Chyawanprash – one herbal medicine, many health benefits

Chyawanprash is one of the anti aging supplements, which is purely herbal in nature. It has Amla as its main ingredient, which is a powerful antioxidant. Acharya Charaka is the first to mention this herbal medicine.

How to make chyawanprash?

Chyawanprash ingredients: Bilwa (Aegle marmelos), Agnimantha (Premna corymbosa), Shyonaka (oroxylum indicum), Gambhari (Gmelina arborea), Patala (stereospermum suaveolens), bala (sida cordifolia), Mashaparni (Teramnus labialis), Mudgaparni (Vina trilobata), Prishnaparni (Uraria picta), Shalaparni (Desmodium gangeticum), Pippali (Long pepper), Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris), Brihati (solanum indicum), kantakari (solanum xanthocarpum), karkata Shrungi (pistasia integerrima), Taamalaki (phyllanthus fraturnus), Draksha (dry grapes), jeevanti (Leptodenia reticulata), Pushkara(Inula racemosa), Agaru (Aquilaria agallocha), Hareetaki (Terminalia chebula), Ruddhi (Habenaria intermedia), Jeevaka (Microstylis muscifera), Vrishabhaka (Microstylis wallichi), Shati (Hedychium spicatum), Musta (cyperus rotundus), Punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa), Meda (Polygonatum cirrhifolium), Ela (Elettaria cardamomum), Chandana (Santalum album), Utpala (Nymphaea stellata), Vidari (Ipomea digitata), Vrushamula (Adhatoda vasica), kakoli (Lilium poilyphyleum), Kakanasika (Martynia diandra) - all these herbs are taken 50 grams each. in coarsel powdered form. Most of these herbs are commonly found in Himalaya and other parts of India.

Amla – 5 kg (fresh fruit)

First the above said group of herbs is mixed in 13 liters of water. Amla is tied in a cloth making it able to hanging. At the mouth of the vessel, a stick is placed and the cloth pack containing Amla is kept hanging so that the pack of amla is immersed in the water. (This type of process is called as Swedana) the vessel is subjected to heat. After sufficient boiling, the cloth packing is taken out. From it, Amla is taken out, seeds are removed and the boiled pulp part of Amla is made into a paste. This paste is fried with 6 liters of ghee and sesame oil.

The water is filtered. It is taken in another vessel and the paste of amla is added to it. To this vessel, 2.5 Kgs of sugar is added and this mixture is heated in mild heat. Upon slow heating, the liquid slowly starts solidifying.

Once semisolid state is achieved, the vessel is taken out of fire and stirred well. Upon self cooling, 300 grams of honey, 200 gram of Tugakshiri, 100 gram of Pippali (Long pepper fruit), Twak, patra and Ela and Nagakeshara are added- 50 grams each. the mixture is continuously sitrred well to get the Chyavanprash.

This reference is according to Charaka samhita. There are some other references of Chyavan prash, wherein the sesame oil is not added.

Learn making Chyawanprash with Dr Hebbar

how much Chyavanprash to consume:

One to two spoonful along with a glass of milk, every morning before breakfast.

How can I know and be assured about the quality of my chyawanprash?

There are simple tests to know the quality of Chyawanprash. Watch the video here – Best Chyawanprash

Why drink milk after taking Lehyam:

Because According to Ayurveda, many of the herbs used in all lehyams, including Chyavan prash are hot in potency. So, to retaliate that, One should drink milk, which, being cold, mitigates the hot potency effect.

Chyawanprash health benefits:

There are many benefits of chyawanprash. It is useful in cough and cold. It is especially used in pulmonary tuberculosis. It helps in rejuvenation of old aged people and also in proper nourishment of young ones. It is effectively used in the treatments of throat infections, chest infections, Gout, disease conditions involving urine.

It improves intelligence (Medha), memory power, Skin lustre, age, strength of sense organs, immunity power, appetite.

It is a powerful antiaging herbal product. It also cures wrinkles.

Does chyavanprash intake cause gain weight?

Just one to two spoonful of Chyawanprash everyday can not be considered as cause for weight gain. It contains ghee alright. but the amount of ghee taken per day with one spoon of chyawanprash will be very very minimal.

Does Chyavanprash cause slight burning sensation in stomach?

If milk is drunk after chyawanprash intake, this problem will not occur.

Hot milk or cold milk?

Warm milk is better than cold milk with chyawanprash, as it further quickens digestion, but not as a mandatory rule .

Can Chyavanprash be taken with ghee?

it already contains ghee as an ingredient. so, it is advisable not to take extra ghee along with it. Milk or water is a better vehicle agent for chyawanprash rather than ghee.

Can chyawanprash be mixed with water to make it a bit dilute?

Not a good idea. If you want to have a milder effect, the best way is to reduce the dosage of Chyawanprash.

What is the benefit of Chyawanprash on Tridosha?

Chyawanprash balances Vata and Kapha. It has minimal effect over Pitta balance. Watch the video here – Benefits of chyawanprash

Can Chyawanprash be given to a three year old kid? from which age onwards, chyawanprash can be given?

Chyawanprash can be given to a child from 5 year old onwards, to be on the safer side. the dosage for children will be quarter to half spoon with a glass of milk. for a child of this age, chyawanprash can be given only if needed, for example in case of repeated respiratory tract infection, stomach infection, etc.

Is chyawanprash good for Chikungunya?

Though not specifically yes, in terms of helping to improve immunity it is beneficial.

There are many variants of Chyawanprash like Himalaya Chyawanprash tablet, dabur sona chandi chyawanprash etc? Is there any special benefit in taking them?

Well, Chyawanprash in itself is a complete herbal product. Its formula and dosage form has bean determined and sealed by ancient Ayurvedic scholars, many years ego. It is famous because it is ancient and is effective. If you take common chyawanprash, the process of digestion and absorption of chyawanprash starts at the level of mouth. It is a jam and starts melting at the level of mouth, with saliva media. but if you take chocolate, the rate of disintegration at the level of mouth is lesser and so, its effectiveness is also lesser.

Coming to sonachandi, or any chyawanprash variants – the formula has been sealed by the Acharyas, and it is the final formula that is good for use,. when that is the case, what can be the extra benefit by adding extra herbs? Who has done a research on the additionally added ingredients gel well with already existing ingredients? so, it is better to prefer the original chyawanprash over any of its variants.

Is there anything like Chyawanprash for Vata, Chyawanprash for Pitta and Chyawanprash for Kapha body types?

There is no classical reference of such types. The herbal combination in chyawanprash is suitable for all the body types. Its variants based on Doshas (Vata Pitta and Kapha) is nothing more than just a business trick.

How does Chyawanprash helps to get rid of wrinkles?

Wrinkles, grey hairs etc are signs of early aging.

Chyawanprash is rich with anti oxidants, and rejuvenative herbs.

It is a product categorized under ‘Rasayana’ – rejuvenation and anti aging.

From physiological perspective, the mode of action of Chyawanprash can be explained as below -

1. Delays the aging of cells.

2. Improves the nutritional levels of body tissues.

3. Improves digestive power

4. Improves oxygen supply to the deep tissues.

An interesting fact about : Historically Chyawanprash was used for the first time for the rejuvenation of a sage by name Chyawana maharshi. So the name – Chyawanprash.