Shunthi, aka: Śuṇṭhī, Śuṇṭhi; 5 Definition(s)

Introduction

Shunthi means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. 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)

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 Āyurvedic 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.

Śuṇṭhī (शुण्ठी).—The Sanskrit name for an important Āyurvedic 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).

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

śuṇṭhī (शुंठी).—f S Dry ginger.

śuṇṭhī (शुंठी).—f Dry ginger.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

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

-śuṇṭhyam Dry ginger.

Derivable forms: śuṇṭhiḥ (शुण्ठिः).

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