Photo: Eitan Ferman / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Yavasa यवास
Alhagi pseudalhagi · Fabaceae
Also known as: Dhanvayasaka, Javasa, Camelthorn, Dhamasa
Part used: Whole plant
Yavasa (Alhagi pseudalhagi) is camel thorn, a spiny desert shrub used in Ayurveda as a cooling drug for burning, fever and bleeding. It is a classical Pitta-pacifying herb from the arid regions, and the sweet exudate from its stems is collected as a traditional sweetmeat.
| 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: Alhagi pseudalhagi
- Part used: Whole plant
- Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata
- Typical dose: Whole-plant decoction/powder in cooling and blood formulas.
Yavasa in other languages
Introduction
Yavasa (Alhagi pseudalhagi), or camelthorn, is a cooling desert herb used to calm Pitta, quench thirst and cleanse the blood. Sweet-bitter and cooling, it relieves burning and supports the skin.
Classification
Of the Fabaceae family, Yavasa is grouped among the cooling, Pitta-pacifying and blood-cleansing dravyas. Its cooling potency and light quality soothe heat and cleanse.
Uses & benefits
Yavasa is a cooling drug used in fever with burning and thirst, in bleeding disorders and in Pitta conditions of the blood. Light and bitter, it appears in the classical cooling decoctions and is a common ingredient of the fever formulations.
Yavasa for burning sensation
A Dahaprashamana drug used where heat and burning dominate, particularly in summer.
Yavasa for fever
Used in Pitta fevers with burning and thirst.
Yavasa for bleeding disorders
Cooling and astringent, used in Raktapitta.
Yavasa for excessive thirst
Named among the Trishnanigrahana drugs.
Yavasa for diarrhoea
Astringent, used in loose stool of Pitta origin.
Yavasa for skin complaints
Applied externally in burning, prickly heat and inflamed skin.
Yavasa for urinary complaints
Used in burning urination alongside the other cooling Mutrala drugs.
Yavasa for vomiting
Used in nausea and vomiting of Pitta origin.
Yavasa exudate as a sweetmeat
The sugary gum that exudes from the stems in hot weather is collected and eaten — a desert food and a cooling one.
Yavasa in classical formulations
Present in the classical cooling and Pitta-pacifying compounds.
Dosage — how much to take
Whole-plant decoction/powder in cooling and blood formulas. Follow your Vaidya's advice.
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 Yavasa?
The citations held for Yavasa in this catalogue are: Charaka Samhita (Pitta & Trishna context); Bhavaprakasha Nighantu (Guduchyadi Varga).
What does the Charaka Samhita record about Yavasa?
Cited among cooling herbs. Reference: Charaka Samhita — Pitta & Trishna context.
What does the Bhavaprakasha Nighantu record about Yavasa?
Described as cooling and Pitta-pacifying. Reference: Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Guduchyadi Varga.
What is Yavasa traditionally used for in Ayurveda?
Yavasa is a cooling drug used in fever with burning and thirst, in bleeding disorders and in Pitta conditions of the blood. Light and bitter, it appears in the classical cooling decoctions and is a common ingredient of the fever formulations.
What are the Ayurvedic properties of Yavasa?
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 Yavasa classified the way it is?
In dravya-guna a drug's dosha action follows from its taste, qualities, potency and post-digestive effect. Yavasa carries Ushna (Hot) virya and Katu (Pungent) vipaka, which together give the recorded action: Balances Kapha & Vata.
Which part of Yavasa is used medicinally?
The part used is Whole plant.
How much Yavasa is taken, and how?
Whole-plant decoction/powder in cooling and blood formulas. Follow your Vaidya's advice. Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm it with a qualified Vaidya.
When should Yavasa be avoided?
Very safe; a gentle cooling herb.
Where does Yavasa grow?
Camelthorn is a hardy, spiny shrub of the arid plains and deserts of north-western India.
Classical references
- Bhavaprakash Nighantu — Guduchyadi Varga
Described as cooling and Pitta-pacifying. - Charaka Samhita — Pitta & Trishna context
Cited among cooling herbs.
Modern research
-
A Systematic and Mechanistic Review on the Phytopharmacological Properties of Alhagi Species
(see source). Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences (2017)
A systematic review of Alhagi species (Yavasa) documenting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective and antimicrobial pharmacology.
View study doi:10.4103/asl.ASL_37_16
Safety & precautions
Very safe; a gentle cooling herb.
Where it grows
Camelthorn is a hardy, spiny shrub of the arid plains and deserts of north-western India.
Frequently asked questions
What is Yavasa used for?
Burning sensations, Pitta fever, bleeding disorders, excessive thirst, diarrhoea and burning urination. It is a cooling astringent drug from the arid regions, used across the classical Pitta-pacifying formulations.
What is the dose of Yavasa?
Whole plant powder 3–6 g per day, or decoction 40–80 ml twice daily. It is usually taken within a compound rather than alone.
What is Yavasa called in Hindi?
Javasa or Dhamasa. In English it is camel thorn or Persian manna plant. It grows across the deserts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and further west into Iran and Central Asia.
What is the sweet exudate from camel thorn?
A sugary gum that seeps from the stems in hot weather, collected and eaten as a traditional sweetmeat across the desert regions. It is sometimes identified with the "manna" of ancient accounts.
Are there side effects of Yavasa?
Well tolerated at classical doses. Cooling and astringent, so it is less suited to cold Kapha conditions. Consult a physician in pregnancy. The plant is fiercely spiny and fresh material needs careful handling.
Is Yavasa the same as Duralabha?
The names are used for closely related Alhagi species and are often treated as interchangeable in the classical texts. Both are cooling desert shrubs used for the same indications.
Can Yavasa be used in summer?
It is specifically a summer drug — cooling, thirst-relieving and used for the burning and heat that the season brings. It is much less suited to winter and to cold, congested conditions.
