Witnessed by: Ayurveda · Unani
Mountain knotgrass (Aerva lanata), of the Amaranthaceae family. Prostrate to ascending woolly herb with small greenish-white flower spikes; native range: waste and open ground across the plains of India and tropical Asia and Africa. Globally recognized as gorakhaganja / bhadra / astmabayda in Sanskrit, gorakhganja / chaya in Hindi, gorakhganja in Urdu, and polpala, kapok bush in English. The part used is whole herb (also root). Grey-woolly stems and leaves, nearly tasteless and faintly mucilaginous, the tiny flowers soft like cotton to the touch.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
MOUNTAIN KNOTGRASS
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- mountain knotgrass
- Scientific name
- Aerva lanata (L.) Juss.
- Family
- Amaranthaceae
Form
- Part used
- whole herb (also root)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Ayurveda
- sweet · bitter (madhura, tikta)
- Unani
- bland · astringent
Temperature
- Ayurveda
- cooling (shita)
- Unani
- cold & dry (1st degree)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Unani
- kidneys · bladder
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Ayurveda
- mutrala (diuretic), ashmarighna (lithotriptic), pitta-shamana, kaphaghna, mild kasahara (relieves cough)
- Unani
- mudirr-e-baul (diuretic), mufattit-e-hasat (dissolves stones), musakkin (demulcent-soothing), daf-e-safra (cools bile)
Cautions
- Contraindications
- no notable contraindication in ordinary use; very cold, wasting constitutions take it warmed
- Toxicity
- regarded as safe and food-like even in liberal doses
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