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 milkdly stimulates digestion. There are two other types of Cyperus 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:

1. Cramps
2. Bloating
3. Dysmenorrhea
4. Fever
5. Skin problems like eczema and psoriasis
6. Diarrhea
7. Edema
8.  

Precautions: Do not use with excess dryness or high vata

Research