Witnessed by: Ayurveda · Western · Unani
Lamb's Quarters (Chenopodium album), of the Amaranthaceae (Chenopodiaceae) family. Erect annual herb, often mealy-white on the young growth; native range: Cosmopolitan weed of cultivated and waste ground throughout the temperate and subtropical world. Globally recognized as vastuka in Sanskrit, bathua in Hindi, and fat hen, white goosefoot, pigweed, melde in English. The part used is leaves and tender shoots (also seed). Diamond-shaped grey-green leaves dusted with a white mealy bloom, mild and spinach-like when cooked, faintly earthy.
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.
LAMB'S QUARTERS
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Lamb's Quarters
- Scientific name
- Chenopodium album L.
- Family
- Amaranthaceae (Chenopodiaceae)
Form
- Part used
- leaves and tender shoots (also seed)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Ayurveda
- astringent · salty (kashaya, mildly lavana)
- Western
- bland (mild, sweetish)
- Unani
- bland
Temperature
- Ayurveda
- cooling (shita)
- Western
- cool
- Unani
- cold & moist (1st degree)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Western
- bowels · digestion · blood · kidneys
- Unani
- stomach · liver · intestines
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Ayurveda
- dipana and rochana (kindles appetite), mridu virechana (mild laxative), krimighna, kapha-pitta-hara
- Western
- mild laxative, anthelmintic, nutritive pot-herb, refrigerant, and mildly diuretic
- Unani
- mulaiyin (laxative), mohallil (resolvent), musakkin (soother), mudirr-e-baul (diuretic)
Cautions
- Contraindications
- caution in kidney stone and gout, for the leaf is high in oxalate
- Toxicity
- large amounts hold enough oxalic acid and nitrate to disturb; the seed carries saponins and is best cooked
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