Kushthahara Mahakashaya

Kuṣṭhaghna Mahākaṣāya कुष्ठघ्न महाकषाय

mahakashaya cosmetic-relevant

Anti-Kushtha — the 10 herbs curative of dermatosis / skin disease in all its forms.

Charaka Sutra 4.11.-(3): “Catechu, chebulic myrobalan, emblic myrobalan, turmeric, marking nut, dita bark, purging cassia, Indian oleander, embelia and sprouts of Spanish jasmine — these ten are curatives of dermatosis.”

The Kushtha-ghna group treats skin disease — both classical Kushtha (eczema, psoriasis, the 18 dermatoses) and modern derivatives (acne, seborrhoeic dermatitis, contact dermatitis).

Cosmetic relevance

For modern cosmetic positioning:

Khadira (catechu) and Haridra (turmeric) are the cosmetic-friendly anchor herbs of this group — used in many acne, anti-blemish, and mask formulations
Aragvadha (Cassia fistula) bark and pods are commonly used in cleansers
Jati (jasmine) flower buds are aromatic and gentle
Haritaki + Amalaki (which are also in Triphala) double as Rasayana herbs
Bhallataka (marking nut) — ⚡ severe contact dermatitis risk, generally OMITTED in modern cosmetic formulas
Karavira (oleander) — ⚡ cardiotoxic if internalised; only root used externally on intact skin
Vidanga (Embelia ribes) — anti-parasitic, mild for cosmetic use
Saptaparna (Alstonia scholaris) — bitter, anti-microbial

For modern cosmetic formulary, use Khadira + Haridra + Aragvadha + Jati + Haritaki + Amalaki as the safe core, omit Bhallataka and Karavira, and use Vidanga + Saptaparna in low percentages.

Constituent ingredients (10)

Ingredient	Botanical	Functions
Khadira (Catechu) Khadira	Acacia catechu	anti-Kushtha supreme, astringent, anti-microbial
Haritaki (Chebulic Myrobalan) Harītakī	Terminalia chebula	anti-aging, Vayasthapana, purgative (mild)
Amalaki (Indian Gooseberry) Āmalakī	Phyllanthus emblica (= Emblica officinalis)	rasayana supreme, hair-blackening, anti-aging
Haridra (Turmeric) Haridrā	Curcuma longa	anti-inflammatory (curcumin), anti-microbial, complexion (via reduced inflammation)
Bhallataka (Marking Nut) Bhallātaka	Semecarpus anacardium	historic rasayana, anti-Kushtha (purified only)
Saptaparna (Dita) Saptaparṇa	Alstonia scholaris	anti-microbial, anti-Kushtha, wound-healing
Aragvadha (Golden Shower) Āragvadha	Cassia fistula	mild purgative, anti-Kushtha, anti-itch
Karavira (Oleander) Karavīra	Nerium indicum / N. oleander	anti-Kushtha (external root only)
Vidanga (False Black Pepper) Viḍaṅga	Embelia ribes	anti-parasitic, anti-lice, anti-microbial
Jati (Jasmine flowers — generic) Jātī	Jasminum spp.	fragrance, anti-microbial