Ayurvedic Herb

Vidari Kanda

SanskritVidariBotanicalPueraria tuberosaAlso calledIndian kudzu, Vidarikand

A sweet, cooling tuber that Ayurveda uses to rebuild and nourish, often paired with shatavari and ashwagandha.

Vidari Kanda, root (tuber)

Vidari kanda is the large, starchy tuber of a climbing vine in the pea family, a relative of the kudzu that covers fences in the American South. Dried and powdered, it is pale, faintly sweet and a little earthy.

Ayurveda calls it sweet in taste and sweet after digestion, a double sweetness that makes it one of the most building herbs in the kitchen cupboard. It is used when someone feels thin, dry, worn out or overheated, and it is a common partner to shatavari and ashwagandha in nourishing blends.

Ayurvedic Properties

RasaTastes
  • Sweet
  • Bitter
ViryaHeating or cooling
Cooling
VipakaPost-digestive effect
Sweet
AgniEffect on digestion
Heavy, can dampen agni

Sweet and heavy, it can slow digestion if agni is already low.

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

Vidari kanda is a gentle friend to vata and pitta, offering moisture, coolness and substance. Its heavy, sweet nature can add to kapha, so kapha types take it rarely and with warming spices.

Traditional Uses

  • Traditionally used to support strength and stamina during times of depletion.
  • Traditionally used to support healthy reproductive vitality in men and women.
  • Traditionally used to support new mothers as a nourishing food herb.
  • Traditionally used to support a cool, steady system when pitta runs high.

How People Use It

  • MilkWhisk 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of powder into warm milk with a pinch of cardamom or ginger.
  • FoodStir a small spoonful into oatmeal, rice pudding or a date and nut ball for a quietly nourishing breakfast.
  • GheeA pinch mixed into warm ghee with a little raw sugar is a traditional, building way to take it.
Try This

Vidari Date Milk

A thick, nourishing cup for depleted days.

  • 1 cup whole milk or oat milk
  • 2 soft dates, pitted and chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon vidari kanda powder
  • 1 pinch ground cardamom
  • 1 small pinch ground ginger
  1. Simmer the milk and dates over low heat for about 5 minutes, until the dates soften.
  2. Whisk in the vidari kanda, cardamom and ginger and keep it on low heat for 2 more minutes.
  3. Blend briefly if you like it smooth, or pour as is.
  4. Drink it warm in the late afternoon or early evening.

Pairs Well With

Cautions

  • Safety research on vidari kanda in people is limited, and no NIH or major cancer center monograph was found for it.
  • Avoid during pregnancy, and use while breastfeeding only with guidance from a qualified practitioner, since safety has not been established.
  • Pueraria species contain isoflavones, plant compounds that may act a little like estrogen. Talk with your doctor first if you have a hormone-sensitive condition or take hormone therapy.
  • If you take diabetes medication or blood thinners, check with your doctor, since related kudzu compounds have been studied for effects in these areas.
  • Please consult a qualified practitioner or your doctor before using vidari kanda regularly.

In Our Shop

Vidari Kanda Powder (Organic)

Vidari Kanda Powder (Organic), from $24.99.

Shop Vidari Kanda →

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.