing
Our sources do not cover use in pregnancy or while nursing. Because Rosha Grass is a hot, sharp herb, avoid it unless a qualified practitioner who knows your situation recommends it.
Children
Our sources give no dose for children. Do not give it to children without guidance from a practitioner, and never give the essential oil internally.
Elderly
Our sources do not give separate guidance for older adults. Its role as an appetizer for sluggish digestion may be relevant, but any use alongside heart medicines should be discussed with a doctor first.
Athletes
Our sources do not cover use by athletes or for exercise performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rosha Grass the same as lemongrass?
They are relatives in the same genus, Cymbopogon, and both smell of lemon. Rosha Grass is Cymbopogon schoenanthus. Our sources do not say the two can be swapped for each other.
Which part of Rosha Grass is used?
The root and leaves are used medicinally. The whole grass is distilled for its essential oil and is also used as a flavoring agent.
What is the oil from Rosha Grass called?
The Bhavaprakash Nighantu says the grass yields Geranium oil on distillation, and lists geraniol as a constituent. It is used in perfumery.
Which dosha does Rosha Grass balance?
It mainly reduces Kapha, thanks to its hot, light and sharp qualities, and classical sources also use it in Vata disorders. Its heat means it can aggravate Pitta if overused.
Is Rosha Grass mentioned in the classical texts?
Yes. Charaka Samhita lists rohisha among powders to be inhaled in its chapter on the three vital organs, and Sushruta Samhita includes it in a warm head poultice ground with salt.
How to Use Rosha Grass by Condition
Explore how Rosha Grass is used for specific health concerns — with dosage, preparation methods, and classical references for each.
▶ Classical Text References (2 sources)
References in Charaka Samhita
The patient should also inhale powders of rohisha, jiraka, vacha, tarkari, chorakaor powders of- twak, patra, maricha, ela, upakunchika.
— 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)
References in Sushruta Samhita
The head should be anointed with pleasantly warm poultices of sarala, kushtha, shankha (conch), devakashtha (devadaru), rohisha, ground with salt.
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 26: Chapter 26
Source: Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 26: Chapter 26
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.