Nimbu — Lemon

Ayurvedic herb Nimbu (Citrus limon) — Lemon. Pharmacological properties: Rasa Amla, Virya Ushna, Vipaka Madhura. Balances Vata.

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

Lemon is a sour fruit that stimulates digestion, cleanses the system, and pacifies Vata dosha.

ⓘ Information
PropertyValueDescription
RasaAmlaAmla (Sour) — stimulates digestion, salivation, cleansing
GunaLaghu, TikshnaLaghu (Light) — easy to digest, promotes lightness; Tikshna (Sharp) — penetrating, stimulating
ViryaUshnaUshna (Hot) — heating, increases metabolism and Pitta
VipakaMadhuraMadhura (Sweet) — post-digestive sweet, nourishing
PrabhavaDeepana, Pachana, KrimighnaDeepana — kindles digestive fire without digesting ama; Pachana — digests ama and toxins; Krimighna — anti-parasitic, destroys worms

Sanskrit Synonyms

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

Nimbuka, Jambira bheda, Vatari

Parts Used

The medicinal parts of Nimbu are: phala, swarasa.

Main Indications

Nimbu is indicated in Ayurveda for the following conditions:

Chardi, Agnimandya, Aruchi, Trishna, Krimi.

Dosha Effects

Nimbu pacifies Vata.

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

Usage

Nimbu 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)Amla
Guna (Quality)Laghu
Virya (Potency)Uṣḍa
Vipaka (Post-digestive effect)Amla
Karma (Action)V¡tahara, Pittakara, Kaphahara, Dipana, P¡cana
Dose6-12 gm of the drug in juice form.
Therapeutic Uses: Trṣḍ¡, V¡tika śūla, Chardi, Vibandha, Krmi, Aruci, Agnim¡ndya,
Important Formulations: V¡ri¿oṣaḍa Rasa, Vasanta M¡lati Rasa, Va´ga Bhasma,
Botanical Name: Citrus limon (Rutaceae)
Part Used: Fr.Ft.

Therapeutic Uses (IMPPAT Database)

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

Part UsedTherapeutic UseIdentifiersReferences
flowerCommon coldMESH:D003139,UMLS:C0009443, DOID:10459, ICD-11:CA00ISBN:9770972795006
flowerCoughMESH:D003371,UMLS:C0010200, ICD-11:MD12ISBN:9770972795006
fruitAbdominal painMESH:D015746,UMLS:C0000737, SYMP:0000457, ICD-11:MD81.4ISBN:9770972795006
fruitAcne vulgarisMESH:D000152,UMLS:C0702166, DOID:6543, ICD-11:ED80.ZISBN:9770972795006
fruitHair lossMESH:D000505,UMLS:C0002170, DOID:987, ICD-11:ED70ISBN:9788172360481
fruitAnorexiaMESH:D000855,UMLS:C1971624, DOID:8689, ICD-11:MG43.7ISBN:9770972795006
fruitAnthelminticsMESH:D000871,UMLS:C0003158, ICD-11:XM4EC0ISBN:9770972795006
fruitAnti-bacterial agentsMESH:D000900,UMLS:C0279516, ICD-11:XM8XH0ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172362089
fruitAntifungal agentsMESH:D000935,UMLS:C0003308, ICD-11:XM83G4ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9780387706375
fruitAnti-inflammatory agentsMESH:D000893,UMLS:C0003209, ICD-11:XM7XD1ISBN:9788172360481
fruitAntimutagenic agentsMESH:D016587,UMLS:C0085168ISBN:9770972795006
fruitAntirheumatic agentsMESH:D018501,UMLS:C0003191, ICD-11:XM95N2ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361266
fruitAppetite stimulantsMESH:D019167,UMLS:C0376447ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172360818, ISBN:9788172361266
fruitBronchitisMESH:D001991,UMLS:C0006277, DOID:6132, ICD-11:CA20ISBN:9770972795006
fruitCataractMESH:D002386,UMLS:C0086543, DOID:83, ICD-11:9B10ISBN:9770972795006
fruitCholeraMESH:D002771,UMLS:C0008354, DOID:1498, ICD-11:1A00ISBN:9770972795006
fruitConstipationMESH:D003248,UMLS:C0009806, DOID:2089, ICD-11:ME05.0ISBN:9770972795006
fruitDiarrheaMESH:D003967,UMLS:C0011991, DOID:13250, ICD-11:ME05.1ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361266
fruitDiet, food, and nutritionMESH:D000066888,UMLS:C4042949ISBN:9770972795006
fruitDysenteryMESH:D004403,UMLS:C0277526, DOID:12384, ICD-11:1A40.ZISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361266
fruitDyspepsiaMESH:D004415,UMLS:C0013395, ICD-11:DD90.3ISBN:9770972795006
fruitErysipelasMESH:D004886,UMLS:C0014733, DOID:11330, ICD-11:1B70.0ISBN:9780387706375
fruitFeverMESH:D005334,UMLS:C0015967, ICD-11:MG26ISBN:9770972795006
fruitFlatulenceMESH:D005414,UMLS:C0016204, ICD-11:ME08ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172360818, ISBN:9788172361266
fruitGastroenteritisMESH:D005759,UMLS:C0017160, DOID:2326, ICD-11:1A40.0ISBN:9770972795006
fruitHeart diseasesMESH:D006331,UMLS:C0018799, DOID:114, ICD-11:BC4ZISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172362089
fruitHemorrhoidsMESH:D006484,UMLS:C0019112, DOID:9746, ICD-11:DB60.ZISBN:9770972795006
fruitInflammationMESH:D007249,UMLS:C0021368ISBN:9770972795006
fruitCounterirritantUMLS:C0010215ISBN:9770972795006
fruitLeprosyMESH:D007918,UMLS:C0023343, DOID:1024, ICD-11:1B20ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788172362089
fruitMalariaMESH:D008288,UMLS:C0024530, DOID:12365, ICD-11:1F4ZISBN:9770972795006
fruitPainMESH:D010146,UMLS:C0030193, ICD-11:MG3ZISBN:9770972795006
fruitPneumoniaMESH:D011014,UMLS:C0032285, DOID:552, ICD-11:CA40.0ZISBN:9788172361266
fruitGeneral tonic for rejuvenationMESH:D012060,UMLS:C0035016ISBN:9770972795006
fruitScurvyMESH:D012614,UMLS:C0036474, DOID:13724, ICD-11:5B56.0ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361266
fruitSkin diseasesMESH:D012871,UMLS:C0037274, DOID:37, ICD-11:EM0ZISBN:9788172362089
fruitSplenic diseasesMESH:D013158,UMLS:C0037997, DOID:2529, ICD-11:3B8ZISBN:9770972795006
fruitStomach diseasesMESH:D013272,UMLS:C0038354, DOID:76, ICD-11:DA4YISBN:9770972795006
fruitThirstMESH:D013894ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172360818
fruitVomitingMESH:D014839,UMLS:C0042963, ICD-11:MD90.1ISBN:9770972795006
fruitCooling effect on bodyUMLS:C0678568ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172360818, ISBN:9788172361266
leafAnti-bacterial agentsMESH:D000900,UMLS:C0279516, ICD-11:XM8XH0ISBN:9788172360481
leafAntifungal agentsMESH:D000935,UMLS:C0003308, ICD-11:XM83G4ISBN:9770972795006
rootAnthelminticsMESH:D000871,UMLS:C0003158, ICD-11:XM4EC0ISBN:9788172362089
rootStomach diseasesMESH:D013272,UMLS:C0038354, DOID:76, ICD-11:DA4YISBN:9770972795006
seedAnthelminticsMESH:D000871,UMLS:C0003158, ICD-11:XM4EC0ISBN:9770972795006
seedTyphoid feverMESH:D014435,UMLS:C0041466, DOID:13258, ICD-11:1A07ISBN:9770972795006
stemAnti-bacterial agentsMESH:D000900,UMLS:C0279516, ICD-11:XM8XH0ISBN:9788172360481
whole plantAnti-bacterial agentsMESH:D000900,UMLS:C0279516, ICD-11:XM8XH0ISBN:9788172360481
whole plantAntifungal agentsMESH:D000935,UMLS:C0003308, ICD-11:XM83G4ISBN:9788172360481
whole plantAnti-infective agentsMESH:D000890,UMLS:C0003204, ICD-11:XM4TV0ISBN:9788172360481
whole plantAntinematodal agentsMESH:D000969,UMLS:C0003391, ICD-11:XM16G5ISBN:9770972795006
AnorexiaMESH:D000855,UMLS:C1971624, DOID:8689, ICD-11:MG43.7ISBN:9788173717031
AnthelminticsMESH:D000871,UMLS:C0003158, ICD-11:XM4EC0ISBN:9788173717031
Anti-infective agents, localMESH:D000891,UMLS:C0003205, ICD-11:XM4VG4ISBN:9788173717031
Antineoplastic agentsMESH:D000970,UMLS:C0003392ISBN:9788172360481
Antirheumatic agentsMESH:D018501,UMLS:C0003191, ICD-11:XM95N2ISBN:9788172360818
Appetite stimulantsMESH:D019167,UMLS:C0376447ISBN:9788173717031
ArteriosclerosisMESH:D001161,UMLS:C0003850, DOID:2349, ICD-11:BD40.ZISBN:9780387706375
AstringentsMESH:D001252,UMLS:C0004110, ICD-11:XM0VK6ISBN:9788172360818
BronchitisMESH:D001991,UMLS:C0006277, DOID:6132, ICD-11:CA20ISBN:9788173717031
ColicMESH:D003085,UMLS:C0232488, ICD-11:MD81.4ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788173717031
Common coldMESH:D003139,UMLS:C0009443, DOID:10459, ICD-11:CA00ISBN:9788172360481
CoughMESH:D003371,UMLS:C0010200, ICD-11:MD12ISBN:9788172360481, ISBN:9788173717031
DiarrheaMESH:D003967,UMLS:C0011991, DOID:13250, ICD-11:ME05.1ISBN:9788172360818
DysenteryMESH:D004403,UMLS:C0277526, DOID:12384, ICD-11:1A40.ZISBN:9788172360818
DyspepsiaMESH:D004415,UMLS:C0013395, ICD-11:DD90.3ISBN:9788173717031
FatigueMESH:D005221,UMLS:C0015672, ICD-11:MG22ISBN:9788173717031
FeverMESH:D005334,UMLS:C0015967, ICD-11:MG26ISBN:9788172360481
FlatulenceMESH:D005414,UMLS:C0016204, ICD-11:ME08ISBN:9788173717031
GoutMESH:D006073,UMLS:C0018099, DOID:13189, ICD-11:FA25ISBN:9788172360818
HalitosisMESH:D006209,UMLS:C0018520, ICD-11:MD94ISBN:9788173717031
HeartburnMESH:D006356,UMLS:C0018834, ICD-11:MD95ISBN:9788173717031
HelminthiasisMESH:D006373,UMLS:C0018889, ICD-11:1F90.ZISBN:9788173717031
Hypolipidemic agentsMESH:D000960,UMLS:C0086440ISBN:9770972795006
Laryngeal diseasesMESH:D007818,UMLS:C0023051, DOID:786, ICD-11:CA0H.YISBN:9788173717031
LaxativesMESH:D054368,UMLS:C0282090, ICD-11:XM62T3ISBN:9788173717031
Mental disordersMESH:D001523,UMLS:C0004936, ICD-11:6E8ZISBN:9788173717031
Migraine disordersMESH:D008881,UMLS:C0149931, DOID:6364, ICD-11:8A80.ZISBN:9788173717031
General tonic for rejuvenationMESH:D012060,UMLS:C0035016ISBN:9788173717031
ScabiesMESH:D012532,UMLS:C0036262, DOID:8295, ICD-11:1G04ISBN:9788173717031
ScurvyMESH:D012614,UMLS:C0036474, DOID:13724, ICD-11:5B56.0ISBN:9788172360818, ISBN:9788173717031
VomitingMESH:D014839,UMLS:C0042963, ICD-11:MD90.1ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788173717031