Photo: Heinrich BÜNTING / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Mundi मुंडी
Sphaeranthus indicus
Also known as: Gorakhmundi
Part used: Leaf, Whole Plant
| 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: Sphaeranthus indicus
- Part used: Leaf, Whole Plant
- Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata
- Typical dose: Whole plant powder 3–6 g per day; decoction 40–80 ml twice daily; fresh juice 10–20 ml.
Mundi in other languages
Introduction
Mundi (Sphaeranthus indicus) is the East Indian globe thistle, a small aromatic herb of drying rice fields whose purple flower heads are gathered after the monsoon.
Ayurveda uses it as a Medhya and Rasayana drug and, more commonly in practice, as a skin drug — it appears in the classical preparations for chronic itching and eruption.
Classification
Family Asteraceae. The whole plant and flower head are officinal. Rasa: Tikta, Katu, Kashaya. Guna: Laghu, Snigdha. Virya: Ushna. Vipaka: Katu. Doshaghnata: pacifies Kapha and Vata.
Uses & benefits
Given in chronic skin disease, itching and urticaria, and in worm infestation. Classical texts also describe it as Medhya and Rasayana and use it in epilepsy and mental complaints. It appears in Mahamanjishthadi Kwath in this catalogue for its skin action.
Mundi for the skin
Its bitter warmth is directed at chronic itching and eruption, and it is a component of the large blood-purifying decoctions used for stubborn skin disease.
Mundi as a Rasayana
Classical texts give it a Medhya and Rasayana role, taken over long courses, though its commoner practical use today is dermatological.
Dosage — how much to take
Whole plant powder 3–6 g per day; decoction 40–80 ml twice daily; fresh juice 10–20 ml.
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 Mundi?
The citations held for Mundi in this catalogue are: Bhavaprakasha Nighantu (Guduchyadi Varga — Mundi).
What does the Bhavaprakasha Nighantu record about Mundi?
Tikta-katu rasa, ushna virya; kushtaghna and medhya. Reference: Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Guduchyadi Varga — Mundi.
What is Mundi traditionally used for in Ayurveda?
Given in chronic skin disease, itching and urticaria, and in worm infestation. Classical texts also describe it as Medhya and Rasayana and use it in epilepsy and mental complaints. It appears in Mahamanjishthadi Kwath in this catalogue for its skin action.
What are the Ayurvedic properties of Mundi?
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 Mundi classified the way it is?
In dravya-guna a drug's dosha action follows from its taste, qualities, potency and post-digestive effect. Mundi carries Ushna (Hot) virya and Katu (Pungent) vipaka, which together give the recorded action: Balances Kapha & Vata.
Which part of Mundi is used medicinally?
The part used is Leaf, Whole Plant.
How much Mundi is taken, and how?
Whole plant powder 3–6 g per day; decoction 40–80 ml twice daily; fresh juice 10–20 ml. Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm it with a qualified Vaidya.
When should Mundi be avoided?
Well tolerated at classical doses. Heating, so may aggravate Pitta in excess. Consult a physician in pregnancy. As a composite it may not suit those with known sensitivity to the daisy family.
Where does Mundi grow?
A common weed of drying paddy fields, damp waste ground and tank margins throughout India, appearing after the monsoon.
Classical references
- Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Guduchyadi Varga — Mundi
Tikta-katu rasa, ushna virya; kushtaghna and medhya. - Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India — Part I — Mundi
Whole plant of Sphaeranthus indicus; identity and dose.
Safety & precautions
Well tolerated at classical doses. Heating, so may aggravate Pitta in excess. Consult a physician in pregnancy. As a composite it may not suit those with known sensitivity to the daisy family.
Where it grows
A common weed of drying paddy fields, damp waste ground and tank margins throughout India, appearing after the monsoon.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mundi the same as Gorakhmundi?
Yes — Gorakhmundi is another common name for the same plant, Sphaeranthus indicus. Both spellings appear in the manufacturing sheet.
Which part is used?
The whole plant, and particularly the flower heads, gathered after the monsoon when the plant is in flower.
