Err, um, I'll just forward you to this:
Chyawanprash - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I bought a bottle of Dabur brand Chayawanprash. I've been taking two spoons a day. It's sweet and spicey, kind of tamarind-ish, with a hit of black pepper. It's very cheap, so I figure, why not keep taking it?
Chyawanprash - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Origin
It is said that Chyawan Rishi was the first to prepare this tonic. Hence the name chyawanprash. The first historically documented formula for chywanprash is found in Charaka Samhita, the ancient Ayurvedic treatise.
[edit] Appearance and use
Chywanprash is a brown-colored, sticky paste with the consistency of jam and a sweet/sour/spicy taste. It can be eaten directly (one or two teaspoons per day, mixed in warm milk or water. It can be used like any other jam, spread onto crackers or bread.
Even though no strict diet is administered during the intake of Chyawanprash it is always advised to drink a glass of milk after each intake of the above. Chyawanprash intake is usually done once in a day usually after breakfast or after dinner. Chyawanprash is produced and sold by many ayurvedic centers such as Kottackal Ayurveda Pharmacy, Nagarjuna Ayurveda Pharmacy and Dabur.
[edit] Composition
Since many companies manufacture chyawanprash, the recipe may differ a bit. The number of herbs used in preparation of the paste varies from 25 to 80, but the main ingredient of all Chyawanprash is amla. Other chief ingredients are dried catkins, cinnamon, asparagus, ashwagandha, turmeric, ghee (clarified butter), dehydrated sugar cane and honey.
[edit] Ingredients
The best-known brand for chyawanprash is Dabur, it include the ingredients:
Fresh Amla fruit (Indian gooseberry)
Sugar
Honey
Ghee
Long pepper (Piper longum)
Sesame oil
Giant potato (Ipomoea mauritiana, or Kiribadu Ala)
Cardamom
Bamboo manna (or Tabasheer or Bamboo silica)
Indian kudzu
Winter cherry (or Ashwaghanda)
Asparagus
Cinnamon bark
Dashmool (Bengal quince, migraine bark, Indian trumpet flower, Purple snake tree or Indian purple trumpet, Sal leaf bush, Urara pitch, Indian nightshade, Small nightshade, Small caltrops, Cashmere bark)
Country mallow
Wild green gram
Wild black gram
Galls
Feather foll plant (or Bhumiamalaki)
Raisins
Ceylon-cow plant (Gymnema lactiferum)
Irish root
Chebulic myrobalan
Round zedoary
Nut grass
Spreading hogweed (Boerhavia diffussa)
Blue Egyptian water lily
Malabar nut (Seed of Adhatoda vasica)
Liquorice
Tiger's claw or Ice plant
Sandalwood
Clove
Chinese cinnamon
Cobra's saffron (or Nagkesar or Indian Rose Chestnut
Preservative: Potassium sorbate
[edit] Benefits
Note: These benefits are as mentioned in the Ayurvedic texts and manufacturers' ads. Many of these benefits may have not been proven scientifically.
Chyawanprash is a rejuvenative and prevents body against three kinds of doshas.
Regular intake of Chyawanprash strengthens digestion, absorption and assimilation of food. It eases constipation.
Chaywanprash's basic ingredient amla is the richest natural source of Vitamin C and strengthens the immune system.
Chaywanprash is also beneficial to the heart and the brain cells. It is considered a memory booster.
It also works as an antioxidant, thus slowing down the ageing process.
It is believed that Chyawanprash purifies blood, eliminates toxins and is beneficial to liver.
It is also said to fight bacterial skin infections and improve complexion.
It promotes absorption of calcium, leading to stronger bones and teeth.
It also improves muscle tone by enhancing protein synthesis.
It is especially beneficial for cough and asthma patients.
It enhances fertility and keeps menstruation regular.
According to this study, Chyawanprash helps to prevent steroid induced cataract in the developing chick embryo.
[edit] External links
In the book on RASAYANA by Puri (2003) under Amla a very detailed account on Chavanprasha is available. In the book detail about method of manufacture on small scale as well as on large scale is given, along with the scientific (botanical) identification of various herbs and the other ingredients as used by different pharmacies. An account of therapeutic activity is also available.
I bought a bottle of Dabur brand Chayawanprash. I've been taking two spoons a day. It's sweet and spicey, kind of tamarind-ish, with a hit of black pepper. It's very cheap, so I figure, why not keep taking it?