Classical Formula

Dashamula

SanskritDashamulaMade fromClassical blend of ten roots: bilva (Aegle marmelos), agnimantha, shyonaka (Oroxylum indicum), patala, gambhari (Gmelina arborea), shalaparni, prishniparni, brihati, kantakari and gokshura (Tribulus terrestris)Also calledTen roots, Dashmool

The classic "ten roots" formula of Ayurveda, a warm, earthy, grounding blend made for scattered, anxious, achy vata.

Dashamula, formula

Dashamula means "ten roots." It brings together the roots of five trees and five small plants, and it is one of the oldest and most trusted blends in Ayurveda. If vata had a favorite formula, this would be it.

Roots grow down and hold on. Ayurveda leans on that image. When vata is high you might feel cold, restless, stiff or ungrounded, with gas and a busy mind. Dashamula is warm, earthy and steadying, and it is traditionally used to bring vata back down and into its proper downward flow.

It tastes woody and slightly bitter, like a forest floor after rain. Most people take it as a simmered tea or as part of a warm massage oil.

Ayurvedic Properties

RasaTastes
  • Astringent
  • Sweet
  • Bitter
ViryaHeating or cooling
Heating
VipakaPost-digestive effect
Pungent
AgniEffect on digestion
Gently supports agni

Warming and grounding, it supports steady digestion for vata.

GunaQualities
  • Heavy
  • Stable
TridoshaEffect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha
  • Vata: decreases
  • Pitta: decreases, in moderation
  • Kapha: decreases
  • decreases (calms that dosha)
  • increases (can aggravate it)
  • neutral or balancing
  • not known
  • V Vata · P Pitta · K Kapha

Dashamula is first and foremost a vata formula. The tree roots also clear kapha, and the smaller roots are gentler on pitta, so the blend is often described as close to tridoshic, though very warm pitta types may want it in smaller amounts.

Traditional Uses

  • Traditionally used to support a calm, grounded nervous system when vata runs high.
  • Traditionally used to support comfortable joints and muscles in cold, dry weather.
  • Traditionally used to support clear, comfortable breathing and healthy lungs.
  • Traditionally used to support a comfortable monthly cycle and recovery after childbirth.
  • Traditionally used to support the healthy downward flow of apana vata.

How People Use It

  • TeaThe traditional way. Simmer 1 teaspoon in 2 cups of water for 15 to 20 minutes until it reduces by about half, then strain.
  • PowderA pinch to 1/2 teaspoon of the powder can be stirred into warm water, though the simmered tea is gentler and more traditional.
  • TopicalDashamula is a common base for warm Ayurvedic massage oils used on stiff, cold joints. Patch test any new oil first.
Try This

Evening Dashamula Decoction

A simple vata-season ritual to slow down at the end of the day.

  • 1 teaspoon dashamula
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 pinch ground cardamom or a few fennel seeds
  • Raw honey or jaggery to taste (optional)
  1. Add the dashamula and water to a small pot and bring it to a boil.
  2. Lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes, until about half the water is left.
  3. Strain into a mug and add the cardamom or fennel. Let it cool slightly before stirring in honey.
  4. Sip slowly in a quiet place, with your feet warm and your phone in another room.

Pairs Well With

Cautions

  • Dashamula is traditionally avoided during pregnancy. Its safety while breastfeeding has not been well studied, so please ask your doctor first. (Some traditional postpartum use exists, but only under a practitioner's care.)
  • Safety research on dashamula as a whole formula is limited, and there is no dedicated NIH or Memorial Sloan Kettering safety page for it.
  • Two of the ten plants, brihati and kantakari, are in the nightshade family, so skip it if you are sensitive to nightshades.
  • If you take regular medication, especially for blood pressure, blood sugar or blood thinning, check with your doctor before using it often.
  • Please consult a qualified practitioner before using dashamula regularly.

In Our Shop

Organic Dashamula

Organic Dashamula, from $7.00. Weighed and packed by hand at our Rockville Centre studio.

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From the Journal

Sources and Further Reading

This page shares how herbs are traditionally used in Ayurveda and other herbal traditions. It is for general education only and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and herbs are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please talk with your doctor or a qualified practitioner before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition.