Dhamargava — Sponge Gourd

Ayurvedic herb Dhamargava (Luffa cylindrica) — Sponge Gourd. Pharmacological properties: Rasa Tikta, Virya Ushna, Vipaka Katu. Balances Kapha, Pitta.

Ayurvedic Herbs A–Z 1 min read
This content is for informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional.

Luffa cylindrica (Ridge Gourd) is a vegetable used for its detoxifying properties, especially for the liver.

ⓘ Information
PropertyValueDescription
RasaTiktaTikta (Bitter) — detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic
GunaLaghu, RukshaLaghu (Light) — easy to digest, promotes lightness; Ruksha (Dry) — absorbs moisture, drying
ViryaUshnaUshna (Hot) — heating, increases metabolism and Pitta
VipakaKatuKatu (Pungent) — post-digestive pungent, lightening
PrabhavaVamana, YakrituttejakaVamana; Yakrituttejaka — liver stimulant

Sanskrit Synonyms

In the classical Ayurvedic texts, Dhamargava is known by the following Sanskrit names:

Mahakoshataki, Rajakoshataki, Garanasaka

Parts Used

The medicinal parts of Dhamargava are: phala, bija, moola.

Main Indications

Dhamargava is indicated in Ayurveda for the following conditions:

Kamala, Pandu, Kushta, Gulma, Udara Roga.

Dosha Effects

Dhamargava pacifies Kapha, Pitta.

It may aggravate Vata when used in excess or in sensitive individuals.

Usage

Dhamargava is used in classical Ayurvedic formulations. Consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner for appropriate dosage and preparation based on your constitution (Prakriti) and current imbalance (Vikriti).

Therapeutic Uses (IMPPAT Database)

Source: Indian Medicinal Plants, Phytochemistry And Therapeutics (IMPPAT) v1.0 — CC BY 4.0

Part UsedTherapeutic UseIdentifiersReferences
aerial partHair lossMESH:D000505,UMLS:C0002170, DOID:987, ICD-11:ED70ISBN:9788172362461
aerial partAnti-obesity agentsMESH:D019440,UMLS:C0376607, ICD-11:5B81ISBN:9788172362461
aerial partAntitussive agentsMESH:D000996,UMLS:C0003449ISBN:9788172362461
aerial partSkin diseasesMESH:D012871,UMLS:C0037274, DOID:37, ICD-11:EM0ZISBN:9788172362461
flowerBurnsMESH:D002056,UMLS:C0006434, ICD-11:NE2ZISBN:9788172362461
flowerDental cariesMESH:D003731,UMLS:C0011334, DOID:216, ICD-11:DA08.0ISBN:9770972795006
flowerEdemaMESH:D004487,UMLS:C0013604, ICD-11:MG29.1ISBN:9788172362461
flowerMastitisMESH:D008413,UMLS:C0024894, DOID:10690, ICD-11:GB21.ZISBN:9788172362461
flowerMigraine disordersMESH:D008881,UMLS:C0149931, DOID:6364, ICD-11:8A80.ZISBN:9780387706375
flowerPharyngitisMESH:D010612,UMLS:C0031350, DOID:2275, ICD-11:CA02.ZISBN:9788172362461
flowerRhinitisMESH:D012220,UMLS:C0035455, DOID:4483, ICD-11:CA09.0ISBN:9788172362461
flowerSinusitisMESH:D012852,UMLS:C0037199, DOID:0050127, ICD-11:CA0A.ZISBN:9788172362461
fruitAnthelminticsMESH:D000871,UMLS:C0003158, ICD-11:XM4EC0ISBN:9788172362461, ISBN:9788173717048
fruitAnti-bacterial agentsMESH:D000900,UMLS:C0279516, ICD-11:XM8XH0ISBN:9770972795006
fruitAntipyreticsMESH:D058633,UMLS:C0003419, ICD-11:XM1RS7ISBN:9788172362461
fruitBronchitisMESH:D001991,UMLS:C0006277, DOID:6132, ICD-11:CA20ISBN:9788173717048
fruitCatharticsMESH:D002400,UMLS:C0007422, ICD-11:XM6GE9ISBN:9770972795006
fruitCoughMESH:D003371,UMLS:C0010200, ICD-11:MD12ISBN:9770972795006
fruitDemulcentsMESH:D065106,UMLS:C0302232ISBN:9788172361792
fruitDental cariesMESH:D003731,UMLS:C0011334, DOID:216, ICD-11:DA08.0ISBN:9770972795006
fruitDiureticsMESH:D004232,UMLS:C0012798, ICD-11:XM4D06ISBN:9788173717048
fruitEmollientsMESH:D004643,UMLS:C0013983, ICD-11:XM1C59ISBN:9788173717048
fruitExpectorantsMESH:D005100,UMLS:C0015314ISBN:9788173717048
fruitFeverMESH:D005334,UMLS:C0015967, ICD-11:MG26ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788173717048
fruitFlatulenceMESH:D005414,UMLS:C0016204, ICD-11:ME08ISBN:9788173717048
fruitGalactogoguesMESH:D056669,UMLS:C2717873ISBN:9788173717048
fruitHematuriaMESH:D006417,UMLS:C0018965, ICD-11:MF50.4ZISBN:9788173717048
fruitHemorrhageMESH:D006470,UMLS:C0019080, ICD-11:MG27ISBN:9788173717048
fruitJaundiceMESH:D007565,UMLS:C0022346, ICD-11:ME10.1ISBN:9770972795006
fruitLaxativesMESH:D054368,UMLS:C0282090, ICD-11:XM62T3ISBN:9788173717048
fruitLeprosyMESH:D007918,UMLS:C0023343, DOID:1024, ICD-11:1B20ISBN:9788172362461, ISBN:9788173717048
fruitNeoplasmsMESH:D009369,UMLS:C0027651, DOID:162, ICD-11:2E2ZISBN:9788173717048
fruitSkin diseasesMESH:D012871,UMLS:C0037274, DOID:37, ICD-11:EM0ZISBN:9770972795006
fruitSplenic diseasesMESH:D013158,UMLS:C0037997, DOID:2529, ICD-11:3B8ZISBN:9788173717048
fruitStomach diseasesMESH:D013272,UMLS:C0038354, DOID:76, ICD-11:DA4YISBN:9770972795006
fruitSyphilisMESH:D013587,UMLS:C0039128, DOID:4166, ICD-11:1A6ZISBN:9788172362461, ISBN:9788173717048
fruitUrination disordersMESH:D014555,UMLS:C0042035, ICD-11:GB0YISBN:9770972795006
fruitVomitingMESH:D014839,UMLS:C0042963, ICD-11:MD90.1ISBN:9770972795006
fruitCooling effect on bodyUMLS:C0678568ISBN:9788172361792
leafAmenorrheaMESH:D000568,UMLS:C0002453, DOID:13938, ICD-11:GA20.0ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788172362461
leafAntioxidantsMESH:D000975,UMLS:C0003402ISBN:9770972795006
leafBronchitisMESH:D001991,UMLS:C0006277, DOID:6132, ICD-11:CA20ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788172362461
leafBurnsMESH:D002056,UMLS:C0006434, ICD-11:NE2ZISBN:9788172362461
leafDental cariesMESH:D003731,UMLS:C0011334, DOID:216, ICD-11:DA08.0ISBN:9770972795006
leafEdemaMESH:D004487,UMLS:C0013604, ICD-11:MG29.1ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172362461
leafEye diseasesMESH:D005128,UMLS:C0015397, DOID:5614, ICD-11:9E1ZISBN:9770972795006
leafFeverMESH:D005334,UMLS:C0015967, ICD-11:MG26ISBN:9770972795006
leafFurunculosisMESH:D005667,UMLS:C0016867, ICD-11:1B75.0ISBN:9770972795006
leafHemorrhageMESH:D006470,UMLS:C0019080, ICD-11:MG27ISBN:9770972795006
leafLeprosyMESH:D007918,UMLS:C0023343, DOID:1024, ICD-11:1B20ISBN:9770972795006
leafMastitisMESH:D008413,UMLS:C0024894, DOID:10690, ICD-11:GB21.ZISBN:9788172362461
leafPharyngitisMESH:D010612,UMLS:C0031350, DOID:2275, ICD-11:CA02.ZISBN:9788172362461
leafRhinitisMESH:D012220,UMLS:C0035455, DOID:4483, ICD-11:CA09.0ISBN:9788172362461
leafUlcerMESH:D014456,UMLS:C0041582ISBN:9770972795006
leafWounds and injuriesMESH:D014947,UMLS:C0043251ISBN:9770972795006
rootAnti-inflammatory agentsMESH:D000893,UMLS:C0003209, ICD-11:XM7XD1ISBN:9788172362461
rootBurnsMESH:D002056,UMLS:C0006434, ICD-11:NE2ZISBN:9788172362461
rootEdemaMESH:D004487,UMLS:C0013604, ICD-11:MG29.1ISBN:9788172362461
rootHypersensitivityMESH:D006967,UMLS:C0020517, ICD-11:4B07ISBN:9788172362461
rootLeprosyMESH:D007918,UMLS:C0023343, DOID:1024, ICD-11:1B20ISBN:9770972795006
rootMastitisMESH:D008413,UMLS:C0024894, DOID:10690, ICD-11:GB21.ZISBN:9788172362461
rootMigraine disordersMESH:D008881,UMLS:C0149931, DOID:6364, ICD-11:8A80.ZISBN:9788172362461
rootPharyngitisMESH:D010612,UMLS:C0031350, DOID:2275, ICD-11:CA02.ZISBN:9788172362461
rootRhinitisMESH:D012220,UMLS:C0035455, DOID:4483, ICD-11:CA09.0ISBN:9788172362461
seedAntifungal agentsMESH:D000935,UMLS:C0003308, ICD-11:XM83G4ISBN:9788172362461
seedAnti-inflammatory agentsMESH:D000893,UMLS:C0003209, ICD-11:XM7XD1ISBN:9770972795006
seedAntineoplastic agentsMESH:D000970,UMLS:C0003392ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172362461
seedBurnsMESH:D002056,UMLS:C0006434, ICD-11:NE2ZISBN:9788172362461
seedCatharticsMESH:D002400,UMLS:C0007422, ICD-11:XM6GE9ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788173717048
seedEdemaMESH:D004487,UMLS:C0013604, ICD-11:MG29.1ISBN:9788172362461
seedEmeticsMESH:D004639,UMLS:C0013973ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788173717048
seedFibrinolysisMESH:D005342,UMLS:C0016017, ICD-11:3B20ISBN:9788172362461
seedMastitisMESH:D008413,UMLS:C0024894, DOID:10690, ICD-11:GB21.ZISBN:9788172362461
seedPharyngitisMESH:D010612,UMLS:C0031350, DOID:2275, ICD-11:CA02.ZISBN:9788172362461
seedRhinitisMESH:D012220,UMLS:C0035455, DOID:4483, ICD-11:CA09.0ISBN:9788172362461
seedSkin diseasesMESH:D012871,UMLS:C0037274, DOID:37, ICD-11:EM0ZISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788173717048
seedSkin diseases, infectiousMESH:D012874,UMLS:C0037278ISBN:9770972795006
seedVomitingMESH:D014839,UMLS:C0042963, ICD-11:MD90.1ISBN:9770972795006
seedlingAntifungal agentsMESH:D000935,UMLS:C0003308, ICD-11:XM83G4ISBN:9788172362461
stemSkin diseasesMESH:D012871,UMLS:C0037274, DOID:37, ICD-11:EM0ZISBN:9770972795006
whole plantAntifungal agentsMESH:D000935,UMLS:C0003308, ICD-11:XM83G4ISBN:9770972795006
Abdominal painMESH:D015746,UMLS:C0000737, SYMP:0000457, ICD-11:MD81.4ISBN:9788172362461
ImmunostimulantMESH:D000276,UMLS:C0001551ISBN:9770972795006
Antineoplastic agentsMESH:D000970,UMLS:C0003392ISBN:9788172362461
DiureticsMESH:D004232,UMLS:C0012798, ICD-11:XM4D06ISBN:9788172361792
DysmenorrheaMESH:D004412,UMLS:C0013390, ICD-11:GA34.3ISBN:9788172362461
EdemaMESH:D004487,UMLS:C0013604, ICD-11:MG29.1ISBN:9780387706375
GalactogoguesMESH:D056669,UMLS:C2717873ISBN:9788172361792
MastitisMESH:D008413,UMLS:C0024894, DOID:10690, ICD-11:GB21.ZISBN:9780387706375
OrchitisMESH:D009920,UMLS:C0029191, DOID:2518, ICD-11:GB02.YISBN:9788172362461
PharyngitisMESH:D010612,UMLS:C0031350, DOID:2275, ICD-11:CA02.ZISBN:9780387706375
RhinitisMESH:D012220,UMLS:C0035455, DOID:4483, ICD-11:CA09.0ISBN:9780387706375
ToothacheMESH:D014098,UMLS:C0040460, ICD-11:DA0A.YISBN:9788172362461