Kushmanda Swarasa – Ingredients, Indications, Benefits and Uses

Introduction

Kushmanda is an herb which has wide and varied range of benefits as a medicine and even it is consumed as food. The winter melon is a vine grown for its very large fruit, eaten as a vegetable when it matures. The whole plant is beneficial to different systems in the body like Circulatory system, Nervous system, etc. It acts as Rasayana and Dhatu Poshaka (Promotes growth).

  • Name of Ingredient: Kushmanda phala
  • Botanical Name: Benincasa hispida
  • Family: Cucurbitaceae
  • Sanskrit Names: Kushmanda, Pushpaphala, Valliphala, Brihatphala

Categorization – According to Samhita

  • Acharya Charaka: Phala varga
  • Acharya Sushruta: Phala varga
  • Acharya Vagbhata: Phala varga

Chemical Composition

Thiamine (Vitamin B1), Cucurbitine, Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Beta-sitosterol, amino acids, Pentacyclic triptenes and Bryonolic acid.

Medicinal Properties

  • Rasa: Madhura
  • Guna: Laghu, Snigdha
  • Veerya: Sheetha
  • Vipaka: Madhura
  • Prabhava: Medhya

Method of Preparation

Extract the juice from above mentioned ingredient by pounding followed by squeezing through a clean cloth and utilize it.

Benefits and Uses

  • Due to its rasa and guna it acts as Vata and Pittadosha hara, that is, it curbs the increased dosha in the body.
  • Due to its prabhava, it is highly beneficial in treatment related with brain and mind, thus benefitting in many mental abnormalities, Memory loss (Alzheimer’s and dementia) and also strengthens the nerves.
  •  It is very beneficial in many conditions related to Urinary system where it helps in easy passage of urine and other urinary tract diseases along with this it’s helpful in treatment of Renal calculi, it helps in splitting and breaking up of calculi (stones).
  • The medicine helps with cleansing of Urinary bladder and hence called Bastishuddikara.
  • It helps to relieve excess thirst by its cooling properties.
  • Its intake helps person gain strength and immunity.
  • It acts as Brumhana, thus, it helps to gain weight by providing nourishment.
  • It is termed beneficial in bleeding disorders due to imbalanced pitta like menorrhagia, epistaxis and rectal bleeding thus, it helps to balance the aggravated pitta.
  • Due to the presence of Snigdha guna it helps to balance vata dosha.
  •  It has a positive effect as a Vrshya, i.e, acts as an aphrodisiac by the virtue of madhura rasa, snigdha guna, sheetha veerya.
  • It is highly beneficial Post-Tuberculosis, as the person is weakened post Anti-Tubercular therapy; it helps person gain weight and provides nourishment alongside increasing immunity.
Shloka of Kushmanda Swarasa

Reference:- Sahasrayogam // Svarasa Yoga Prakaranam (Chapter No. 1) // Kushmanda Swarasa

Dose: 10-20 ml, twice daily, after meals.

Additives

Kustha Churna, Madhu

Indications

Unmada (Schizophrenia), Vrshya (Aphrodisiac), Karshya (Weakness and leanness), Vatavikara, and Mutraghata (Urinary disorders).

Adverse Effects

  • In obese people it must be used for a limited period with minimal dosage.
  • It increases kapha so it should be judiciously used in winters when Flu, Asthma, Bronchitis, Cough are common.