Witnessed by: TCM · Ayurveda
Common reed (Phragmites communis), of the Poaceae (Gramineae) family. Tall perennial grass spreading by stout creeping rhizomes; native range: cosmopolitan in wetlands, marshes and riverbanks across the temperate and tropical world. Globally recognized as nala in Sanskrit, nal, narkul in Hindi, lu gen (芦根) in Chinese, and reed, reed rhizome in English. The part used is rhizome (fresh preferred). Jointed, white, watery rhizome, sweet and cooling, with a faint grassy freshness.
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.
COMMON REED
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Common reed
- Scientific name
- Phragmites communis Trin. (P. australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud.)
- Family
- Poaceae (Gramineae)
Form
- Part used
- rhizome (fresh preferred)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- sweet
- Ayurveda
- sweet (madhura)
Temperature
TCM: cold
Ayurveda: cooling (sheeta)
convergence: both {witness_count} witnesses read it cooling — a moist heat-clearer in each
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Lung · Stomach
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- clears heat and generates fluids, relieves thirst and irritability, clears lung and stomach heat, expels pus for lung abscess, stops vomiting, promotes urination, vents rashes
- Ayurveda
- sheeta (cooling), mutrala (diuretic), trishnaghna (relieves thirst), dahaprashamana (relieves burning), stanyajanana (galactagogue), pittashamaka
Cautions
- Contraindications
- spleen-stomach cold and cold-type vomiting
- Toxicity
- very safe, food-grade
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