Witnessed by: Ayurveda
Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martini), of the Poaceae family. Tall tufted aromatic perennial grass; native range: central and western India. Globally recognized as rohisha, rohisha trina in Sanskrit, rusa, gandhabena in Hindi, and palmarosa, rosha grass, ginger grass in English. The part used is whole grass (herb), essential oil. Slender blue-green blades releasing a warm rose-geranium fragrance when bruised.
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.
PALMAROSA
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- palmarosa
- Scientific name
- Cymbopogon martini (Roxb.) W.Watson
- Family
- Poaceae
Form
- Part used
- whole grass (herb), essential oil
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Ayurveda
- pungent (katu) · bitter (tikta)
Temperature
- Ayurveda
- heating (ushna virya)
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Ayurveda
- carminative and digestive (deepana, pachana), diaphoretic and febrifuge (jvaraghna), aromatic stimulant (vatanulomana), anti-rheumatic (vatahara)
Cautions
- Contraindications
- heating; use cautiously in pitta excess; essential oil not for internal use undiluted
- Toxicity
- no significant toxicity of the herb at customary doses; concentrated oil is irritant
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