Black Musli – Health Benefits, Identification, Dosage, Ayurvedic Reference, How To Use & Availability

Black Musli also known as Syah or Siyah Musli is a well known herb mentioned and duly dignified in Ayurvedic texts and treatises. It is an essential ingredient of many classical ayurvedic formulations and has been in use for centuries as a Vajikarana dravya (rejuvenataing, revitalizing and aphrodisiac). Recently it has attracted attention of modern medical science as a useful herb in treatment of erectile dysfunction and many other sexual problems of men. Musli is the eponymous herb for Musli Paak, a well-knonwn ayurvedic medicine for general debility and impotence.

 A General Introduction of Plant & Differential Identification From Similar Plants

The plant of black musli is a perennial leafy aggregate with each leaf around 15-45 cm long and 1.5-2, cm broad. It bears bright yellow flowers from May to August. Roots are tuberous and mucilaginous when freshly cut. Black musli is native to Indian subcontinent and the islands of Pacific ocean. It is found throughout India up to six thousand feet height.

Two different plants have been identified with the Ayurvedic plant  Musli. They have similar properties and anyone of them can be used as musli. One of them has white roots so it is known as safed musli (White Musli) and the other one has brown black roots so its moniker is kali musli (black musli). White musli’s botanical name is Chlorophytum borivilianum and black musli’s botanical name is Curculigo orchioides.

Name Of Black Musli in Vernacular Languages & Botanical Classification

• Hindi – Kali Musli, Syah Musli
• Bengali- Tallur
• Oriya-Kuakenda
• Telugu- Nela Tattigadda
• Urdu- Syah Musli
• Sanskrit – Talmuli, Talpatri (Because the leaves are like those of Tala i.e. palm leaves), Krishna Musli
• Latin – Curculigo orchioides
• Botanical Family- Amaryllidaceae

Ayurvedic Source References

By the name of Musli, no herb is mentioned in Charaka Samhita or Sushruta Samhita or Ashtanghridayam i.e. Brihat Trayai. However, the word ‘Talamuli’ does come in Charaka and Sushruta Samhitas. Musli was first clearly mentioned in Rajanighantu, a seventeenth century AD ayurvedic text by Narahari Pandit. Bhavprakasha says that Talmuli is a synonym for Black Musli. Following the opinion of Bhavprakasha, wherever Talmuli is mentioned in Charaka or Sushruta Samhita, it is now taken to be Black musli.

मुशली मधुरा शीता वृष्या पुष्टिबलप्रदा
पिच्छिला कफदा पित्तदाहश्रमहरा परा (Rajanighantu)

Apart from Rajanighantu, Musli is mentioned in Bhavaprakasha and Kaiyadeva Nighantu.

Musli’s Ayurvedic Properties

Musli is considered a ‘ushna’ veerya herb, a garam taseer herb.

Its properties according to ayurvedic philosophy are as follows:

• Veerya– Ushna (Hot)
• Guna– Guru (Heavy)
• Viapaka– Madhur (Sweet)
• Rasa– Madhur (Sweet), Tikta (Bitter)
• Effect On Dosha– It ameliorates Vata and Pitta Doasha and empowers Kapha.

Black Musli Uses In Modern Medical Science

Black musli is found to be an aphrodisiac, vitalizer and adaptogen herb in many clinical trials. It is useful in loss of sexual drive, decreased sperm production (oligospermia) and lethargy. According to the eminent medical magazine Nature, the aqueous extract of Curculigo orchioides helped to restore the libido, penile erection and sexual behavior in male rats caused by sustained hyperglycemia in a clinical trial. In another trial it was found to be containing anticancer, antidiabetic and hepatoprotective properties.

Top Health Benefits Of Black Musli (Curculigo orchioides)

Black Musli as a Sexual Drive Booster

Black musli is enumerated among one of the best vrishya herbs and thus very effectively used as a sexual drive enhancer in moderate to severe cases of loss of sexual urge.

Black Musli Promotes Spermatogenesis

Black musli being a vajikara dravya is massively used in a number of ayurvedic and unani formulations pertaining to oligospermia and azoospermia and is found to be beneficial.

Black Musli is Helpful in Erectile Dysfunction

Black musli is particularly useful in erectile dysfunction induced by diabetes. Regular use of Curculigo orchioides is helpful in getting or keeping an erection.

Use of Black Musli as a General Tonic

According to Bhavaprakasha Black Musli is a rasayana and brihana aushadhi, which means it can be used as a rejuvenating tonic and thus can be used to cure lethargy and general debility. It is used to recover vigor and vitality also.

Black Musli In Burning Micturition (Dysuria)

Curculigo orchioides helps relieve the symptoms of Dysuria.

Black Musli in Nocturnal Discharge

Black musli is an ‘Ushna veerya’ herb, so it is not indicated in nocturnal emission.

Black Musli In Spermatorrhea and Premature Ejaculation

Black musli has muscle-strengthening properties, so it may be beneficial in spermatorrhea and premature ejaculation. However, definitive and conclusive studies are yet to be done.

Black Musli’s Other Benefits

Black musli is an anti-oxidant, anti-aging, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory herb. It contains alkaloids that help reduce the deleterious and toxic effects of pollution on human body. It is a promising herb when it comes to liver. Charak and Sushruta both have indicated its (using the word Talmuli) use in the treatment of cough and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Used Part as Medicine

Tuberous roots are used in different medicinal formulations.

Ayurvedic Formulations Containing Musli

Musli Paak

How To Identify Black Musli

Ayurvedic doctors (Vaidya), students, researchers and anyone who has to do anything with Ayurveda have always faced a colossal problem when it comes to identification of herbs. Herbs mentioned in ancient texts have always been difficult to identify with herbs available now with their botanical names.  Still, most herbs mentioned in Charaka Samhita and other ancient Ayurvedic texts have been identified. If you want to prepare an Ayurvedic preparation and its formula mentions only the word musli and not the white or black musli as one of the ingredients, feel free to use either white musli or black musli or both in 50-50 ratio.

If you purchase raw black musli, make sure it is Curculigo orchioides. it is in form of tuberous roots and if fresh, the tubers are most likely to be mucilaginous. Tubers are black and brown and rough in appearance. If you are purchasing in packaged form, it should mention the Latin name Curculigo orchioides.

How To Use Black Musli : Recommended Daily Dosage

Black Musli’s prescribed dose in powder form is three to six grams twice a day.

Side Effects- Disadavantages / Precautions Associated With Black Musli

Black musli is mostly safe when used in prescribed dosage and no side effects are reported as such. However it should be taken with caution by people who are suffering from an increase of Kapha dosha. Besides, if there is any discomfort while using Curculigo, discontinue the use and consult with the doctor.

Black Musli (Curculigo orchioides) : Future Prospects

As the researches are going on about the medicinal properties of black musli, it is emerging as a very promising herb. More and more clinical trials are being conducted on its anti-cancer and anti-diabetic properties and the results are encouraging. Black musli is now part of our herbal heritage.