Ayurvedic Properties
- Taste (Rasa)
- Bitter (Tikta)
- Quality (Guna)
- Light (Laghu), Dry (Ruksha)
- Potency (Virya)
- Hot (Ushna)
- Post-digestive (Vipaka)
- Pungent (Katu)
- Key Constituents
- Alkaloids, triterpenoids
- Also Known As
- English: Desert Horse Purslane
Sanskrit: वर्षाभू, शिलाटिका, उपोदिका
Hindi: बिसखपड़ा, साँठी
What is Varshabhu?
Ask for Punarnava in an Indian herb market and you might be handed Varshabhu instead. The two plants look alike and do similar work on swelling and water retention, yet the Bhavaprakash Nighantu treats Varshabhu as a separate herb.
Its English name is Desert Horse Purslane, and its botanical name is Trianthema portulacastrum. The Sanskrit name means "born in the rains": it is a low-growing, succulent herb that springs up in the rainy season in sandy and marshy ground.
It is used for edema (swelling from fluid retention), sluggish digestion and urinary complaints, and it appears in recipes in the Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Sharangadhara Samhita.
Benefits of Varshabhu
Varshabhu tastes bitter (Tikta Rasa), is light and dry (Laghu and Ruksha Guna), and is heating (Ushna Virya). Those qualities suit it to clearing water and heaviness from the body.
Swelling and edema
The Bhavaprakash Nighantu lists it as reducing swelling (Shothahara), which ties it to inflammation (Shotha) in the Ayurvedic sense of puffiness and fluid. The Sushruta Samhita uses it in a plaster with Vilva roots:
plaster of Naga-Vrittika, Varshabhu and Vilva-roots pasted together applied;
Sushruta Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana 20 (Kshudra-Roga Chikitsa)
The Sharangadhara Samhita includes it in a paste with castor and other herbs for chronic, severe lymphatic swelling (Shlipada), and gives its fresh juice for fluid on the chest (Urastoya). The translation of that text identifies the plant there as Boerhavia diffusa, a reminder of how closely the two herbs are linked.
Urinary complaints
It is a diuretic (Mutrala) and is used in urinary disorders (Mutrakrichchhra).
Digestion
Varshabhu is also listed as kindling the digestive fire (Deepana), and it is used in digestive disorders.
Gout
The Charaka Samhita names it among the herbs boiled together in a large decoction for gout (Vatarakta), alongside Punarnava, castor and Shatavari.
How to Use Varshabhu
The classical texts use Varshabhu in three ways: as fresh juice, as a topical paste, and as one ingredient in decoctions.
| Form | Dose | Best For | When to Take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh juice with Yavachara (Sharangadhara Samhita) | As directed by a practitioner | Fluid on the chest | Morning and evening |
| Topical paste (Lepa) | Applied to the area | Swelling, chronic lymphatic swelling | As directed by a practitioner |
| Multi-herb decoction (Charaka Samhita) | As part of a formula | Gout | As directed by a practitioner |
Yavachara is a barley preparation. No single-herb dose for Varshabhu is recorded in our sources, so work with a practitioner.
Safety & Side Effects
Our classical sources list no specific contraindications or drug interactions for Varshabhu.
It is heating, light and dry, so it can aggravate Pitta (heat) and Vata (dryness) if overused. As a diuretic it may add to the effect of water tablets, so check with your doctor if you take them.
Swelling, fluid on the chest and urinary problems can all signal serious illness. Get a medical diagnosis before treating them with herbs.
Recommended: Start Here
For most people the practical way to benefit from Varshabhu's action is through its better-known look-alike. Punarnava is described as having similar diuretic and anti-swelling properties, and it is widely sold as a powder and in tablets.
If you want Varshabhu itself, ask a qualified practitioner, who can confirm you are getting Trianthema portulacastrum and not a substitute.
Find Punarnava Powder on Amazon ↗ Varshabhu (Trianthema) ↗
Safety note: get any unexplained swelling checked by a doctor, and ask before combining with diuretic medicine.
Varshabhu vs Other Herbs & Supplements
One comparison matters more than any other for Varshabhu.
| Comparison | Varshabhu | Alternative | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varshabhu vs Punarnava | Trianthema portulacastrum, a succulent rainy-season herb; reduces swelling, diuretic, kindles digestion | Punarnava, often confused with it and described as having similar properties | The Bhavaprakash Nighantu calls them different plants with similar actions, and the Charaka Samhita lists both in the same gout decoction. Punarnava is far easier to buy. |
Varshabhu for Specific Populations
Classical sources give no population-specific guidance for Varshabhu, so take the cautious path.
Pregnancy & Nursing
No guidance is available. Avoid it unless a qualified practitioner recommends it.
Children
No dosing for children is given. Do not give it to a child without a practitioner's advice.
Elderly
No specific guidance is given. Older adults on blood pressure or diuretic medicine should check with their doctor first.
Athletes
Classical sources say nothing specific about athletic use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Varshabhu the same as Punarnava?
The Bhavaprakash Nighantu says no: Varshabhu is Trianthema portulacastrum, a separate plant that is sometimes confused with Punarnava and has similar diuretic and anti-swelling properties.
What does the name Varshabhu mean?
It refers to the rains. The plant springs up in the rainy season in sandy and marshy areas.
Is Varshabhu heating or cooling?
Heating. It is bitter, light and dry with a hot potency and a pungent post-digestive effect.
Which classical texts mention Varshabhu?
The Charaka Samhita (in a gout decoction), the Sushruta Samhita (in a plaster) and the Sharangadhara Samhita (in a paste for chronic swelling and as fresh juice for fluid on the chest).
How to Use Varshabhu by Condition
Explore how Varshabhu is used for specific health concerns — with dosage, preparation methods, and classical references for each.
▶ Classical Text References (3 sources)
References in Charaka Samhita
Both laghu and brihad panchamula (dashmula), varshabhu (Trianthema portulacastrum), eranda, punarnava, mudgaparni (Phaseolus trilobus), mahameda, mashaparni (Teramnus labialis), shatavari, shankhapushpi, avakpushpi, rasna (Pluchea lanceolata), bala, atibala, are to be taken 80 gm each and crushed then boiled in one drone water (approximately 10.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 29: Gout Treatment (Vatarakta Chikitsa / वातरक्तचिकित्सा)
Source: Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 29: Gout Treatment (Vatarakta Chikitsa / वातरक्तचिकित्सा)
References in Sharangadhara Samhita
A paste of Dhattura (Datura metel), Eranda (castor, Ricinus communis), Nirgundi (Vitex negundo), Varshabhu (Boerhavia diffusa), Shigru (Moringa oleifera), and Sarshapa (mustard) -- this paste destroys Shlipada (elephantiasis/lymphedema) even when chronic and severe.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)
The Urastoya patient should regularly drink the fresh juice of Varshabhu (Boerhavia diffusa) combined with Yavachara (barley preparation), morning and evening, with restraint.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 3: Pleural Effusion (Urastoya Adhikara)
The Urastoya patient should regularly drink the fresh juice of Varshabhu (Boerhavia diffusa) combined with Yavachara (barley preparation), morning and evening, with restraint.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 3: Pleural Effusion (Urastoya Adhikara)
Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application); Parishishtam, Chapter 3: Pleural Effusion (Urastoya Adhikara)
References in Sushruta Samhita
plaster of Naga-Vrittika, Varshabhu and Vilva-roots pasted together applied;
— Sushruta Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana, Chapter 20: Kshudra-Roga Chikitsa
plaster of Naga-Vrittika, Varshabhu and Vilva-roots pasted together applied;
— Sushruta Samhita, Kshudra-Roga Chikitsa
Source: Sushruta Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana, Chapter 20: Kshudra-Roga Chikitsa; Kshudra-Roga Chikitsa
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.