Witnessed by: Ayurveda
Kusha grass (Desmostachya bipinnata), of the Poaceae family. Tough perennial grass with far-creeping rhizomes; native range: dry plains of the Indian subcontinent, North Africa and West Asia. Globally recognized as kusha, darbha in Sanskrit, dab, kusha in Hindi, and halfa grass, big cordgrass, sacred grass in English. The part used is root (rhizome). Wiry stiff blades with sharp margins; the pale sweetish rhizome cools and mildly grips the tongue.
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.
KUSHA GRASS
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- kusha grass
- Scientific name
- Desmostachya bipinnata (L.) Stapf
- Family
- Poaceae
Form
- Part used
- root (rhizome)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Ayurveda
- sweet (madhura) · astringent (kashaya)
Temperature
- Ayurveda
- cooling (sheeta virya)
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Ayurveda
- diuretic (mutrala), cooling and refrigerant (pittahara), blood-arresting (raktastambhana), demulcent (mutravirechana)
Cautions
- Contraindications
- cooling; use moderately in cold, kapha-heavy digestion
- Toxicity
- no significant toxicity at customary doses
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