Ayurvedic preparations: what they are, what kinds there are and how they are taken

Ayurvedic preparations are traditional therapeutic and preventive remedies of Indian medicine: most often plant-based (less often with minerals or products of animal origin), which an Ayurvedic doctor selects to suit a person’s constitution and prescribes in courses. Their task in the Ayurvedic model is not to «knock down» an isolated symptom but to support the balance of the doshas, digestion (agni) and the working of the tissues, so they are usually taken for a long time and in combination with nutrition and a routine.

Below, in simple terms: what kinds of Ayurvedic preparations there are, what they are made from and how, how they are prescribed, and what is important to know about safety.

Ayurvedic preparations – herbal powders, oils, pills and compounds

What «an Ayurvedic preparation» means

It is a remedy prepared according to the recipes of classical Ayurveda — from herbs, spices, oils, minerals and other natural components processed in a special way. Unlike the familiar medicine «for a disease», an Ayurvedic preparation is selected to suit the Prakriti (innate constitution) and the current imbalance: the same remedy may suit one person and not suit another. How the doshas and the constitution work is on a separate page.

What kinds of Ayurvedic preparations there are

Classical Ayurveda distinguishes preparations by form and method of preparation:

  • Churna (powders). Ground herbs and spices. A classic example is Triphala (a mixture of three fruits: amalaki, haritaki, bibhitaki), which is traditionally used for gentle cleansing and digestion.
  • Vati and gutika (tablets, pills). Compressed powders and extracts in a convenient dosage.
  • Rasayanas and avalehas (jams, confitures). Tonic «rejuvenating» compositions. The most famous is Chyawanprasha thick jam based on amla with dozens of herbs.
  • Taila and ghrita (oils and clarified butter). Therapeutic oils for internal use and for procedures, as well as medicated ghee infused with herbs.
  • Arishtas and asavas (fermented infusions). Herbal compositions of natural fermentation (for example, Ashokarishta, Dashamularishta) — with a mild warming action.
  • Kvatha and kashaya (decoctions). Water extracts from herbs, prepared just before taking.
  • Bhasmas (mineral preparations). A special group — calcined and specially processed minerals and metals (iron, mica, less often gold). It is precisely with these that safety questions are connected — more on this below.

What they are produced from and how

The basis of most preparations is plants: the roots, stems, bark, leaves, flowers and fruit are used. To them are added spices, oils, clarified butter, honey, milk, and in some recipes — minerals and metals.

A key feature of traditional production is the preliminary processing of the raw material (shodhana, «purification»): herbs and especially minerals undergo multi-stage preparation — soaking, washing, calcining, grinding with plant juices. For bhasmas this is dozens of processing cycles. The goal, according to Ayurvedic ideas, is to make the component absorbable and remove its «coarse» properties. Such remedies are prepared over a long time, in batches, according to the prescriptions of the classical treatises.

How they are prescribed and taken

Ayurvedic preparations are not a «dietary supplement following the instructions on the box», but part of a programme that the doctor builds:

  • Selection to suit the person. The vaidya takes into account the constitution, the current imbalance of the doshas, the strength of digestion, age and season.
  • In courses and often for a long time. Many compositions, especially rasayanas, are taken for weeks and months — in this model the effect is cumulative.
  • With the right «drink to take it with» (anupana). The tradition attaches importance to what you take the preparation with — warm water, honey, clarified butter or milk: it is held that the anupana strengthens and directs the action.
  • Together with nutrition and a routine. The preparations work in combination with nutrition suited to your dosha and the daily routine, and in course programmes — with procedures Panchakarma.

That is precisely why in Ayurveda preparations are not so much «bought» as obtained on a doctor’s prescription — including at Ayurvedic clinics, where people go for a full course of treatment in India.

What is important to know about safety

Plant preparations are generally considered gentle, but «natural» does not mean «harmless in any quantity»:

  • Mineral preparations (bhasmas) require caution. Some of them contain processed metals. Independent studies have found an excess of heavy metals (lead, mercury, arsenic) in individual samples from the market. Therefore such preparations should be taken only on the prescription of a qualified doctor and from trusted, certified sources — not bought «at the market» and not self-prescribed.
  • There are contraindications and interactions. The claim «Ayurvedic preparations have no contraindications» is a myth. Pregnancy, childhood, chronic illnesses and taking prescribed medicines are reasons to consult a doctor first.
  • It is not a weight-loss remedy and not a substitute for treatment. Certain compositions are traditionally used to support metabolism or in cases of a «kapha» imbalance, but these are not weight-loss preparations and not a substitute for therapy in cases of illness.

Well-known Ayurvedic preparations

A few compositions that are encountered most often:

  • Triphala — a powder of three fruits; traditionally for digestion and gentle cleansing.
  • Chyawanprash — a rasayana jam based on amla; a general tonic composition.
  • Ashwagandha — an adaptogen, traditionally for fatigue and stress.
  • Brahmi — for clarity of mind and memory.
  • Liv-52 — a well-known multi-component preparation for liver support.

For specific conditions — Joints, Digestion, the liver and others — the compositions are chosen by the doctor; these are separate topics of the corresponding pages.

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Frequently asked questions about Ayurvedic preparations

It is a natural remedy (most often herbal) according to the recipes of Indian medicine, which is selected to suit a person’s constitution and taken as a course to support balance, rather than as a pill «for a symptom».

Plant compositions are usually gentle, but mineral ones (bhasmas) may contain metals, and any preparations have contraindications. Safe means on a doctor’s prescription and from trusted sources.

In some mineral preparations (bhasmas) — yes, metals are present by the recipe, and in individual market samples an excess of them has been found. That is why a qualified doctor and a certified manufacturer are important.

Certain gentle compositions (Triphala, for one) are used independently too, but the selection to suit your condition, the dosage and the course are better entrusted to a doctor — especially when it comes to mineral preparations or a chronic illness.

Ayurveda works with metabolism and the balance of the doshas through nutrition, routine and preparations, which may be reflected in weight — but these are not «weight-loss pills» and not a substitute for a healthy way of life.

Often in courses of several weeks or months: in the Ayurvedic model plant compositions have a cumulative effect. The duration is determined by the doctor.

Find a programme

Ayurvedic preparations are remedies of a traditional wellness system, not a substitute for medical care. Do not prescribe them to yourself in cases of illness or when taking medicines — consult a doctor first.