Elemental composition: Vayu (air) + Akasha (ether)
Qualities (Guna): Cold (sheeta), dry (ruksha), light (laghu)
Virya:Sheeta (cooling)
Vipaka : Katu (pungent)
Effect on doshas:Pacifies Pitta and Kapha; aggravates Vata
Actions (Karma):
Deepana and pachana -improves appetite and digestion
Krimighna -anti-parasitic, kills worms
Kushthaghna and kandughna -helps in skin diseases
Lekhana - scrapes away excess fat, mucus and toxins
Medohara -reduces fat and obesity
Shoshana -dries up excess moisture, pus and sweat
Rakta prasadana -purifies blood
Improves taste perception and clears the palate
Excess use causes: Dryness, emaciation, weakness, giddiness, tremors, pain, and depletion of dhatus (tissues), especially shukra (reproductive tissue), due to aggravated Vata.
Examples:Neem (nimba), karela (bitter gourd), guduchi, kutki, patola, kiratatikta, turmeric, fenugreek.
