Gokshura: Discover the Uses and Health Benefits of This Powerful Medicinal Plant
Dr. Namita Parekh, Dr. Bhagyashree Zope
In Ayurveda, the method of naming a plant is very professional. That is, a word is chosen that describes the plant exactly as it looks and that name is given to that plant. One such plant is Gokshura or Gokhru.
Go means cow and kshoor means hoof. The plant whose fruit resembles a cow's hoof is Gokshura. Since this plant spreads along the ground, the fruit that falls on the cow's hoof while grazing in the forest is Gokshura. Gokshura is very prickly. In the state of Gujarat, Gokshura grows abundantly and often like grass. Therefore, if you walk barefoot in a field or on the ground, the prickly Gokshura can even cause injury to your feet. Gokshura fruit is used in medicine. Due to the thorns on the fruit, it has to be handled very carefully. In Ayurveda, Gokshura is said to be a tridoshic remedy, which means it alleviates all three ailments of Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Sweet in taste, cold in semen, yet Gokshura, which is a pioneer in agnidivana, cleansing urine, nourishing the heart, and curing impotence, is not widely used in Ayurveda.
In Ayurvedic texts, a single plant is not usually used. But in the Sushruta Samhita, the use of Gokshura for kidney stones is mentioned. Mixing the powder of Gokshura fruits with honey and taking it with sheep's milk removes kidney stones within a week. The funny thing is that in Ayurveda, there is a concept that the plant works specifically on the corresponding organ, as it looks.
When summer comes, you have to urinate frequently, there is burning, and the area feels hot. It is useful to take a decoction of Gokshura fruits, adding a pinch of salt to it. For this, mix two teaspoons of slightly crushed Gokshura in two cups of water. Boil it until a quarter cup of water remains. Add a little rock sugar and a pinch of salt to the strained decoction. This will immediately make you feel better. Since Gokshura is a very beneficial plant, it has many health benefits.