Gokshurak (Tribulus Terestris): A Literary Review

Gokshurak

This article is about the properties of Gokshurak as well as its mode of action and clinical significance in various disorders of  different systems. Simultaneously how Gokshurak rejuvenate the damaged structure with help of Rasayana property.

Dr.Shushma Upadhyay,MD Scholar(Kayachikitsa)

Ch.Brahm Prakash Ayurved Charak Sansthan Khera Dabar,New Delhi

Abstract :

In Ayurveda,the principle source of medicine is medicinal herbs worldwide through centuries as it is believed that it does not produce any adverse reactions. One of the most important drug Gokshurak comes under Mutravirechniya Mahakashaya which is used to increase the formation of urine. Gokshurak is a healing plant with a broad range of properties. It is popular with the name of ‘Puncture vine’ abbreviated with Latin name Tribulus Terristris. In this article we have discussed about the properties of Gokshurak as well as its mode of action and clinical significance in various disorders of  different systems. Simultaneously how Gokshurak rejuvenate the damaged structure with help of Rasayana property.

Keyword:Gokshurak,Rasayana,Hridyagatadhamni roga(CAD),Chinta(Anxiety),Avsada(Depression),MutraRoga.

Introduction:

Gokshur is small, prostrate, hirsute or silky hairy herb.Leaves are stipulate, opposite, usually unequal, pinnate, leaflets 5-8 pairs, oblong, mucronate. Flowers are solitary ,axillary or leaf-opposed, yellow or white. Fruits of gokshur  have globose, hairy,5-angled,spinous with 2 long and 2 short spines on each cocci.They have some phyto-chemical constituents chlorogenin, disogenin, gitogenin,rutin,rhamnose.Roots of Gokshurak have β-setasterol,  campestrol and stignasterol, neotigogenin.Aerial parts of Gokshurak have β-setasterol, dioscin, disogenin, trillin, furostanol glycoside,spirosterol,saponins etc¹.

Mode of Action and Clinical Significance of of Gokshurak In Various Disorders :

Mutra Roga (Urinary Disorders) :

The action(karma) of Gokshurak has much more clinical significance than the diuretics, Mutravirechan shodhana of mutra at microscopic level( nourishes rasa, rakta, mamsa,meda,oja dhatu’s) as well as macroscopic level( Kidneys,nephrons) through which formation, ultra filtration, secretion and excretion of urine occur in appropriate volume without any variation(i.e. colour, smell,viscosity etc).Madhur rasa nourishes all seven dhatu’s(rasa, rakta,mamsa,meda,asthi,majja,shukra and oja) which circulate to all tissues of body helps in increasing ayu(life span),bala(strength) and improves quality of life.Madhura rasa (maintain electrolyte balance) in Gokshurak counters the pitta and visham vata by reducing the ruksha and khara guna³.Simultaneously,guru guna develops compactness in the structures i.e.form cell membrane surrounds living cells,act as barrier keeping the constituent’s of cell in and unwanted substances out⁴.To be a gate allowing transport into the cell of essential nutrients and movement from the cell of waste products.In Mutravaha srotas dusti(CKD),laghu guna of vitiated vata reduces compactness of basement membrane,impair the function of podocytes affects the ultra filtration and decrease e-GFR,increase Sr.Cr,Sr.Urea.It reduces the frequency of urination,frothiness in urin. In this way,Gokshurak not only increase secretion of urine by raising renal blood circulation,reduces protein loss,frequency of urination but also maintain electrolyte balance,nourishes all dhatu’s,improves quality of life and increase ayu of rogi.

Hridyadhamni Roga(Coronary Artery Disease) & VyanaAvrata Apana Dusti(Hypertension):

Madhura and kashaya rasa causes pitta shaman(changes pH acidic to alkaline).Madhura rasa raise guru,snigdha,sthairya⁵.The estimation of “guru” property should be done in context to the agnibala(digestive capacity). Guru guna reduces laghu guna of vitiated vata and improves the blood circulation.According to modern concept,gokshur produces No and cause vasodilation.Simultaneously it has diuretic activity which reduces raised blood pressure⁶.

Chinta(Anxiety)&Manasik Avsada(Depression) : 

Snigdha guna reduces vata and increase kapha which has similar tendency.Snigdha guna brings softness in srotas 

and thus there is better conveyance of dosha-dhatu-mala⁷.Due to snigdha guna(Lipophilic nature) gokshur crosses the BBB and increase blood flow to brain cells.

Dhatu-Kshaya(Degenerative diseases) : 

Gokshurak madhur rasa consists of jala and prathvi mahabhuta while tikt and kashaya rasa is the combination of vayu,akash and prathivi.All these mahabhuta’s blend to form somya guna pradhana madhur rasa ,tikt and kashaya rasa⁸.Madhur rasa nourishes all sevendhatu’s(rasa,rakta,mamsa,meda,asthi,majja,shukra and oja) which circulate to all tissues of body helps in increasing ayu(life span),bala(strength) and improves quality of life hence act as RASAYANA via rejuvenative regimen⁹. As Rasayana it act on level of Rasa ( maintain nutritive value of protein plasma and preserving renal function)on the level of Jatharagni ( maintain digestive fire and metabolism , on the level of srotas maintain hyper filtration ,microcirculation , tissue perfusion).

Different Formulations of Gokshurak :

Conclusion :

Gokshurak is a small leafy plant commonly known as Tribulus Terristris used to treat various disorders such as Urinary system,kidney disease,erectile dysfunction,cardiac disorders,mental disorders etc.Simultaneously it has special property of Rasayana, through which progression of  dhatu’s and oja depletion is stop and  homeostasis and blood circulation in body is maintained.It helps in increasing ayu(life span),bala(strength) and improves quality of life.

REFERENCES :

1.Sharma P.V. editor of Dravya guna Vigyan,Ashtam Adhyaya-Mutraladivarga,Mutravirechaniya pg.32-33.

2. Shastri.Pt.Kashinath,Chaturvedi Dr.Gorkhanath,Shastri.Pt.Rajeshwardatta,editor of Charak Samhita of Charak,Sutra Sthana Ch.26 ‘Atreyabhadrakapiya Adhyaya’,sutra42(1),503-504.

3. .Shastri.Pt.Kashinath,Chaturvedi Dr.Gorkhanath,Shastri.Pt.Rajeshwardatta,editor of Charak Samhita of Charak,Sutra Sthana Ch.26 ‘Atreyabhadrakapiya Adhyaya’,sutra42(1),503-504.

4. Vaidya Gogte Mahadev Vishnu,editor of Ayurvedic Pharmacology And Therapeutic Uses Medicinal Plants (Dravyagunavignyan),Ch.4The Gunas’,pg.85.

5. Vaidya Gogte Mahadev Vishnu,editor of Ayurvedic Pharmacology And Therapeutic Uses Medicinal Plants (Dravyagunavignyan),Ch.4’The Gunas’.

6. Chunekar Dr.Krishnachandra,Pandey Dr.Gangasahaya,editor of Bhavaprakashnighantu, ‘Guduchyadi varga’.

7. Vaidya Gogte Mahadev Vishnu,editor of Ayurvedic Pharmacology And Therapeutic Uses Medicinal Plants (Dravyagunavignyan),Ch.4;The Gunas’,pg87.

8. . Shastri.Pt.Kashinath,Chaturvedi Dr.Gorkhanath,Shastri.Pt.Rajeshwardatta,editor of Charak Samhita of Charak,Sutra Sthana Ch.26 ‘Atreyabhadrakapiya Adhyaya’,sutra42(1),503-504.

9. Tripathi Dr.Brahmanand,editor of Ashtang Hrdayam of Srimadavagbhata edited with Nirmala hindi Commentary,Uttar Tantra Ch.39 ‘Rasayanavidhi Adhyaya’,Ch.39sutra56-57,1190

10. Tripathi Dr.Brahmanand,editor of Ashtang Hridya of srimadvagbhat,with Hindi commentary of Nirmala,Ashtang  Hridya,Uttar Sthana’RasayanvidhiAdhyaya’,Ch.39sutra56-57,1190.

Name : Dr.Shushma Upadhyay

Designation: M.D.Scholar(Kayachikitsa)

Batch: 2021-2022.

Address: Doctor’s Hostel,Ch.Brahm Prakash Ayurved Charak Sansthan,New Delhi.

College:Ch.Brahm Prakash Ayurved Charak Sansthan,Khera Dabar,New Delhi.

E-mail Id : shushmaupadhyay3@gmail.com

Mobile No.:9340396484                                    

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