Varahikanda — Air Potato

Ayurvedic herb Varahikanda (Dioscorea bulbifera) — Air Potato. Pharmacological properties: Rasa Madhura, Virya Ushna, Vipaka Madhura. Balances Vata, Kapha.

Ayurvedic Herbs A–Z 1 min read

Dioscorea bulbifera is a rejuvenative tonic (rasayana) that enhances strength, immunity, and acts as an aphrodisiac.

ⓘ Information

Property	Value	Description
Rasa	Madhura	Madhura (Sweet) — nourishing, grounding, promotes tissue growth
Guna	Guru, Snigdha	Guru (Heavy) — increases bulk, grounding; Snigdha (Oily/Unctuous) — moistening, nourishing
Virya	Ushna	Ushna (Hot) — heating, increases metabolism and Pitta
Vipaka	Madhura	Madhura (Sweet) — post-digestive sweet, nourishing
Prabhava	rasayan, Vrishya, Balya	Rasayana — rejuvenative, promotes longevity and immunity; Vrishya — aphrodisiac, enhances reproductive health; Balya — strengthens, increases strength and stamina

Sanskrit Synonyms

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

Varahi, Vara, Kroshthuki

Parts Used

The medicinal parts of Varahikanda are: kanda.

Main Indications

Varahikanda is indicated in Ayurveda for the following conditions:

Daurbalya, Klaibya, Kushta, Prameha, Vrana.

Dosha Effects

Varahikanda pacifies Vata, Kapha.

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

Usage

Varahikanda 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, Tikta, Kauu Agnivrddhikara, Pittakara

Guna (Quality)Laghu

Virya (Potency)Uṣḍa

Vipaka (Post-digestive effect)Kauu

Dose3-6 gm

Therapeutic Uses: Kuṣuha, Kaḍtū, Prameha, Krmi

Important Formulations: Vasty¡may¡naka Ghrta, N¡rasimha Cūrḍa, Paṃcanimba

Botanical Name: Dioscorea bulbifera Linn. (Dioscoreaceae)

Part Used: Rz.

Therapeutic Uses (IMPPAT Database)

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

Part Used	Therapeutic Use	Identifiers	References
aerial part	Diuretics	MESH:D004232,UMLS:C0012798, ICD-11:XM4D06	ISBN:9788172360481
bulb	Anti-infective agents	MESH:D000890,UMLS:C0003204, ICD-11:XM4TV0	ISBN:9770972795006
rhizome	Anti-infective agents, local	MESH:D000891,UMLS:C0003205, ICD-11:XM4VG4	Medicinal Plants Of Nagpur And Wardha Forest Divisions (Maharashtra)
rhizome	Appetite depressants	MESH:D001067,UMLS:C0003620	ISBN:9788172360481
rhizome	Hemorrhoids	MESH:D006484,UMLS:C0019112, DOID:9746, ICD-11:DB60.Z	Medicinal Plants Of Nagpur And Wardha Forest Divisions (Maharashtra)
rhizome	Syphilis	MESH:D013587,UMLS:C0039128, DOID:4166, ICD-11:1A6Z	Medicinal Plants Of Nagpur And Wardha Forest Divisions (Maharashtra)
rhizome	Wounds and injuries	MESH:D014947,UMLS:C0043251	Medicinal Plants Of Nagpur And Wardha Forest Divisions (Maharashtra)
root	Anthelmintics	MESH:D000871,UMLS:C0003158, ICD-11:XM4EC0	ISBN:9770972795006
root	Antirheumatic agents	MESH:D018501,UMLS:C0003191, ICD-11:XM95N2	ISBN:9770972795006
root	Appetite stimulants	MESH:D019167,UMLS:C0376447	ISBN:9770972795006
root	Asthma	MESH:D001249,UMLS:C0004096, DOID:2841, ICD-11:CA23	ISBN:9770972795006
root	Common cold	MESH:D003139,UMLS:C0009443, DOID:10459, ICD-11:CA00	ISBN:9770972795006
root	Contraceptive agents	MESH:D003270,UMLS:C0009871	ISBN:9770972795006
root	Cough	MESH:D003371,UMLS:C0010200, ICD-11:MD12	ISBN:9770972795006
root	Diabetes mellitus	MESH:D003920,UMLS:C0011849, DOID:9351, ICD-11:5A14	ISBN:9770972795006
root	Dysentery	MESH:D004403,UMLS:C0277526, DOID:12384, ICD-11:1A40.Z	ISBN:9770972795006
root	Fertility agents, female	MESH:D005300,UMLS:C0015897	ISBN:9770972795006
root	Gonorrhea	MESH:D006069,UMLS:C0018081, DOID:7551, ICD-11:1A7Z	ISBN:9770972795006
root	Hemorrhage	MESH:D006470,UMLS:C0019080, ICD-11:MG27	ISBN:9770972795006
root	Hemorrhoids	MESH:D006484,UMLS:C0019112, DOID:9746, ICD-11:DB60.Z	ISBN:9770972795006
root	Hernia	MESH:D006547,UMLS:C0019270, ICD-11:DD5Z	ISBN:9770972795006
root	Insect bites and stings	MESH:D007299,UMLS:C0021568, ICD-11:EK50.0	ISBN:9770972795006
root	Intestinal diseases, parasitic	MESH:D007411,UMLS:C0021832, DOID:100, ICD-11:1A40.Z	ISBN:9770972795006
root	Leprosy	MESH:D007918,UMLS:C0023343, DOID:1024, ICD-11:1B20	ISBN:9770972795006
root	Pain	MESH:D010146,UMLS:C0030193, ICD-11:MG3Z	ISBN:9770972795006
root	Premature ejaculation	MESH:D061686,UMLS:C0033038, DOID:13709, ICD-11:HA03.0Z	ISBN:9770972795006
root	General tonic for rejuvenation	MESH:D012060,UMLS:C0035016	ISBN:9770972795006
root	Scorpion stings	MESH:D065008,UMLS:C0238417, ICD-11:NE61	ISBN:9770972795006
root	Skin diseases	MESH:D012871,UMLS:C0037274, DOID:37, ICD-11:EM0Z	ISBN:9770972795006
root	Syphilis	MESH:D013587,UMLS:C0039128, DOID:4166, ICD-11:1A6Z	ISBN:9770972795006
root	Ulcer	MESH:D014456,UMLS:C0041582	ISBN:9770972795006
tuber	Abdominal pain	MESH:D015746,UMLS:C0000737, SYMP:0000457, ICD-11:MD81.4	ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9789327275590
tuber	Hair loss	MESH:D000505,UMLS:C0002170, DOID:987, ICD-11:ED70	ISBN:9770972795006
tuber	Anorexia	MESH:D000855,UMLS:C1971624, DOID:8689, ICD-11:MG43.7	ISBN:9770972795006
tuber	Anti-infective agents, local	MESH:D000891,UMLS:C0003205, ICD-11:XM4VG4	ISBN:9770972795006
tuber	Antirheumatic agents	MESH:D018501,UMLS:C0003191, ICD-11:XM95N2	ISBN:9770972795006
tuber	Appetite depressants	MESH:D001067,UMLS:C0003620	ISBN:9789327275590
tuber	Asthma	MESH:D001249,UMLS:C0004096, DOID:2841, ICD-11:CA23	ISBN:9770972795006
tuber	Cardiotonic agents	MESH:D002316,UMLS:C0007209, ICD-11:XM91S1	ISBN:9770972795006
tuber	Cough	MESH:D003371,UMLS:C0010200, ICD-11:MD12	ISBN:9770972795006
tuber	Diabetes mellitus	MESH:D003920,UMLS:C0011849, DOID:9351, ICD-11:5A14	ISBN:9770972795006
tuber	Diarrhea	MESH:D003967,UMLS:C0011991, DOID:13250, ICD-11:ME05.1	ISBN:9788171360536
tuber	Dysentery	MESH:D004403,UMLS:C0277526, DOID:12384, ICD-11:1A40.Z	ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9789327275590
tuber	Fractures, bone	MESH:D050723,UMLS:C0016658, ICD-11:ND56.2	ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9789327275590
tuber	Furunculosis	MESH:D005667,UMLS:C0016867, ICD-11:1B75.0	ISBN:9770972795006
tuber	Gout	MESH:D006073,UMLS:C0018099, DOID:13189, ICD-11:FA25	ISBN:9770972795006
tuber	Hemorrhoids	MESH:D006484,UMLS:C0019112, DOID:9746, ICD-11:DB60.Z	ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788172361266
tuber	Intestinal diseases, parasitic	MESH:D007411,UMLS:C0021832, DOID:100, ICD-11:1A40.Z	ISBN:9770972795006
tuber	Jaundice	MESH:D007565,UMLS:C0022346, ICD-11:ME10.1	ISBN:9789327275590
tuber	Metabolism	MESH:D008660, ICD-11:XM3BT8	ISBN:9770972795006
tuber	Polyuria	MESH:D011141,UMLS:C0032617, ICD-11:MF55	ISBN:9788171360536
tuber	General tonic for rejuvenation	MESH:D012060,UMLS:C0035016	ISBN:9770972795006
tuber	Scabies	MESH:D012532,UMLS:C0036262, DOID:8295, ICD-11:1G04	ISBN:9770972795006
tuber	Scorpion stings	MESH:D065008,UMLS:C0238417, ICD-11:NE61	ISBN:9770972795006
tuber	Skin diseases	MESH:D012871,UMLS:C0037274, DOID:37, ICD-11:EM0Z	ISBN:9788171360536
tuber	Snake bites	MESH:D012909,UMLS:C0037379	ISBN:9770972795006
tuber	Syphilis	MESH:D013587,UMLS:C0039128, DOID:4166, ICD-11:1A6Z	ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788172361266
tuber	Tuberculosis, lymph node	MESH:D014388,UMLS:C0041316, DOID:4889, ICD-11:1B12.6	ISBN:9788171360536
tuber	Ulcer	MESH:D014456,UMLS:C0041582	ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361266
tuber	Wounds and injuries	MESH:D014947,UMLS:C0043251	ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9780387706375
	Anthelmintics	MESH:D000871,UMLS:C0003158, ICD-11:XM4EC0	ISBN:9770972795006
	Diuretics	MESH:D004232,UMLS:C0012798, ICD-11:XM4D06	ISBN:9770972795006
	Dysentery	MESH:D004403,UMLS:C0277526, DOID:12384, ICD-11:1A40.Z	ISBN:9770972795006
	Hemorrhoids	MESH:D006484,UMLS:C0019112, DOID:9746, ICD-11:DB60.Z	ISBN:9770972795006
	Intestinal diseases, parasitic	MESH:D007411,UMLS:C0021832, DOID:100, ICD-11:1A40.Z	ISBN:9770972795006
	Mental disorders	MESH:D001523,UMLS:C0004936, ICD-11:6E8Z	ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172360481
	Neoplasms	MESH:D009369,UMLS:C0027651, DOID:162, ICD-11:2E2Z	ISBN:9770972795006
	Peptic ulcer	MESH:D010437,UMLS:C0030920, DOID:750, ICD-11:DA61	ISBN:9770972795006
	Syphilis	MESH:D013587,UMLS:C0039128, DOID:4166, ICD-11:1A6Z	ISBN:9770972795006
	Rheumatoid arthritis	MESH:D001172,UMLS:C0003873, DOID:7148, ICD-11:FA20	ISBN:9770972795006