Mustard oil (Sarshapa)

Sarṣapa सर्षप

Brassica juncea / B. nigra · Brassicaceae

oil-base seed (oil) ushna

Rasa-Panchaka — five-fold pharmacology

Rasa: katu · tikta— tastes at first contact
Guna: tikshna · ushna · ruksha— qualities
Virya: ushna— potency (heating)
Vipaka: katu— post-digestive effect

The six classical tastes (Ṣaḍ-rasa)

Dosha effect

Vata

·neutral

Pitta

↑aggravates

Kapha

↓pacifies

pacifies (↓) aggravates (↑) neutral (·)

Functions

warming body oilanti-fungalanti-microbialKapha-pacifying

Hot, pungent, Kapha-pacifying. The winter body oil for North-Indian tradition. Used as base for anti-Kushtha (skin disease) oils. NOT for face — too irritating.

Used in 2 recipes

churna Triphaladi Ruksha Udvartana (Kapha weight-reduction powder)

Triphalādi Rūkṣa Udvartana · त्रिफलादि रूक्ष उद्वर्तन

body · whole-body

weight reduction; cellulite.

kapha

lepa Yuvana-Pidaka Lepa (Acne face pack)

Yauvana-piḍaka Lepa · यौवन-पिडक लेप

face

Yuvana-pidaka (acne); pustules.

kaphapitta