Herb × Condition

Vidanga for Inflammation

Sanskrit: विडंग | Embelia ribes Burm.

How Vidanga helps with Inflammation according to Ayurveda. Classical references, dosage, preparation methods, and what modern research says.

Overview

Vidanga is one of the herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda for inflammation. Prime Krimighna (anthelmintic) drug. Especially effective against tapeworms. Fruit resembles black pepper. Dose: 4-8g with honey or buttermilk.

How Vidanga Helps with Inflammation

According to Ayurvedic pharmacology, Vidanga has specific properties that make it valuable for addressing inflammation:

  • Potency (Virya): Ushna (hot)
  • Post-digestive (Vipaka): Katu
  • Taste (Rasa): Katu (pungent), Kashaya (astringent)
  • Qualities (Guna): Laghu (light), Ruksha (dry), Tikshna (sharp)

Ayurvedic Properties

Taste (Rasa)
Pungent (Katu), Astringent (Kashaya)
Quality (Guna)
Light (Laghu), Dry (Ruksha), Sharp (Tikshna)
Potency (Virya)
Hot (Ushna)
Post-digestive (Vipaka)
Katu
Key Constituents
Embelin (Embelic acid, C₁₈H₂₈O₄, ~2.5%), Christembine
Also Known As
Sanskrit: विडंग, कृमिघ्न, जन्तुघ्न, तण्डुल
Hindi: वायविडंग, बायबिडंग

What the Classical Texts Say

  • Krimi (intestinal worms, especially tapeworm)
  • Udara Roga
  • Kushtha

Source: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 1

Katu Gana – group of pungents:कटुको ह गु म रचकृ मिजत प चकोलकम ् कुठे रा या ह रतकाः प तं मू म करम ् Hingu- Asa foetida Maricha – Black pepper, Krimijit – Vidanga, Panchakola – Chitraka, Pippalmoola, Pippali, Chitraka and ginger, leafy vegetables such as Kutheraka and others (mentioned in verse 103 of chapter 6 earlier), Pitta (bile of animals), Mutra (urines), Arushkara etc.

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 10: Rasabhediyam Tastes, Their

20 Treatment for over nourishing त मेदो नल ले मनाशनं सव म यते कुला थजूण यामाकयवमु गमधूदकम ् म त ुद डाहता र ट च ताशोधनजागरम ् मधुना फलां ल या गुडूचीमभयां घनम ् रसा जन य महतः प चमल ू य ग ु गल ु ोः शलाजतु] योग च साि नम थरसो हतः वड गं नागरं ारः काललोहरजो मधु यवामलक चूण च योगो अ त थौ यदोशिजत ् Treatments which reduce Medas- fat, Anila- Vata and Kapha are desirable; Use of Kulattha – horse gram – Dolichos Biflorus, Jurna, Shyamaka, Yava – Barley – Hordeum Vulgare, Mudga – green gram – Averr

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 14: Dvividha Upakramaneeya

21-24 योषकटवीवरा श ु वड गा त वषाि थराः ह गुस ौवचलाजाजीयवानीधा य च काः नशी ब ृह यौ हपुषा पाठामूलं च के बुकात ् एषां चूण मधु घ ृतं तैलं च सदशांशकम ् स तु भः षोडशगुणैयु तं पीतं नहि त तत ् अ त थौ या दकान ् सवा ोगान यां च त वधान ् ोगकामलाि व वासकासगल हान ् बु मेधा म ृ तकरं स न या ने च द पनम ् Powder of Vyosha- (Trikatu – pepper, long pepper and ginger), Katvi, Vara (Triphala), Shigru (drum stick), Vidanga (False black pepper – Embelia ribes), Ativisha, Sthira (Desmodium gangeticum), Hingu – (A

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 14: Dvividha Upakramaneeya

Similar is the case of Anuvasana – fat enema and Matra basti – fat enema with very little oil 34-36 Anu taila जीव तीजलदे वदा जलद व से यगोपी हमं दाव व मधुक लवागु वर पु ा व ब वो पलम ् धाव यौ सरु भं ि थरे कृ महरं प ं ु ट रे णक ु ां कि ज कं कमला वलां शतगुणे द ये अ भ स वाथयेत ् ३७ तैला सं दशगण ु ं प रशो य तेन तैलं पचेत ् स ललेन दशैव वारान ् पाके पे चदशमे सममाजद ु धं न यं महागुणमुश यणुतैलमेतत ् ३८ Jivanti, Jala, Devadaru, Jalada, Twak, Sevya, Gopi (sariva), Hima, Darvi twak, Madhuka, Plava, A

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 20: Nasya Vidhi Nasal

वे लमा ा रस या The quantity of eye-salve which is in the form of gel, confection (Rasakriya) shall be that of Vella (Vidanga), चू णत य च वे शालाके त ु ती ण य, त त दतर य च the quantity of the eye salve which is in the form of powder (Churna) is two rods full in case of strong herbs and three rods full in case of mild herbs.

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 23: Aschotana Anjana Vidhi

35 अस यग े व त वे ल योष नशानतैः सागारधूमलवणतैलै द याि छरामुखम ् स य व ृ ते को णेन तैलेन लवणेन च When the blood is not flowing out in sufficient quantity, the cut end of the vein should be smeared with oil processed with Vella (Vidanga), Vyosha (Trikatu), Haridra, Nata, Agaradhuma or Lavana, when the blood is flowing out properly, the site should be smeared with warm oil and salt.

— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 27: Siravyadha Vidhi

Source: Astanga Hridaya, Ch. 10, Ch. 14, Ch. 14, Ch. 20, Ch. 23, Ch. 27

Other Herbs for Inflammation

See all herbs for inflammation on the Inflammation page.

Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Ayurvedic treatments should be pursued under the guidance of a qualified practitioner (BAMS/MD Ayurveda). Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment. Content is sourced from classical Ayurvedic texts and may not reflect the latest medical research.