Kushmanda — Ash Gourd

Ayurvedic herb Kushmanda (Benincasa hispida) — Ash Gourd. Pharmacological properties: Rasa Madhura, Virya Sheeta, Vipaka Madhura. Balances Vata, Pitta.

Ayurvedic Herbs A–Z 1 min read

Ash Gourd is a highly cooling and nourishing vegetable, acting as a diuretic and nervine tonic.

ⓘ Information

Property	Value	Description
Rasa	Madhura	Madhura (Sweet) — nourishing, grounding, promotes tissue growth
Guna	Laghu, Snigdha	Laghu (Light) — easy to digest, promotes lightness; Snigdha (Oily/Unctuous) — moistening, nourishing
Virya	Sheeta	Sheeta (Cold) — cooling, decreases Pitta and inflammation
Vipaka	Madhura	Madhura (Sweet) — post-digestive sweet, nourishing
Prabhava	Medhya, Mutrala, Balya	Medhya — intellect-promoting, enhances cognition; Mutrala — diuretic, increases urine flow; Balya — strengthens, increases strength and stamina

Sanskrit Synonyms

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

Pusphaphala, Vritkarka, Brihatphala

Parts Used

The medicinal parts of Kushmanda are: phala.

Main Indications

Kushmanda is indicated in Ayurveda for the following conditions:

Unmada, Apasmara, Mutrakrichha, Raktapitta, Daha.

Dosha Effects

Kushmanda pacifies Vata, Pitta.

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

Usage

Kushmanda 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).

Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API)

Source: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India — Government of India, Ministry of AYUSH

Rasa (Taste)Madhura, Amla

Guna (Quality)Laghu

Virya (Potency)śita

Vipaka (Post-digestive effect)Madhura

Karma (Action)Dipana, Hrdya, Basti¿odhaka, Vr¿ya, Balya, Mehana, Tridoṣahara, Jirḍ¡ ´ga Puṣtiprada, Basti¿odhaka, Sraṇsana, Arocakahara, V¡tapittajit

Dose5-10 gm.

Therapeutic Uses: Mūtr¡gh¡ta, Prameha, Mūtrakrcchra, A¿mari, Trṣḍ¡, M¡nasa

Important Formulations: Kūṣm¡ndaka Ras¡yana, Dh¡try¡di Ghrta, Vasty¡may¡naka

Botanical Name: Benincasa hispida (Cucurbitaceae)

Part Used: Ft.

Therapeutic Uses (IMPPAT Database)

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

Part Used	Therapeutic Use	Identifiers	References
fruit	Antidotes	MESH:D000931,UMLS:C0003295, ICD-11:XM1S43	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
fruit	Antineoplastic agents	MESH:D000970,UMLS:C0003392	ISBN:9788172360481
fruit	Antitussive agents	MESH:D000996,UMLS:C0003449	ISBN:9770972795006
fruit	Antiviral agents	MESH:D000998,UMLS:C0003451	ISBN:9788172362089
fruit	Aphrodisiacs	MESH:D001046,UMLS:C0003567	ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788173717024
fruit	Asthma	MESH:D001249,UMLS:C0004096, DOID:2841, ICD-11:CA23	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788173717024
fruit	Central nervous system depressants	MESH:D002492,UMLS:C0007681, ICD-11:XM6QP4	ISBN:9788172362089
fruit	Common cold	MESH:D003139,UMLS:C0009443, DOID:10459, ICD-11:CA00	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
fruit	Constipation	MESH:D003248,UMLS:C0009806, DOID:2089, ICD-11:ME05.0	ISBN:9770972795006
fruit	Cough	MESH:D003371,UMLS:C0010200, ICD-11:MD12	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788173717024
fruit	Diabetes mellitus	MESH:D003920,UMLS:C0011849, DOID:9351, ICD-11:5A14	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788173717024
fruit	Diet, food, and nutrition	MESH:D000066888,UMLS:C4042949	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9770972795006
fruit	Diuretics	MESH:D004232,UMLS:C0012798, ICD-11:XM4D06	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788173717024
fruit	Dyspepsia	MESH:D004415,UMLS:C0013395, ICD-11:DD90.3	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9770972795006
fruit	Epilepsy	MESH:D004827,UMLS:C0014544, DOID:1826, ICD-11:8A6Z	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788173717024
fruit	Fever	MESH:D005334,UMLS:C0015967, ICD-11:MG26	ISBN:9788173717024
fruit	Heart diseases	MESH:D006331,UMLS:C0018799, DOID:114, ICD-11:BC4Z	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
fruit	Hemoptysis	MESH:D006469,UMLS:C0019079, ICD-11:MD22	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788173717024
fruit	Hemorrhage	MESH:D006470,UMLS:C0019080, ICD-11:MG27	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788173717024
fruit	Hemorrhoids	MESH:D006484,UMLS:C0019112, DOID:9746, ICD-11:DB60.Z	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9770972795006
fruit	Hemostasis	MESH:D006487,UMLS:C0019116	ISBN:9770972795006
fruit	Hemostatics	MESH:D006490,UMLS:C0019120	ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788173717024
fruit	Inflammation	MESH:D007249,UMLS:C0021368	ISBN:9770972795006
fruit	Jaundice	MESH:D007565,UMLS:C0022346, ICD-11:ME10.1	ISBN:9770972795006
fruit	Laxatives	MESH:D054368,UMLS:C0282090, ICD-11:XM62T3	ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788173717024
fruit	Lung diseases	MESH:D008171,UMLS:C0024115, DOID:850, ICD-11:CB40.Y	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
fruit	Mental disorders	MESH:D001523,UMLS:C0004936, ICD-11:6E8Z	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361266
fruit	Nervous system diseases	MESH:D009422,UMLS:C0027765, DOID:863, ICD-11:8E7Z	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788172361266
fruit	Pain	MESH:D010146,UMLS:C0030193, ICD-11:MG3Z	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
fruit	Anti-poisoning	MESH:D011041, ICD-11:NE6Z	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9770972795006
fruit	General tonic for rejuvenation	MESH:D012060,UMLS:C0035016	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788172361266
fruit	Respiratory tract diseases	MESH:D012140,UMLS:C0035242, ICD-11:CB7Z	ISBN:9770972795006
fruit	Scorpion stings	MESH:D065008,UMLS:C0238417, ICD-11:NE61	ISBN:9770972795006
fruit	Syphilis	MESH:D013587,UMLS:C0039128, DOID:4166, ICD-11:1A6Z	ISBN:9770972795006
fruit	Tranquilizing agents	MESH:D014149,UMLS:C0040614	ISBN:9788172362089
fruit	Antiperiodic		ISBN:9788173717024
leaf	Cathartics	MESH:D002400,UMLS:C0007422, ICD-11:XM6GE9	ISBN:9788172360481
leaf	Contusions	MESH:D003288,UMLS:C0009938, ICD-11:ND56.0	ISBN:9770972795006
leaf	Cooling effect on body	UMLS:C0678568	ISBN:9770972795006
root	Hypersensitivity	MESH:D006967,UMLS:C0020517, ICD-11:4B07	ISBN:9788172362089
seed	Anthelmintics	MESH:D000871,UMLS:C0003158, ICD-11:XM4EC0	ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172360481, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788173717024, Standardization of Single Drugs of Unani Medicine Part - V
seed	Antineoplastic agents	MESH:D000970,UMLS:C0003392	ISBN:9788172360481
seed	Antipyretics	MESH:D058633,UMLS:C0003419, ICD-11:XM1RS7	Standardization of Single Drugs of Unani Medicine Part - V
seed	Appendicitis	MESH:D001064,UMLS:C0003615, DOID:8337, ICD-11:DB10	ISBN:9788172360481
seed	Cestoda	MESH:D002589,UMLS:C1706526, ICD-11:1F7Y	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
seed	Cough	MESH:D003371,UMLS:C0010200, ICD-11:MD12	ISBN:9788173717024
seed	Diuretics	MESH:D004232,UMLS:C0012798, ICD-11:XM4D06	ISBN:9788172361792, Standardization of Single Drugs of Unani Medicine Part - V
seed	Epilepsy	MESH:D004827,UMLS:C0014544, DOID:1826, ICD-11:8A6Z	Standardization of Single Drugs of Unani Medicine Part - V
seed	Exanthema	MESH:D005076,UMLS:C0015230	ISBN:9788172360481
seed	Fever	MESH:D005334,UMLS:C0015967, ICD-11:MG26	ISBN:9788173717024, Standardization of Single Drugs of Unani Medicine Part - V
seed	Gonorrhea	MESH:D006069,UMLS:C0018081, DOID:7551, ICD-11:1A7Z	ISBN:9788172360481
seed	Heart diseases	MESH:D006331,UMLS:C0018799, DOID:114, ICD-11:BC4Z	Standardization of Single Drugs of Unani Medicine Part - V
seed	Hemorrhage	MESH:D006470,UMLS:C0019080, ICD-11:MG27	Standardization of Single Drugs of Unani Medicine Part - V
seed	Liver diseases	MESH:D008107,UMLS:C0023895, DOID:409, ICD-11:SA0Z	Standardization of Single Drugs of Unani Medicine Part - V
seed	Lung diseases	MESH:D008171,UMLS:C0024115, DOID:850, ICD-11:CB40.Y	Standardization of Single Drugs of Unani Medicine Part - V
seed	Syphilis	MESH:D013587,UMLS:C0039128, DOID:4166, ICD-11:1A6Z	ISBN:9788173717024
seed	Thirst	MESH:D013894	ISBN:9788173717024, Standardization of Single Drugs of Unani Medicine Part - V
seed	Urinary bladder calculi	MESH:D001744,UMLS:C0005683, ICD-11:GB71.0	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
seed	Urination disorders	MESH:D014555,UMLS:C0042035, ICD-11:GB0Y	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, Standardization of Single Drugs of Unani Medicine Part - V
seed	Urethral discharge	UMLS:C0152447	ISBN:9788173717024
whole plant excluding root	Central nervous system diseases	MESH:D002493,UMLS:C0007682, DOID:331	ISBN:9770972795006
	Antidotes	MESH:D000931,UMLS:C0003295, ICD-11:XM1S43	ISBN:9788172360481
	Asthma	MESH:D001249,UMLS:C0004096, DOID:2841, ICD-11:CA23	ISBN:9788172361792
	Brain diseases	MESH:D001927,UMLS:C0006111, DOID:936	ISBN:9770972795006
	Constipation	MESH:D003248,UMLS:C0009806, DOID:2089, ICD-11:ME05.0	ISBN:9788172360481
	Contusions	MESH:D003288,UMLS:C0009938, ICD-11:ND56.0	ISBN:9788172360481
	Demulcents	MESH:D065106,UMLS:C0302232	ISBN:9788172360481
	Diabetes mellitus	MESH:D003920,UMLS:C0011849, DOID:9351, ICD-11:5A14	ISBN:9788172360481, ISBN:9788172361792
	Diet, food, and nutrition	MESH:D000066888,UMLS:C4042949	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788172361792
	Diuretics	MESH:D004232,UMLS:C0012798, ICD-11:XM4D06	ISBN:9770972795006
	Dyspepsia	MESH:D004415,UMLS:C0013395, ICD-11:DD90.3	ISBN:9788172360481, ISBN:9788172361792
	Epilepsy	MESH:D004827,UMLS:C0014544, DOID:1826, ICD-11:8A6Z	ISBN:9788172360481, ISBN:9788172361792
	Epistaxis	MESH:D004844,UMLS:C0014591, ICD-11:MD20	ISBN:9770972795006
	Exanthema	MESH:D005076,UMLS:C0015230	ISBN:9788172360481
	Fever	MESH:D005334,UMLS:C0015967, ICD-11:MG26	ISBN:9788172360481
	Heart diseases	MESH:D006331,UMLS:C0018799, DOID:114, ICD-11:BC4Z	ISBN:9770972795006
	Hemoptysis	MESH:D006469,UMLS:C0019079, ICD-11:MD22	ISBN:9788172361792
	Hemorrhage	MESH:D006470,UMLS:C0019080, ICD-11:MG27	ISBN:9788172361792
	Hemorrhoids	MESH:D006484,UMLS:C0019112, DOID:9746, ICD-11:DB60.Z	ISBN:9788172360481, ISBN:9788172361792
	Hoarseness	MESH:D006685,UMLS:C0019825, ICD-11:MA82.10	ISBN:9788172361792
	Malnutrition	MESH:D044342,UMLS:C0162429, ICD-11:5B7Z	ISBN:9788172361792
	Mental disorders	MESH:D001523,UMLS:C0004936, ICD-11:6E8Z	ISBN:9788172361792
	Nervous system diseases	MESH:D009422,UMLS:C0027765, DOID:863, ICD-11:8E7Z	ISBN:9788172361792
	Nootropic agents	MESH:D018697,UMLS:C0242913	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
	Increase physical endurance, strength and stamina	MESH:D010807	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
	Anti-poisoning	MESH:D011041, ICD-11:NE6Z	ISBN:9788172361792
	Respiratory tract diseases	MESH:D012140,UMLS:C0035242, ICD-11:CB7Z	ISBN:9788172360481
	Syphilis	MESH:D013587,UMLS:C0039128, DOID:4166, ICD-11:1A6Z	ISBN:9788172360481
	Thirst	MESH:D013894	ISBN:9788172360481
	Tuberculosis, pulmonary	MESH:D014397,UMLS:C0041327, DOID:2957, ICD-11:1B10.Z	ISBN:9788172361792
	Ulcer	MESH:D014456,UMLS:C0041582	ISBN:9788172361792