Nagarmotha
Cyperus rotundus
Nagarmotha (Cyperus rotundus) is classified in Ayurveda as Deepaniya (Appetizer), Grahi (Absorbent), from the Cyperaceae family. Parts used: rhizome/tuber. Charaka classifies it as Lekhaniya (scraping/reducing).
| Botanical name | Cyperus rotundus |
|---|---|
| Family | Cyperaceae |
| Order | Poales |
| Ayurvedic category | Deepaniya (Appetizer), Grahi (Absorbent) |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 2714818 · Wikidata Q1391422 · NCBI Taxonomy 512623 |
| Sanskrit | मुस्तकम् (mustakam) |
|---|---|
| Hindi | मोथा (mothā), नागरमोथा (nāgaramothā) |
| Tamil | கோரை, கோரைக்கிழங்கு |
Sources: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, MUSTA (Rhizome) monograph on Cyperus rotundus, Hindi "Motha, Nagarmotha"; India Flora Online (IISc), Cyperus rotundus sheet, Hindi "Nagarmotha, Motha" (and family name "बड़ा नागर मोथा फैमिली" in Devanagari).; Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, MUSTA (Rhizome) monograph on Cyperus rotundus, Hindi "Motha, Nagarmotha"; India Flora Online (IISc), Cyperus rotundus sheet, Hindi "Nagarmotha, Motha".; Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, MUSTA monograph, Sanskrit "Mustaka, Varida"; India Flora Online (IISc), Cyperus rotundus sheet, Sanskrit "Mustaka".; Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, MUSTA monograph, Tamil "Korai, Korai-Kizhangu"; India Flora Online (IISc), Cyperus rotundus sheet, Tamil "korai, korai kilangu, muthakasu".; India Flora Online (IISc), Cyperus rotundus sheet, Tamil "korai, korai kilangu, muthakasu"; Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, MUSTA monograph, Tamil "Korai, Korai-Kizhangu".. How we source.
The evidence at a glance
12papers on this site for this drug, published 2013 to 2025, 11 with a DOI.
- 4Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
- 5Randomised controlled trials
- 3Other clinical studies and reviews
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Nagarmotha |
| Common Names | Nut Grass, Nagarmotha |
| Hindi | Nagarmotha, Motha |
| Sanskrit | Musta, Mustaka |
| Latin/Botanical | Cyperus rotundus |
Parts Used
- Rhizome/Tuber
Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)
| Property | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rasa (Taste) | Tikta, Katu, Kashaya | Primary taste |
| Guna (Quality) | Laghu, Ruksha | Physical quality |
| Virya (Potency) | Sheeta | Heating/Cooling effect |
| Vipaka (Post-digestive) | Katu | Post-digestive effect |
Dosha Effects
| Dosha | Effect |
|---|---|
| Pitta | Decreases |
| Kapha | Decreases |
| Vata | May Increase |
Key Phytochemical Constituents
Therapeutic Actions (Karma)
- Digestive stimulant
- Anti-diarrheal
- Antipyretic
- Anti-inflammatory
- Analgesic
- Emmenagogue
How is it used traditionally?
Charaka classifies it as Lekhaniya (scraping/reducing). Called Musta/Mustaka in Sanskrit. Used for Atisara (diarrhea), Grahani (IBS), Jwara (fever), and Artava Vikara (menstrual disorders). One of the most used herbs in Ayurvedic practice.
Where is it described in the classical texts?
- Charaka Samhita (Lekhaniya group)
- Sushruta Samhita
- Bhavaprakasha Nighantu
Recommended Dosage
Tuber powder: 3-6g/day; Decoction: as given under Standard Dosage
Safety, contraindications and cautions
- Pregnancy
- Constipation (drying effect)
What is it made of?
Part(s) Analyzed: Rhizome/Tuber
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (rhizome powder), Kwatha (decoction), Capsules, Tablets, Essential oil, Arishta (fermented), Lepa (topical paste), Dhupana (fumigation)
Standard Dosage: 3-6 g rhizome powder per day; 20 to 30 ml decoction (Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I, Vol. III) twice daily; 500-1000 mg extract capsules daily; 1-3 drops essential oil (diluted)
Optimal Timing: Before meals for appetite stimulation and digestive fire enhancement; between meals for bloating and gas; morning for menstrual regulation; Arishta after meals
Storage: Whole rhizomes in well-ventilated, dry storage at room temperature. Powder in airtight containers below 25 deg C. Essential oil in amber glass, tightly sealed. Arishta at room temperature in glass containers. Protect all forms from moisture.
Marker Compounds: Alpha-cyperone, Cyperene, Cyperotundone, Rotundone, Selinene, Cyperol, Isocyperol, Patchoulenone
Synergistic Combinations
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses4
- 2025. Axillary Hyperpigmentation Treatment: A Systematic Review of the LiteratureJournal of cosmetic dermatology. PMID 40843925 · doi:10.1111/jocd.70418
- 2024. Medicinal Plants Cultivated in Egypt with Antiviral Potential: A Systematic ReviewAlternative therapies in health and medicine. PMID 39110055
- 2024. Herbal therapeutics for female infertility: A systematic review and meta-analysisJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 37778518 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2023.117258
- 2022. Traditional Chinese herbal medicine in treating amenorrhea caused by antipsychotic drugs: Meta-analysis and systematic reviewJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 35101572 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2022.115044
Randomised controlled trials5
- 2025. Efficacy and safety of Cyperus rotundus extract on weight management in obese individuals: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studyMedicine. PMID 41305713 · doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000045666
- 2022. The effectiveness of Cyperus rotundus essential oil in reducing the side effects of laser hair removalJournal of cosmetic dermatology. PMID 34132024 · doi:10.1111/jocd.14301
- 2022. Topical Cyperus rotundus essential oil for treatment of axillary hyperpigmentation: a randomized, double-blind, active- and placebo-controlled studyClinical and experimental dermatology. PMID 34618367 · doi:10.1111/ced.14959
- 2014. Topical Cyperus rotundus oil: a new therapeutic modality with comparable efficacy to Alexandrite laser photo-epilationAesthetic surgery journal. PMID 24408514 · doi:10.1177/1090820X13518801
- 2013. Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome using a selected herbal combination of Iraqi folk medicinesJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 23707209 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2013.05.034
Other clinical studies and reviews3
- 2023. Phytochemistry, data mining, pharmacology, toxicology and the analytical methods of Cyperus rotundus L. (Cyperaceae): a comprehensive reviewPhytochemistry reviews : proceedings of the Phytochemical Society of Europe. PMID 37359712 · doi:10.1007/s11101-023-09870-3
- 2022. The association study of chemical compositions and their pharmacological effects of Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu), a potential traditional Chinese medicine for treating depressionJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 34968659 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2021.114962
- 2015. Cyperus rotundus L.: Traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activitiesJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 26297840 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2015.08.012
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
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