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Chyawanprash, also spelled chyavanaprasha, chyavanaprash, chyavanaprasam and chyawanaprash, is a jam like cooked mixture of sugar, honey, Triphala, ghee, sesame oil, berries and other naturally available herbs and spices. It is prepared as per the instructions suggested in Ayurvedic methods of preventing diseases. Chyawanprash is widely sold and consumed in India as a dietary supplement.
Contents [hide]
1 Origin
2 Taste, appearance
3 Consumption
4 Claimed benefits
5 Composition
6 Market
7 References
Origin[edit]
Various Indian holy books like Mahabharat, Puranas etc., relate that the 'Royal Vaids', named 'Ashwini Kumar brothers', the twins, who were medical advisers to Devas during Vedic times (10,000 years ago), first prepared this formulation for Chyawan Rishi at his Ashram on Dhosi Hill near Narnaul, Haryana, India, hence the name Chyawanprash.[1][2] The first historically documented formula for chywanprash appears in Charaka Samhita, the ancient Ayurvedic treatise[3]
Taste, appearance[edit]
Chyawanaprash tastes sweet and sour at the same time. Its taste is largely dominated by the flavors of honey, ghee and triphala, and smell by ghee and other spices like sandalwood, cinnamon, cardamom etc. Its appearance resembles to semi-molten tar i.e. it is a dark brown thick paste like substance. Clarified butter, cinnamon and other spices used in it contribute to its smell.
Consumption[edit]
Chyawanaprash is usually consumed directly or along with warm milk or water. The recommended consumption is usually about 1 tbsp twice a day.
Claimed benefits[edit]
Proponents claim that Chyawanprash increases immunity, improves digestion, helps in bowel movements and increases sexual potency.[citation needed]
Triphala is the primary ingredient of Chyawanaprash which makes it rich in Vitamin C (445 mg/100g).[4]
Composition[edit]
The recipe of chyavanprash is mentioned in manuscripts written for ayurvedic method of treatment viz. Ashtangahridayam, Charakasamhita, Sangandharasamhita. Nowadays, original recipes of Chyawanprash have been altered and some of the ingredients have been replaced with other herbs.
Commercially available Chyawanaprash is marketed for all or different age groups - children, young men and old people, with different compositions that are claimed to have different advantages.
The number of herbs used may vary from 25 to 80 but the main ingredient of all Chyawanprash is amla[5] Other chief ingredients are:
ashwagandha
asparagus
amla
bamboo manna
blue Egyptian water lily
cardamom
chebulic myrobalan
Chinese cinnamon
cinnamon bark
clove
Indian rose chestnut
country mallow
feather foil plant (Phyllanthus niruri or Bhumiamalaki)
galls
ghee
Giant potato (Ipomoea mauritiana or Kiribadu Ala)
Giloy (Guduchi)
honey
Indian kudzu
Irish root
liquorice
Long pepper (Piper longum)
Malabar nut (Seed of Adhatoda vasica)
Nut grass
Potassium sorbate
Raisins
Round zedoary
sandalwood
sesame oil
Spreading hogweed (Boerhavia diffusa)
Sugar
Tiger's claw or Ice plant
Wild black gram
Wild green gram
Winter cherry (or Ashwaghanda)