Shunthi, Śuṇṭhī, Śuṇṭhi, Sumthi, Shumthi: 24 definitions

Introduction:

Shunthi means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit, biology. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

The Sanskrit terms Śuṇṭhī and Śuṇṭhi can be transliterated into English as Sunthi or Shunthi, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Cikitsa (natural therapy and treatment for medical conditions)

Source: Wisdom Library: Ayurveda: Cikitsa

Śuṇṭhī (शुण्ठी) is a Sanskrit word referring to “dried ginger”, referring to Zingiber officinale, a species of plant from the Zingiberaceae (ginger) family. In Sanskrit, ginger is also known as Ārdraka. It is used throughout Ayurvedic literature such as the Caraka-saṃhitā. It is employed as medicine or as a culinary spice. The word Śuṇṭhī is the feminime form of Śuṇṭha, either referring to a type of grass, or a piece of fleash or meat. It is derived from the root śuṇṭh, meaning “to limp” or “become dry”. It is a perennial herb growing stems of about a meter in height. It features narrow green leaves and has yellow flowers.

This plant (Śuṇṭhī) is also mentioned as a medicine used for the treatment of all major fevers (jvara), as described in the Jvaracikitsā (or “the treatment of fever”) which forms the first chapter of the Sanskrit work called Mādhavacikitsā. In this work, the plant is also known by the synonyms Nāgara, Viśva, Viśvabheṣaja, Viśvauṣadha, Śṛṅgavera, or Mahauṣadha. In this work, the plant is mentioned being part of the Trikaṭu group of medicinal drugs.

According to the Rājanighaṇṭu (verses 5.24-28), dried ginger (śuṇṭhī) has the following synonyms: Śṛṅgavera, Mahauṣadha, Mahauṣadhī, Viśvā, Viśvabheṣaja, Viśvauṣadha, Kaṭugranthi, Kaṭubhadra, Kaṭūṣaṇa, Gandholī, Sauparṇa, Kaphāri, Ārdraka, Śoṣaṇa, Nāgarāhva and Cāndraka.

Source: Ancient Science of Life: Botanical identification of plants described in Mādhava Cikitsā

Śuṇṭhī (शुण्ठी) (or Viśvabheṣaja, Viśva, Nāgara, Śṛṅgavera) (one of the tryuṣaṇa) refers to the medicinal plant Zingiber officinale Roxb., and is used in the treatment of atisāra (diarrhoea), according to the 7th century Mādhavacikitsā chapter 2. Atisāra refers to a condition where there are three or more loose or liquid stools (bowel movements) per day or more stool than normal.  The second chapter of the Mādhavacikitsā explains several preparations [including Śuṇṭhī] through 60 Sanskrit verses about treating this problem.

The plant Zingiber officinale Roxb. (Śuṇṭhī) is also known as Ārdraka according to both the Ayurvedic Formulary and the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India.

Dietetics and Culinary Art (such as household cooking)

Source: Shodhganga: Dietetics and culinary art in ancient and medieval India

Śuṇṭhi (शुण्ठि) refers to “dry ginger” and is classified as a ‘light foodstuff’ as opposed to ārdraka (wet ginger), according to the 17th century Bhojanakutūhala (dravyaguṇāguṇa-kathana), and is commonly found in literature dealing with the topics of dietetics and culinary art, also known as Pākaśāstra or Pākakalā.—Heavy food should [viz., ārdraka] to be eaten only until one is half satisfied. Light food [viz., śuṇṭhi] can be eaten until the full satisfaction is obtained. A man whose digestive fire is weak, should abandon heavy food.

Śuṇṭhi or “dry ginger” is mentioned in a list of remedies for indigestion.—A complete section in Bhojanakutūhala is devoted for the description of agents that cause indigestion [viz., satīna (field pea)]. These agents consumed on a large scale can cause indigestion for certain people. The remedies [viz., śuṇṭhi (dry ginger)] for these types of indigestions are also explained therewith.

Kalpa (Formulas, Drug prescriptions and other Medicinal preparations)

Source: Ancient Science of Life: Yogaśataka of Pandita Vararuci

Śuṇṭhi (शुण्ठि) refer to the dried rhizome of Zingiber officinale, and is mentioned in the 10th century Yogaśataka written by Pandita Vararuci.—The Yogaśataka of Pandita Vararuci is an example of this category. This book attracts reader by its very easy language and formulations which can be easily prepared and have small number of herbs (viz., Śuṇṭhi). It describes only those formulations which are the most common and can be used in majority conditions of diseases.

Source: Shodhganga: Edition translation and critical study of yogasarasamgraha

Śuṇṭhī (शुण्ठी) is another name for “Nāgara” and is dealt with in the 15th-century Yogasārasaṅgraha (Yogasara-saṅgraha) by Vāsudeva: an unpublished Keralite work representing an Ayurvedic compendium of medicinal recipes. The Yogasārasaṃgraha [mentioning śuṇṭhī] deals with entire recipes in the route of administration, and thus deals with the knowledge of pharmacy (bhaiṣajya-kalpanā) which is a branch of pharmacology (dravyaguṇa).

Nighantu (Synonyms and Characteristics of Drugs and technical terms)

Source: WorldCat: Rāj nighaṇṭu

Śuṇṭhī (शुण्ठी) is the Sanskrit name for a medicinal plant identified with Zingiber officinale Rosc. or “ginger root” from the Zingiberaceae or “ginger” family of flowering plants, according to verse 6.24-26 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu.—Note: Śuṇṭhi is dried and specially prepared form of Ārdraka by removing the outer scales of the rhizome. The major part of the oil of ginger remains in these scales and is obtained from the Śuṇṭhī/Ārdraka with scales.—Śuṇṭhī is commonly known in Hindi and Bengali as Sontha; in Marathi as Śuṇṭhī; in Gujarati as Śuṇṭha; in Telugu as Sonti; and in Tamil as Shukku.

Śuṇṭhī is mentioned as having fourteen synonyms: Mahauṣadha, Viśva, Nāgara, Viśvabheṣaja, Viśvauṣadha, Kaṭugranthi, Kaṭubhadra, Kaṭūṣaṇa, Sauparṇa, Śṛṅgavera, Kaphāri, Ādraka, Śoṣaṇa and Nāgarāhva.

Properties and characteristics: “Śuṇṭhī is pungent, hot and unctuous (snigdha). It quells kapha, vāta and śopha (oedema). It cures colicy pains, constipation, tympanitis, asthma and filaria”.

Toxicology (Study and Treatment of poison)

Source: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha Chikitsa

Śuṇṭhī (शुण्ठी) or “ginger” is the name of an herbal ingredient which is included in a (snake) poison antidote recipe, according to the Kāśyapa Saṃhitā: an ancient Sanskrit text from the Pāñcarātra tradition dealing with both Tantra and Viṣacikitsā—an important topic from Āyurveda which deals with the study of Toxicology (Viṣavidyā or Sarpavidyā).—Several herbal formulations have been recommended in the segment exclusively for lepa or ointment to counter poison. According to Kāśyapasaṃhitā (verse VIII.45), “A paste or bolus fashioned out of ginger (śuṇṭhī), garlic, lac, asafoetida, two kinds of Niśā, mustard, Mātula mixed with urine ,when applied as ointment, destroys venom”.

Unclassified Ayurveda definitions

Source: Google Books: Essentials of Ayurveda

Śuṇṭhī (शुण्ठी).—The Sanskrit name for an important Ayurvedic drug.—Nāgara and Viśvā are its popular synonyms. It is pungent, hot, destroys kapha and vāta, digests āma (immature factor) and is mainly useful in āmavāta (condition where vāta is associated with āma as in theumatoid arthritis).

Source: Ancient Science of Life: Vaidyavallabha: An Authoritative Work on Ayurveda Therapeutics

Śuṇṭhi (शुण्ठि) refers to Zingiber officinalis, and is recommended in all kinds of headache, according to the 17th-century Vaidyavallabha (chapter 7) written by Hastiruci.—The Vaidyavallabha is a work which deals with the treatment and useful for all 8 branches of Ayurveda. The text Vaidyavallabha has been designed based on the need of the period of the author, availability of drugs (viz., śuṇṭhi) during that time, disease manifesting in that era, socio-economical-cultural-familial-spiritual-aspects of that period Vaidyavallabha.

Source: Namah Journal: An overview of certain Āyurvedic herbs in the management of viral hepatitis

Śuṇṭhi (शुण्ठि) refers to the medicinal plant known as Zingiber officinale, Roscoe, and is employed in the treatment of Kāmala.—Among the single and compound preparations described in Āyurveda for the treatment of kāmala, some of the drugs have been found to be effective. A scientific study of the drugs [viz., Śuṇṭhi] was carried out and significant response observed.

Ayurveda book cover
context information

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.

Discover the meaning of shunthi or sunthi in the context of Ayurveda from relevant books on Exotic India

Biology (plants and animals)

Source: Wisdom Library: Local Names of Plants and Drugs

Shunthi in the Kannada language is the name of a plant identified with Zingiber officinale Roscoe from the Zingiberaceae (Ginger) family. For the possible medicinal usage of shunthi, you can check this page for potential sources and references, although be aware that any some or none of the side-effects may not be mentioned here, wether they be harmful or beneficial to health.

Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)

Shunthi in India is the name of a plant defined with Zingiber officinale in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Curcuma longifolia Wall (among others).

Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):

· Bull. Sichuan Sch. Chinese Mater. Med. (1987)
· Verhandelingen van het bataviaasch genootschap van kunsten en wetenschappen (1790)
· Current Science (1982)
· Species Plantarum (1753)
· Cytologia (1997)
· Transactions of the Linnean Society of London (1807)

If you are looking for specific details regarding Shunthi, for example diet and recipes, health benefits, pregnancy safety, extract dosage, side effects, chemical composition, have a look at these references.

Biology book cover
context information

This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.

Discover the meaning of shunthi or sunthi in the context of Biology from relevant books on Exotic India

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

śuṇṭhī (शुंठी).—f S Dry ginger.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

śuṇṭhī (शुंठी).—f Dry ginger.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

Discover the meaning of shunthi or sunthi in the context of Marathi from relevant books on Exotic India

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Śuṇṭhi (शुण्ठि) or Śuṇṭhī (शुण्ठी).—f.,

-śuṇṭhyam Dry ginger.

Derivable forms: śuṇṭhiḥ (शुण्ठिः).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śuṇṭhi (शुण्ठि).—f. (-ṇṭhiḥ-ṇṭhī) Dry ginger. E. śuṭhi to be stopped, (by it, phlegm,) aff. ac, and fem. aff. ṅīp, or in one case in aff.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śuṇṭhi (शुण्ठि).—śuṇṭhī, f., and śuṇṭhya śuṇṭhya, n. Dry ginger, [Pañcatantra] 262, 13 (ya).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śuṇṭhi (शुण्ठि).—[feminine] dry ginger.

--- OR ---

Śuṇṭhī (शुण्ठी).—[feminine] dry ginger.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Śuṇṭhī (शुण्ठी):—[from śuṇṭha > śuṇṭh] a f. See next.

2) Śuṇṭhi (शुण्ठि):—[from śuṇṭh] f. dry ginger, [Kāvya literature; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā; Suśruta etc.]

3) Śuṇṭhī (शुण्ठी):—[from śuṇṭh] b f. dry ginger, [Kāvya literature; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā; Suśruta etc.]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śuṇṭhi (शुण्ठि):—[(ṇṭhiḥ-ṇṭhī)] 2. 3. f. Dry ginger.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Śuṇṭhī (शुण्ठी) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Suṃṭhī.

[Sanskrit to German]

Shunthi in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

Discover the meaning of shunthi or sunthi in the context of Sanskrit from relevant books on Exotic India

Prakrit-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary

Suṃṭhī (सुंठी) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Śuṇṭhī.

context information

Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.

Discover the meaning of shunthi or sunthi in the context of Prakrit from relevant books on Exotic India

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Śuṃṭhi (ಶುಂಠಿ):—

1) [noun] the herb Zingiber officinale of Zingiberaceae family; ginger.

2) [noun] its aromatic rhizome used as a spice or perfume and in medicine; ginger.

3) [noun] (fig.) the fact or condition of not having any; complete absence; lack.

4) [noun] (fig.) a senseless, idiotic person.

--- OR ---

Suṃṭhi (ಸುಂಠಿ):—[noun] = ಸುಂಟಿ [sumti].

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Discover the meaning of shunthi or sunthi in the context of Kannada from relevant books on Exotic India

See also (Relevant definitions)

Relevant text

Related products

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: