Ingredients
| Triphala | Three fruits |
| Vidanga | Embelia ribes |
| Trikatu | Three spices |
| Ativisha | Acotinum heterophyllum |
| Mustaka | Cyperus rotundus |
| Chiretta | Swertia chiretta |
| Haridra | Curcuma longa |
| Guduchi | Tinospora cordifolia |
| Dhanvyas | Fagonia cretica |
| Katuka | Picrorhiza kurroa |
| Parpat | Fumaria indica |
| Neem | Azadiracta indica |
| Yastimadhu | Glycrrhiza glabra |
| Kutaja | Holarrhena antidysenterica |
| Chitraka | Plumbago zeylanica |
| Usher | Vetivera zizanoides |
| Vacha | Acorus calamus |
| Devadaru | Cedrus deodara |
| Kantakari | Solanum xanthocarpum |
Method of preparation
All the herbs are made into fine powder and mixed together to make a homogeneous mixture (Bhaisajya Ratnavalı-: Jvaradhikara).
ENERGETICS
- Rasa (taste): Bitter, pungent, astringent
- Vırya (energy): Cooling
- Vipaka (post-digestive effect): Pungent
- Guna (quality): Light, dry
- Dosa effect: PK−, V+
- Dhatu (tissue): Plasma, blood
- Srotas (channel): Respiratory, water
AYURVEDIC ACTION
- Jvarahara Alleviates fevers
- Yakrduttejaka Tonifies the liver
- Amapacana Removes ama; especially pitta inflammatory toxins
- Pittasodhana Clears pitta from the system
- Raktasodhana Cleans the blood
- Caksusya Benefits the eyes
BIOMEDICAL ACTION
Alterative, febrifuge, antipyretic, cholagogue, antiviral, diaphoretic, diuretic, decongestant
INDICATIONS
Fever Mahasudarsana clears inflammatory toxins from the body via the skin and urine. It directly clears heat from the system that has built up due to a displaced agni circulating in the plasma and blood. The low agni commonly causes ama blocking the channels of circulation (srotas) and hence obstructing the circulation of vata causing some of the prodromal symptoms of fever. It neutralizes viral infections by enhancing immunity and detoxifying the acidic burden. It is a specific for including influenza, acute phases of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and the Epstein–Barr virus manifesting with sore throat, high temperature, thirst, constipation and burning sensations.
Lymph Its detoxifying and diuretic action reduces lymphatic swelling and congestion. Long-term chronic low immunity can cause swollen lymph glands and mahasudars´ana treats both the cause and the manifestation of this problem.
Liver This bitter-tasting formula stimulates the liver to release bile. The excess heat is cleared from the hepatic system and ranjaka pitta. It can help to treat hypochondrial pain, gallstones and liver toxicity. By treating the liver it clears heat from alocaka pitta in the eyes and can be used to treat conjunctivitis and styes. Pitta headaches that manifest with pain behind the eyes, at the side of the head, on the temples and in the forehead are also treated with mahasudarsana.
Skin Its alterative effects clear inflammatory pitta toxins from the blood helping to treat acne, eczema and sensations of burning on the skin. It can also be used where there is an allergic component such as in urticaria with itching and red inflamed weals.
COMBINATIONS
- Follow with immune-bolstering herbs such as ashwagandha or cyavanaprasa.
- Anthrapachaka, vasa and trikatu in lung disorders.
- Sariva, pitshirisha and coriander for allergic reactions.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Only use for pitta fevers; pregnancy.
DOSAGE
1–3g three times per day.
NOTES
- The bitter chiretta, guduchi, neem, kutki, haridra, musta and parpat all clear heat, reduce inflammation, are antiviral and rectify liver function.
- Trikatu, chitraka, ativisa, vacha and deodar all balance the digestive fire and push heat out of the body via the skin.
- Triphala, vidanga, yastimandhu and kutaja all treat the bowel and aid elimination of toxins from the intestines.
- Vetiver acts as a diuretic.
- Replace CITES-listed kutki with kalamegha (Andrographis paniculata).
