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Gandaviroja गन्धाबिरोजा
Pinus longifolia
Part used: Resin
| Rasa (taste) | Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent) |
|---|---|
| Guna (qualities) | Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry) |
| Virya (potency) | Ushna (Hot) |
| Vipaka | Katu (Pungent) |
| Dosha | Balances Kapha & Vata |
| Prabhava | Classical systemic action |
Key takeaways
- Botanical name: Pinus longifolia
- Part used: Resin
- Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata
- Typical dose: External use in plasters and oils.
Gandaviroja in other languages
Introduction
Gandaviroja is the resin of the chir pine (Pinus longifolia, now P. roxburghii), tapped from the trunk in the Himalayan foothills. Distilled, it yields turpentine; the solid residue is rosin.
Ayurveda uses it as a warming, penetrating external drug for pain, swelling and slow-healing wounds, and it is a standard ingredient of classical plasters and pain oils.
Classification
Family Pinaceae. The oleoresin is officinal. Rasa: Tikta, Katu, Kashaya. Guna: Laghu, Snigdha, Tikshna. Virya: Ushna. Vipaka: Katu. Doshaghnata: pacifies Kapha and Vata.
Uses & benefits
Applied externally in plasters and oils for joint pain, muscular stiffness, swelling and chronic wounds. In this catalogue it appears in Panchagun Taila. Internal use is limited and confined to classical preparations.
Gandaviroja in pain plasters
Its warming, penetrating quality is used over painful joints and stiff muscles, and it gives classical plasters their adhesive body.
Gandaviroja for chronic wounds
Used in ointments for slow-healing ulcers, where it both protects the surface and draws.
Dosage — how much to take
External use in plasters and oils. Internal use only within classical preparations, as prescribed.
Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm with a qualified Vaidya.
Traditional uses — questions answered from the classical texts
Answers are drawn from the citations and properties recorded for this drug. No chapter-and-verse reference appears that the record does not carry.
Which classical texts describe Gandaviroja?
The citations held for Gandaviroja in this catalogue are: Bhavaprakasha Nighantu (Karpuradi Varga — Sarala niryasa).
What does the Bhavaprakasha Nighantu record about Gandaviroja?
Katu-tikta rasa, ushna virya; used externally in shotha and vrana. Reference: Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Karpuradi Varga — Sarala niryasa.
What is Gandaviroja traditionally used for in Ayurveda?
Applied externally in plasters and oils for joint pain, muscular stiffness, swelling and chronic wounds. In this catalogue it appears in Panchagun Taila. Internal use is limited and confined to classical preparations.
What are the Ayurvedic properties of Gandaviroja?
Rasa Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent), Guna Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry), Virya Ushna (Hot), Vipaka Katu (Pungent). Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata. Prabhava: Classical systemic action.
Why is Gandaviroja classified the way it is?
In dravya-guna a drug's dosha action follows from its taste, qualities, potency and post-digestive effect. Gandaviroja carries Ushna (Hot) virya and Katu (Pungent) vipaka, which together give the recorded action: Balances Kapha & Vata.
Which part of Gandaviroja is used medicinally?
The part used is Resin.
How much Gandaviroja is taken, and how?
External use in plasters and oils. Internal use only within classical preparations, as prescribed. Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm it with a qualified Vaidya.
When should Gandaviroja be avoided?
For external use in these preparations. Turpentine and pine resin cause contact dermatitis in sensitive people — patch test before wide application. Do not apply to broken or inflamed skin. Highly flammable; keep away from flame. Not for internal self-medication.
Where does Gandaviroja grow?
Chir pine forms extensive forests in the Himalayan foothills from Kashmir to Bhutan between roughly 500 and 2,000 m; resin is tapped commercially.
Classical references
- Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Karpuradi Varga — Sarala niryasa
Katu-tikta rasa, ushna virya; used externally in shotha and vrana. - Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India — Sarala
Pinus roxburghii resin; external applications.
Safety & precautions
For external use in these preparations. Turpentine and pine resin cause contact dermatitis in sensitive people — patch test before wide application. Do not apply to broken or inflamed skin. Highly flammable; keep away from flame. Not for internal self-medication.
Where it grows
Chir pine forms extensive forests in the Himalayan foothills from Kashmir to Bhutan between roughly 500 and 2,000 m; resin is tapped commercially.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as turpentine?
Turpentine is distilled from this resin. Gandaviroja is the crude oleoresin; Tarapina Taila in the same catalogue is the distilled oil.
Can it be applied to broken skin?
No. It is used on intact skin over painful joints and muscles, and can irritate if applied to open or inflamed areas.
