Musta - Korai Kilangu

Botanical name : Cyperus rotundus
Family : Cyperaceae
Common name : Nutsedge, nutgrass, purple nutsedge
Sanskrit name: Musta
Tamil: Korai kizhangu  
Bengali : Mutha, badhail, bedalle, dila motha, nagarmuta, nagarmotha
Hindi : Motha, dila

Urdu : Mork, deela

General information:
Nut Grass has a long history of medicinal use in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. Its benefits have been documented in the Charaka Samhita, one of Ayurveda’s prime texts. The herb also features heavily in medicinal texts of Chinese Traditional Medicine. This ordinary-looking herb grows wild along water courses or wet places inmost parts of India. Known as mustaka in Sanskrit and Cyperus rotundus scientifically.

Medicinal Properties:
Rhizome of the plant is used in various Ayurvedic preparations. Mustaka is widely used in Ayurveda to treat diseases of nervous system where stimulation is required. It helps in indigestion, excessive thirst, cough, cold. Nagarmotha is found to be effective for menstrual disorders, skin troubles, general debility, sun stroke, fever and diseases of female reproductive organs. Topical application of lepa (Poultice or paste) of it stimulates milk secretion in lactating mothers.

Even in ancient times, nagarmotha was a favourite of ayurvedic physicians for treating a number of diseases. Here area few tips with regard to nagarmotha as a household remedy:

Mustakadi kwatha, Mustkarishta and Mustadi Churna are the prestigious classic ayurvedic medicines which containing nagarmotha as their primary ingredient.


Siddha Medicinal Uses :

The tuber is ground and applied over breast in lactating women to increase the milk secretion.

The tuber can be ground and consumed with milk for bloody diarrhoea.

For diarrhoea, indigestion, etc the dried powder of this tuber can be administred in dose of 1 to 3 gms thrice daily with honey.

The tuber is washed properly, crushed, boiled with milk and given daily to both children and adults. This is a very good immune modulator and proved well in conditions like asthma, common cold, chest congestion etc.

The decoction of the tuber is very effective for all intestinal problems including peptic ulcer and inflammatory conditions.

If this tuber is applied externally as a paste over the body daily before bath then the problem of bad odour due to sweat can overcome.


Key therapeutic benefits Nagarmotha:
- It is beneficial in treating nausea and digestive problems.
- It is used as an analgesic for menstruation pains.
- It is used to treat digestive disorders, menstrual irregularity and nausea.
- It also promotes liver detoxification and healing.
- It enhances milk secretion in lactating woman.

Dosage:
2 to 5 grams twice or thrice a day and that of its decoction 50 to 100 ml daily.

Note: Siddha treatment is based on complete physical examination of the patient, Naadi diagnosis, and other diagnostic criteria of the disease. The content given in this article is purely meant for information and education purpose only. Kindly consult a Siddha physician before any sort of self medication.