Overview
Sahachara is one of the herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda for skin disorders. Sahachara (Barleria sp.) is a shrubby plant used primarily for Vata disorders. The root and leaves are used medicinally. The text describes multiple species used under this name. It is a common ingredient in Ayurvedic hair oils. The plant has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, making it useful for joint pain and rheumatic conditions.
How Sahachara Helps with Skin Disorders
According to Ayurvedic pharmacology, Sahachara has specific properties that make it valuable for addressing skin disorders:
- Potency (Virya): Sheeta (cold)
- Post-digestive (Vipaka): Madhura (sweet)
- Taste (Rasa): Tikta (bitter), Madhura (sweet)
- Qualities (Guna): Laghu (light), Snigdha (unctuous)
Other Herbs for Skin Disorders
See all herbs for skin disorders on the Skin Disorders page.
▶ Classical Text References (3 sources)
Or, she may be given milk to drink that has been processed with the paste of jivaka, rishabhaka, apamarga (Achyranthes aspera Linn), and saireyaka (synonym of Sahachara–Barleria cristata Linn) -either all mixed into a paste together or separately, as required.
— Charaka Samhita, Sharira Sthana — Human Body & Embryology, Chapter 8: Guidelines for Lineage (Jatisutriya Sharira / जातिसूत्रीय शरीर)
[263-264] One prastha (640 grams) of milk and juice of sahachara – Barleria prionitis, bhringaraja – Eclipta alba, surasa –Cinnamonum zeylanica, one kudava of oil, one pala paste of yastimadhu – glychrizza glabra is cooked and kept inside a pot of stone or the horn of sheep.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)
8 l) of the decoction of sahachara, by using 256 tolas (3.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 28: Vata Disorders Treatment (Vatavyadhi Chikitsa / वातव्याधिचिकित्सा)
Later add 512 tolas (60144 l) of sesame oil and equal quantity of milk in this decoction, along with paste of 1 tola (12 gm) each of cardamom, ela, mamsi, nata, ushira, sariva, kushtha, chandana, bala, tamalaki, meda, shatapushpa, riddhi, jeevaka, kakoli, ksheerakakoli, shravani, atibala, nakha, mahashravani, jeevanti,vidari, kapikacchu, shatavari, mahameda, karkata, harenu, vacha, gokshura, eranda, rasna, kala, sahachara, bala, veera, shallaki, musta, tvak, patra, rishabhaka, balaka, ela, kunku
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 28: Vata Disorders Treatment (Vatavyadhi Chikitsa / वातव्याधिचिकित्सा)
Prepare a decoction by taking 40 tolas (48 gm) of each of rasna, shirisha, liquorice, dry ginger, sahachara, guduchi, syonaka, devadaru, shampaka, ashvagandha and gokshura.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 28: Vata Disorders Treatment (Vatavyadhi Chikitsa / वातव्याधिचिकित्सा)
Source: Charaka Samhita, Sharira Sthana — Human Body & Embryology, Chapter 8: Guidelines for Lineage (Jatisutriya Sharira / जातिसूत्रीय शरीर); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 28: Vata Disorders Treatment (Vatavyadhi Chikitsa / वातव्याधिचिकित्सा)
For Anuvasana, the Guduchyadi Taila: Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Eranda (castor), Putika, Bharangi (Clerodendrum serratum), Vishakrohi, Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Sahachara, and Kakanasa — each one Pala.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 5: Sneha Basti Vidhi (Oil Enema Therapy)
Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 5: Sneha Basti Vidhi (Oil Enema Therapy)
The Viratarvadi Gana consists of: virataru, sahachara (two types), darbha, vritta, adani, gundra, nala, kusha, kasha, bhedaka, agnimantha, morata, vasuka, vasira, bhalluka, kuratika, indivara (blue lotus), kapota-vanka, and shvadamshtra (verse 12).
— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 38: Dravyasangrahaniya Adhyaya - On the Collection of Drugs
The Vata-pacifying group includes: bhadradaru, kushtha, turmeric, varuna, mesha-shringi, bala, atibala, artagala, kachchura, shallaki, kuberachi, virataru, sahachara, agnimantha, vatsadani, eranda, ashmabhedaka, kalakarka, shatavari, punarnava, vasuka, vashiraka, achchhanaka, bhargi, karpa, sivrishchikali, pattura, badara, yava, kola, kulattha, and others from the Vidarigandhadi group (verse 7).
— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 39: Shodhanasanshmaniya Adhyaya - On Purification and Pacification
The Viratarvadi Gana consists of: virataru, sahachara (two types), darbha, vritta, adani, gundra, nala, kusha, kasha, bhedaka, agnimantha, morata, vasuka, vasira, bhalluka, kuratika, indivara (blue lotus), kapota-vanka, and shvadamshtra (verse 12).
— Sushruta Samhita, Dravyasangrahaniya Adhyaya - On the Collection of Drugs
The Vata-pacifying group includes: bhadradaru, kushtha, turmeric, varuna, mesha-shringi, bala, atibala, artagala, kachchura, shallaki, kuberachi, virataru, sahachara, agnimantha, vatsadani, eranda, ashmabhedaka, kalakarka, shatavari, punarnava, vasuka, vashiraka, achchhanaka, bhargi, karpa, sivrishchikali, pattura, badara, yava, kola, kulattha, and others from the Vidarigandhadi group (verse 7).
— Sushruta Samhita, Shodhanasanshmaniya Adhyaya - On Purification and Pacification
Source: Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 38: Dravyasangrahaniya Adhyaya - On the Collection of Drugs; Sutra Sthana, Chapter 39: Shodhanasanshmaniya Adhyaya - On Purification and Pacification; Dravyasangrahaniya Adhyaya - On the Collection of Drugs; Shodhanasanshmaniya Adhyaya - On Purification and Pacification
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.