Sorrel: Benefits, Uses & Dosage

Sanskrit: Chaogeri, Amlika Botanical: Oxalis corniculata Linn

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Ayurvedic Properties

Taste (Rasa)
astringent
Potency (Virya)
cold
Post-digestive (Vipaka)
pungent
Tissues
Plasma, blood
Systems
Digestive, excretory, circulatory

What is Sorrel?

Leaves fever, inflammations, pain, appe-tite, scurvy, digestion, dyspepsia, intoxication,poisoning, difficult urination, bilious headaches, removes fibers over cornea or opacities of the cornea; Leaves boiled in yogurt/water ( lassi), or mixed with honey or cane sugar for chronic dysentery,rectum prolapse, thirst and enteritis (small intes-tine inflammation), hemorrhoids; as a soup for convalescence from diarrhea. Juice made intosherbet with honey or cane sugar for dysentery,rectum prolapse, thirst. Externally removes warts, The Ayurveda Encyclopedia 82corns, etc.; applied locally as a poultice to inflamed areas and pain. Leaf juice with pepper and ghee are applied externally to red spots or other skin eruptions due to bile, removes warts. Mixed with onions and applied to the head for bilious head-aches.

Source: The Ayurveda Encyclopedia, Chapter 4: Herbology

Therapeutic Actions (Karma)

  • Deepana (kindles digestive fire)
  • Rochana (improves taste/appetite)
  • Grahi (absorbent)
  • Hridya (cardiac tonic)

Source: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 1

Ayurvedic Properties (Energetics)

PropertyValue
Rasa (Taste)astringent
Virya (Energy)cold
Vipaka (Post-digestive)pungent
Tissues (Dhatu)Plasma, blood
Body SystemsDigestive, excretory, circulatory

Source: The Ayurveda Encyclopedia, Chapter 4: Herbology

Preparation & Usage

Forms: Juice, powder, paste, poultice, pill, soup, confection

Source: The Ayurveda Encyclopedia, Chapter 4: Herbology

Precautions & Contraindications

  • Not taken with gout

Source: The Ayurveda Encyclopedia, Chapter 4: Herbology

How to Use Sorrel by Condition

Explore how Sorrel is used for specific health concerns — with dosage, preparation methods, and classical references for each.

Classical Text References (1 sources)

Classical Therapeutic Uses

  • Agnimandya (weak digestion)
  • Aruchi (anorexia/tastelessness)
  • Atisara (diarrhea)
  • Gulma (abdominal tumors)

Source: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 1

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.