Witnessed by: TCM · Ayurveda · Unani
Black musli (Curculigo orchioides), of the Hypoxidaceae family. Small stemless perennial herb with grass-like pleated leaves rising from a stout vertical rootstock; native range: monsoon grasslands and forest floors of South and East Asia — India, southern China and Southeast Asia. Globally recognized as talamuli / krishna musli in Sanskrit, kali musli in Hindi, xian mao (仙茅) in Chinese, musli siyah in Arabic, and golden eye-grass, black musli in English. The part used is rhizome (root). A finger-like brown-black rhizome, mucilaginous within, with a faintly sweet then acrid, warming taste.
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.
BLACK MUSLI
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Black musli
- Scientific name
- Curculigo orchioides Gaertn.
- Family
- Hypoxidaceae
Form
- Part used
- rhizome (root)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- pungent
- Ayurveda
- sweet (madhura) · bitter (tikta)
Temperature
- TCM
- hot
- Ayurveda
- heating (ushna)
- Unani
- hot (& moist, 2nd degree)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Kidney · Liver · Spleen
- Unani
- kidneys
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- warms the Kidney and fortifies yang, strengthens the sinews and bones, dispels cold-damp
- Ayurveda
- vrishya (aphrodisiac), rasayana (rejuvenative), balya (strengthening), vata-pitta-hara
- Unani
- muqawwi-e-bah (aphrodisiac), muqawwi-e-badan (general tonic), musammin (restorative)
Cautions
- Contraindications
- yin deficiency with heat signs; high pitta and inflammatory states
- Toxicity
- the fresh rhizome is slightly toxic and acrid; prolonged high doses can irritate — use processed and in measure
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