Healing PMS with Musta
Musta, Nut Grass, Cyperus rotundus
Character: The Great Comforter
Musta contains many essential oils and triterpenes that creates it’s medicinal benefits for healing digestion and female reproductive complaints. It has a special ability to reduce or prevent smooth muscle tissue spasms that cause cramping and bloating by removing nervous tension. Because this spasm is characterized by pain it also relieves pain and mildly stimulates digestion. There are two other types of Cyprus that are commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine.
Guna: light, dry
Rasa: Pungent, bitter, astringent
Vipaka: pungent
Virya: cooling
Prabhava: treats candida at high doses
Main Action: Carminative, alterative, astringent, antispasmodic, analgesic
Action on Doshas: Pacifies Pitta and Kapha
Action on Dhatus: Supports digestion, circulatory, female reproductive
Description:
Musta is considered one of the primary herbs in regulating the menstrual cycle. It is excellent in promoting the downward movement of energy that is a key component in both elimination and menstruation. One of the triterpenes in musta has been shown to have phyto-estrogenic properties which assist in reducing swollen breasts, pain, irritability and depression associated PMS symptoms. As the female reproductive system requires good liver function musta has also been found to improve metabolism of hormones, stimulate bile production and improve the digestion of fats.
Main Uses:
- Cramps
- Bloating
- Dysmenorrhea
- Fever
- Skin problems like eczema and psoriasis
- Diarrhea
- Edema
Precautions: Do not use with excess dryness or high vata
