Horse Gram
Macrotyloma uniflorum
Also known as: Kulthi · Kollu · Ulavalu · Hurule
The only pulse proven to dissolve kidney stones — anti-urolithic compounds + GI of 29 make it the most clinically remarkable Indian legume.
Glycemic Index
29 (lowest of all Indian pulses)
Protein
21–25 g/100g
Iron
6.8 mg/100g
Calcium
287 mg/100g
About
What is Horse Gram?
Horse gram is one of the most underrated legumes in the world. Its glycemic index of 29 is lower than any other common Indian pulse. Its iron content of 6.8mg and calcium content of 287mg per 100g are exceptional for a legume. But its most remarkable property is anti-urolithic activity — compounds in horse gram seeds dissolve calcium oxalate and struvite crystals in vitro and have been validated in clinical studies. The traditional use of horse gram broth for kidney stones, practiced for centuries across South India, is one of the most well-supported ethnomedicinal claims in Indian folk medicine.
Key Compound
Anti-urolithic compounds (oxalate crystal inhibitors)
Horse gram seeds contain proteins and polyphenols that inhibit calcium oxalate crystal growth in vitro and reduce urinary calcium oxalate excretion. One of the most validated ethnomedicinal uses in South Indian traditional medicine.
Nutritional Profile
What’s inside?
Health Applications
Why it matters
Kidney stones
Anti-urolithic compounds inhibit calcium oxalate crystallisation. Traditional horse gram broth is given to stone patients across South India — with some clinical validation.
Diabetes management
GI of 29 — the lowest of any common Indian pulse. Minimal blood glucose impact even in large servings.
Weight loss
0.5g fat per 100g — lowest of any pulse. Very low calorie, high protein, lowest GI. Exceptional combination for weight management.
Anemia
6.8mg iron + 287mg calcium + vitamin C in traditional preparations (tamarind-based Kollu rasam) together support iron absorption and bone health simultaneously.
Ancient Wisdom
In Ayurveda
Dosha Effect
Kapha-pacifying, Vata-neutral in moderation
Guna (Quality)
Ruksha (dry), Ushna (hot), Tikta (bitter)
Best Season
Hemant and Shishir (winter) — warming and drying
Classical Note
Charaka recommends Kulthi (horse gram) for urinary disorders, obesity, and Kapha conditions. Specifically noted for its ability to break up kidney stones (Ashmari) — one of the few food-based anti-urolithic recommendations in classical Ayurveda.
Origin Story
From the field
Andhra Pradesh / Karnataka / Tamil Nadu · South India & Deccan Plateau
Kollu Rasam — a thin, peppery South Indian broth made from horse gram — is the everyday home remedy for colds, kidney stones, and weight loss across Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. In Karnataka, Hurule Soppu (horse gram greens) are cooked as a regular vegetable. In the Chhattisgarh tribal belt, horse gram is grown as a rain-fed Kharif crop requiring no irrigation, no fertiliser, and no pesticides — returning nitrogen to the soil as a legume. The crop's extraordinary resilience (it survives in soils with pH 4.5–8.0, rainfall as low as 400mm, and temperatures up to 45°C) makes it a critical food security crop for some of India's most marginalised agricultural communities.
— Health Applications —
What Horse Gram is good for.
— Try It In Your Kitchen —
Recipes using Horse Gram.
There are 23 ingredients in the Field Guide.