Garu गारु
Bole rubra
Part used: Mineral, 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: Bole rubra
- Part used: Mineral, Resin
- Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata
- Typical dose: Purified powder 500 mg – 2 g per day internally within a compound; externally applied as required.
Garu in other languages
Introduction
Garu, given in the manufacturing sheet as Bole rubra, is not a plant. It is red bole — a fine iron-oxide clay, known as Armenian bole, used since antiquity as a pigment, a bolus and an astringent.
It is listed among the mineral drugs rather than the herbs. Its action is purely astringent and absorbent: it dries discharge and checks bleeding.
Classification
A mineral earth (Gairika group), not a botanical drug. Chiefly hydrated iron oxide with clay. Rasa: Kashaya, Madhura. Guna: Guru, Ruksha. Virya: Sheeta. Vipaka: Katu. Doshaghnata: pacifies Pitta and Kapha.
Uses & benefits
Used in bleeding disorders and diarrhoea for its astringency, and applied externally to wounds and inflamed skin. In this catalogue it appears in Irimedadi Taila, a preparation for the gums and mouth, where its astringency is the point.
Red bole as an astringent
Its absorbent, drying character is used to check discharge and bleeding, whether from the bowel, the gums or a wound surface.
Red bole in oral preparations
In Irimedadi Taila it contributes astringency to a formulation intended for spongy, bleeding gums.
Dosage — how much to take
Purified powder 500 mg – 2 g per day internally within a compound; externally applied as required.
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 Garu?
The citations held for Garu in this catalogue are: Bhavaprakasha Nighantu (Dhatvadi Varga — Gairika).
What does the Bhavaprakasha Nighantu record about Garu?
Red ochre and related earths; kashaya rasa, sheeta virya, raktastambhaka. Reference: Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Dhatvadi Varga — Gairika.
What is Garu traditionally used for in Ayurveda?
Used in bleeding disorders and diarrhoea for its astringency, and applied externally to wounds and inflamed skin. In this catalogue it appears in Irimedadi Taila, a preparation for the gums and mouth, where its astringency is the point.
What are the Ayurvedic properties of Garu?
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 Garu classified the way it is?
In dravya-guna a drug's dosha action follows from its taste, qualities, potency and post-digestive effect. Garu carries Ushna (Hot) virya and Katu (Pungent) vipaka, which together give the recorded action: Balances Kapha & Vata.
Which part of Garu is used medicinally?
The part used is Mineral, Resin.
How much Garu is taken, and how?
Purified powder 500 mg – 2 g per day internally within a compound; externally applied as required. Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm it with a qualified Vaidya.
When should Garu be avoided?
Use only purified (Shodhita) mineral material from a licensed manufacturer. Unrefined earth may carry heavy metals and microbial contamination. Not for prolonged internal self-medication. Astringent, so heavy use may cause constipation.
Where does Garu grow?
A mineral, not a plant. Sourced from natural iron-oxide clay deposits and refined before use.
Classical references
- Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Dhatvadi Varga — Gairika
Red ochre and related earths; kashaya rasa, sheeta virya, raktastambhaka. - Rasa Shastra texts — Shodhana of mineral earths
Purification specified before internal use.
Safety & precautions
Use only purified (Shodhita) mineral material from a licensed manufacturer. Unrefined earth may carry heavy metals and microbial contamination. Not for prolonged internal self-medication. Astringent, so heavy use may cause constipation.
Where it grows
A mineral, not a plant. Sourced from natural iron-oxide clay deposits and refined before use.
Frequently asked questions
Is Garu a herb?
No. It is a mineral earth — an iron-oxide clay. It appears on this page because it is in the ingredient sheet, but it belongs with the mineral drugs.
Is it safe to take?
Only as purified material within a licensed preparation. Raw mineral earth can carry heavy metals and should never be self-sourced.
