Dashamoola: Shothahara Mahakashay: Anti Inflammatory Herbs

By Dr MS Krishnamurthy MD(Ayu), PhD.
In Sanskrit language ‘Shotha’ means swelling or edema. Any kind of inflammation is termed as Shotha. Depending upon the type and site it is denoted by another nearer term  Shopha or Shvayathu. 

Even though pain is not a mandatory feature in Shotha usually it is presented with pain and swelling. So, the drugs which are denoted as Shothahara usually have anti inflammatory as well as analgesic effect.

As pain and swelling are the dominant features in most of the diseases as per ayurveda as well as allopathic system of medicine Shothahara drugs have wide application and utility. The drugs possessing such characters are considered together and presented with Shothahara drugs and in brief action of each such drug is explained here below-

Shothahara Gana

  Let us review the quality and action of these drugs one by one in brief-

1. Patala (Stereospermum suaveolens DC.) -Roots
Anti inflammatory, analgesic, digestive, carminative, stabilizer etc.

2. Agnimantha (Clerodendrum phlomidis Linn. f.)-Roots
Carminative, digestive, appetizer, anti inflammatory, anti spasmodic etc.

3. Shyonaka (Oroxylum indicum Vent.) -Roots
Carminative, anti inflammatory, nervine tonic, analgesic etc.

4. Bilva (Aegle marmelos) -Roots
Absorbant, appetizer, analgesic, anti inflammatory, anti microbial, wormicide etc.

5. Kashmarya (Gmelina arborea Linn.) – Roots
Stabilizer, energizer, nervine tonic, anti inflammatory etc.

6. Kantakarika – Solanum xanthocarpum -Roots
Expectorant, anti tussiove, broncho dilator, anti inflammatory etc.

7. Brihati – Solanum indicum -Roots
Anti inflammatory, analgesic, anti pyretic, decongestant etc.

8. Shalaparni (Desmodium gangeticum DC.)-Roots
Nervine stabilizer, restorative, anti inflammatory, bulk enhancer etc.

9. Prishnaparni – Uraria picta – Roots
Restorative, rejuvinative, nervine tonic, analgesic etc.

10. Goksuraka (Tribulus terrestris Linn.) – Roots
Diuretic, anti inflammatory, aphrodisiac, coolant, stabilizer etc.

Qualities, Therapeutic uses

Qualities in general and actions of Shvayathuhara Gana drugs:
The above drugs are together mentioned as ‘Dashamoola’ in Ayurveda and they include Brihat panchamoola (Bilva, Agnimantha, Shyonaka, Kashmari and Patala) and Laghu panchamoola (Shaliparni, Prishniparni, Brihati, Kantakari and Gokshura).These drugs are acting as Tridoshahara and rich with heavy-unctuous -hot and stable qualities.

Most of these drugs are hot in potency and undergoing pungent kind of metabolic change(Katu vipaka).

They acts as anti inflammatory, analgesic, diuretic and soothing agents. They regulate the neuro- muscular activities too.

As per Bhava Prakasha

bRhat paMcamUla (बृहत् पंचमूल) is vAtakaphahara (वातकफहर), laghu paMcamUla (लघु पंचमूल) is vAtapittahara (वातपित्तहर) and dazamUla (दशमूल) is tridoSaghna (त्रिदोषघ्न). That video cited the following sutra from bhAvaprakAza (भावप्रकाश):
दशमूलं त्रिदोषघ्नं श्वासकासशिरोरुजः।
तन्द्राशोथज्वरानाहपार्श्वपीडारुचीर्हरेत् ॥
—भावप्रकाश, पूर्वखण्ड, मिश्रप्रकरण, गुडूच्यादिवर्ग, 42

Therapeutic uses of Shothahara Gana drugs:
They are useful in most of the Vata disorders, emaciating disorders, sluggish neuro muscular functions, diseases of the locomotor system, arthritis, back ache, sciatica etc. In headache, asthma, neuralgia etc also it is having significant benefits.
Indicated in
Shwasa – asthma, bronchitis, disorders with dyspnoea,
Kasa – cold, cough
Shiroruja – Headache
Tandra – Malaise, tiredness, fatigue
Shotha – inflammation related disorders
Jwara – fever
Anaha – Bloating
Parshva Peeda – pain in the flanks
Aruchi – Anorexia

Ayurvedic medicines

Formulations containing Shothahara drugs :
Dashamoola kashaya, Dashamoola katutrayadi kashaya, Dashamoolarioshtha, Dashamoola hareetaki, Eladashamooladi lehya etc are the few important formulations derived out of these drugs. 

Disadvantages

Disadvantages of Shothahara Gana drugs:
As the drugs explained under this group are hot in potency and pungent in metabolic change they may trigger the Paittic health problems. So in Pitta associated conditions it should not be prescribed.

Simple formulations

Simple formulations that can be made from the above drugs and their application in routine practice:
In case of localized edema fine paste of leaves of Bilva can be applied over those parts. If the swelling is hard and cold, or associated with numbness or persisting since long time, this paste can be applied after making it into lukewarm.

If the swelling is persisting in dependent parts of the body or in extremities hot infusion or decoction of Gokshura is found to be useful.

Formulation development opportunities

As the swelling is a common phenomenon in most of the health issues potent herbal medicines have demand throughout and always. So the Dashamoola drugs can be modified into Ghanavati or Capsules of the herbal extracts.As per the need Nirgundi-Shallaki-Guggulu-Rasna etc can also be added and its potency can be modified. Also this can be used to increase the potency of the herbo- minieral preparation by impregnation or grinding so that the safety aspects can be improved and highly efficacious competitive ayurvedic product can be designed.
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Why is Dashamoola important? 

Dr JV Hebbar
I often get queries about Ashwagandha, Shilajit, Guduchi, Shatavari, Tribulus, Triphala etc. but I do not get many queries about Dashamoola. Dashamul is one of the most important group of herbs explained by Acharya Charaka. It is a group of 10 roots and is available in tablet, capsule, herbal powder and herbal tea (decoction / kashaya) forms. 
There are two main benefits of Dashamoola. 
1. Balances Vata Dosha. 
2. Fights inflammation. 
Inflammation is when you have an injury and your knee area swells with redness and pain. Such forms of inflammation can occur inside our bodies as well. For example, our body is fighting viruses in the lungs, there, due to the fight, local damage and inflammation of the lungs can happen. 
We might not be knowing it, but we all have one or the other inflammation process going on in the body. From common cold to cancer, all the diseases have one other form of inflammation. 
Fatigue, tiredness, muscle weakness? Inflammation could be the cause. 
Neck pain, back pain, joint pain? twitch? injury? Inflammation again. 
Diabetes, obesity? Inflammation it is. 
Any virus or bacterial infection? It definitely involves inflammation. 
The ancient masters of Ayurveda understood the process of inflammation in such a great detail that, Acharya Charaka wrote a whole chapter explaining it, in the basic principle section (Sutrasthana) of Charaka Samhita, called Trisotheeya Adhyaya

Some people who look perfectly healthy, when undergoing blood tests, get their ESR rate higher than normal. It is Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, an indicator of inflammation. 

There are numerous herbs in Ayurveda which have anti-inflammatory effect. Out of all, Dashamoola stands the tallest. One, it is mentioned by none other than Acharya Charaka, second, it really is a highly potent anti inflamamatory combination. 

This is the reason why Dashamoola group of herbs is used as ingredient in many medicines such as 
Chyawanprash 
Dashamoola Katutraya Kashaya– used for bronchitis, cold, cough and asthma 
Dashamoolarishtam– A fermented liquid preparation, used in cold, cough, asthma, post-delivery care of the mother, menstrual pain etc. 
Vasishta Rasayana –  Used in fever, cardiac disorders, asthma, allergic rhinitis 
Bhadradarvadi Kashayam: Used in rheumatoid arthritis 
Chitraka Haritaki, Brihat Katphaladi kashaya, Dhanwantharam Mezhupaakam, Kansa haritaki, Dasamula Jiraka.. and so on and on and on… you get the point. Dashamoola is important. 

How and when to take Dashamoola? 
Its herbal tea or kashaya form is the best way to take it. 1 tablespoon of the coarse powder is boiled with 2 cups of water, boiled till half a cup remains, filtered and consumed 30 minutes before food. 
Read: Kashayam (Kwath) – Herbal Teas Preparation [Video], Benefits, Usage
Dashamoola tablet or capsule – can be taken – 1 capsule or tablet a day before food for health maintenance. 
If someone is already healthy, then this can be continued for one month and then stopped. It is not recommended for more than 1 – 2 months. Unnecessary long term use of any Ayurvedic medicine is not good. 
If one has an underlying disease, then based on doctor’s advice, this can be consumed in a higher dose for a longer period of time.