Rasaut रसौत
Extractum berberidis (from Berberis aristata)
Part used: Extract
| 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: Extractum berberidis (from Berberis aristata)
- Part used: Extract
- Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata
- Typical dose: Internally 250 mg – 1 g per day within a compound.
Rasaut in other languages
Introduction
Rasaut is not a crude drug but a prepared extract — the aqueous extract of Daruharidra (Berberis aristata) root and stem, boiled down to a dark, brittle mass. Classical texts call it Rasanjana.
It is used chiefly for the eyes, where it is the traditional application in conjunctivitis and inflamed lids, and internally as a bitter drug for the liver and skin.
Classification
A prepared extract (Kalpa), not a crude botanical drug. Derived from Berberis aristata. Rasa: Tikta, Kashaya. Guna: Laghu, Ruksha. Virya: Ushna. Vipaka: Katu. Doshaghnata: pacifies Kapha and Pitta.
Uses & benefits
Applied to the eyelids and eyes in conjunctivitis, styes and inflamed lids — the classical Netraroga use. Taken internally in jaundice, chronic skin disease and Prameha. In this catalogue it appears in Arshoghani Vati.
Rasaut for the eyes
The classical eye application, made into a paste with water or rose water and applied to the lids for redness and discharge.
Rasaut for liver and skin
Its concentrated bitterness carries the Daruharidra actions — used in jaundice and chronic skin complaints.
Dosage — how much to take
Internally 250 mg – 1 g per day within a compound. Externally applied to the lids as a paste, as directed.
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 Rasaut?
The citations held for Rasaut in this catalogue are: Sushruta Samhita (Uttaratantra — Netraroga); Bhavaprakasha Nighantu (Haritakyadi Varga — Rasanjana).
What does the Sushruta Samhita record about Rasaut?
Rasanjana used in disorders of the eye. Reference: Sushruta Samhita — Uttaratantra — Netraroga.
What does the Bhavaprakasha Nighantu record about Rasaut?
Prepared extract of Daruharidra; indicated in netraroga. Reference: Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Haritakyadi Varga — Rasanjana.
What is Rasaut traditionally used for in Ayurveda?
Applied to the eyelids and eyes in conjunctivitis, styes and inflamed lids — the classical Netraroga use. Taken internally in jaundice, chronic skin disease and Prameha. In this catalogue it appears in Arshoghani Vati.
What are the Ayurvedic properties of Rasaut?
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 Rasaut classified the way it is?
In dravya-guna a drug's dosha action follows from its taste, qualities, potency and post-digestive effect. Rasaut carries Ushna (Hot) virya and Katu (Pungent) vipaka, which together give the recorded action: Balances Kapha & Vata.
Which part of Rasaut is used medicinally?
The part used is Extract.
How much Rasaut is taken, and how?
Internally 250 mg – 1 g per day within a compound. Externally applied to the lids as a paste, as directed. Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm it with a qualified Vaidya.
When should Rasaut be avoided?
For eye use, only pharmaceutically prepared material should be used and only as a practitioner directs — anything applied near the eye must be clean and correctly prepared. Contains berberine; avoid in pregnancy and in newborns, where berberine is contraindicated. Not for prolonged internal self-medication.
Where does Rasaut grow?
Prepared from Berberis aristata, a shrub of the Himalaya between roughly 1,800 and 3,000 m. The extract is made by decoction and evaporation.
Classical references
- Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Haritakyadi Varga — Rasanjana
Prepared extract of Daruharidra; indicated in netraroga. - Sushruta Samhita — Uttaratantra — Netraroga
Rasanjana used in disorders of the eye.
Safety & precautions
For eye use, only pharmaceutically prepared material should be used and only as a practitioner directs — anything applied near the eye must be clean and correctly prepared. Contains berberine; avoid in pregnancy and in newborns, where berberine is contraindicated. Not for prolonged internal self-medication.
Where it grows
Prepared from Berberis aristata, a shrub of the Himalaya between roughly 1,800 and 3,000 m. The extract is made by decoction and evaporation.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rasaut a herb?
No — it is an extract prepared by boiling down Daruharidra root and stem. The crude drug has its own page.
Can I use it in my eyes at home?
Not without direction. Anything applied to the eye must be pharmaceutically prepared and clean, and eye complaints need proper diagnosis first.
