Ashtavargam Kashayam is a polyherbal ayurvedic medicine. It is an herbal
decoction prepared from 8 ingredients viz. Bala, Sahachara, Eranda, Sonth,
Rasna, Devdar, Nirgundi and Lahsuna. It is used in treatment of Vata roga.
Here is given more about this medicine, such as benefits,
indication/therapeutic uses, composition and dosage.
- Type of medicine: Classical Medicine
- Purpose: Vata Dosha (Diseases due to predominance of Vata)
- Suitablefor: All types of rheumatic disorders.
- Synonym: Ashtavargam Kwatham, Ashtavargam Kashaya
- Reference: Sahasra Yoga
- Availability: As Dry powder from (Kwath Churna), liquid, and in tablets forms
Ingredients of Ashtavargam Kashayam
- Bala Root 1 Part
- Sahchara Plant 1 Part
- Eranda Root 1 Part
- Sunthi Rhizome 1 Part
- Rasna Root or Leaves 1 Part
- Suradruma / Devdaru Heart wood 1 Part
- Sinduvara / Nirgundi Root 1 Part
- Lasuna Garlic Bulb 1 Part
- Water for decoction preparation
About the ingredients
Sida-Cordifolia, is Latin name of herb Bala or Country Mallow. In
Hindi it is known as Bariar. It is found growing in tropical and subtropical
parts of India. It is a medicinal herb. In Ayurveda, it is considered Sweet in
taste, Cold in potency and Sweet after digestion. It balances Vata-Pitta and Kapha. It mainly works on nerves of body. It has pain
relieving, demulcent, diuretic, and tonic properties. It gives strength to
body (hence names Bala which means strength giving in Hindi), and used in
treatment of diseases of heart, facial paralysis, inflammatory conditions, pain
in nerves, chronic rheumatism and arthritis.
Sahachara is dried whole plant of Barleria prionitis Linn. belonging
to family Acanthaceae. It is a bushy, prickly undershrub reaching upto 0.6-1.5 m
high and found throughout hotter parts of the country and also cultivated as a
hedge plant.
It is known as Kurantaka, Koranda, Kerandaka in Sanskrit. It mainly consists
of Alkaloids, β-Sitosterol, Potassium. It is sweet and bitter in taste, hot
in potency and pungentafterdigestion (Katu Vipak). It
balances Kapha, and destroys poison. It is especially useful in gout.
Rasna is dried leaf of Pluchea lanceolata Oliver & Hiern.(Fam.
Asteraceae). It is an annual undershrub having spreading roots extending to
several meters. It is found growing in sandy soils in upper Gangetic plain and
Rajasthan. It flowers during cold season. Rasna, mainly contains Flavonoids -
Quercetin and Isorhamnetin. It tastes bitter. It is heavy to digest, hot in
potency and pungent after digestion (Katu Vipak). Rasna is main drug of
choice for inflammation, Vata roga, arthritis, gout, rheumatism due to its
Ama pachana (digests the ama, waste product due to incomplete digestion) and
Vata-Kaphahar properties.
Eranda is dried, mature roots of Ricinus communis Linn. (Family
Euphorbiaceae). It is a tall glabrous shrub or almost small tree of 2-4 m
height. It is found throughout India, mostly growing wild on waste land and also
cultivated for its oil seeds. Gandharvahasta, Vatari, Panchngula, Citra, Urubu,
Rubu are few Sanskrit synonyms of plant. The main active constituent Alkaloid
(ricinine).
It is sweet in taste, heavy and oily in action and hot in potency. It
is sweet after digestion (Madhur Vipak). Eranda roots are Vata har,
Vrishya and Ama Pachana. It is mainly indicated in Vata Vyadhis such as inflammation of joints, arthritis, waist pain, lower back pain, gout and
similar conditions.
Shunthi consists of dried rhizome of Zingiber officinale Roxb. (Family
Zinglberaceae). It is widely cultivated in India for its medicinal and edible
uses. The main phytochemicals present in it are Essential oil, gingerol and
shogaol, resinous matter and starch. It is pungent in taste and sweet after
digestion. It is easy to digest and hot in potency. It reduces Vata /
wind in body due to it warming and carminative action. It improves digestion and reduces Ama inside body. It is used to treat digestive weakness, cough, respiratory ailments and arthritis.
Devdaru consists of dried heart wood of Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) Loud.
(Family Pinaceae). It is a very large and tall ever green tree, upto 75m in
height and ranging from 2.4 to 3.6 m in girth, found in North Western Himalayas
from Kashmir to Garhwal, between 1200 to 3000 m and also cultivated in Kumaon.
The main constituent of wood are Terpenoids, Flavonoids and Glycosides. It is
bitter in taste, easy to digest, hot in potency and pungent after
digestion. It is Kaphahara, Vatahar and wound purifying. It gives relief in
swelling, flatulence, Kapha, and arthritis.
Sinduvara / Nirgundi consists of dried root of Vitex Negundo Linn.
(Family Verbenaceae). It is a large aromatic shrub or sometimes a small tree,
upto 4.5 m in height. It is common throughout the country ascending to an
altitude of 1500 m in the lower Himalayas.It is common in waste places around
village, river bank, moist localities and deciduous forests.
Nirgundi is bitter, pungent and astringent in taste. It post digestion
effect is pungent.
Nirgundi balances Vata inside body and gives relief in pain. Due to
these properties, it is used in treatment of inflammatory condition of joints.
Lasuna consists of bulb of Allium sativum Linn. (Family Liliaceae). It
is a perennial bulbous plant, cultivated as an important condiment crop in the
country. It is also known as Rasona in Ayurveda. It is hot in potency, and
pungent in both taste and post digestion. Lahsun supports better digestion,
and balances Vata.
Benefits of Ashtavargam Kashayam
- It supports better digestion.
- It is carminative in action and reduces Vata inside body.
- It also reduces Kapha due to drying nature.
- It burns Ama. Ama is toxic waste produces in body due to Agnimandya or weakness of digestive fire. Ama acts as poison in body and it is the principal cause for all metabolic disorders.
- It gives relief in pain, inflammation and stiffness of joints.
- It is warming medicine.
Important Therapeutic Uses of Ashtavargam Kashayam
- Vata Roga
- Arthritis
- Gout
- Osteoarthritis
- All rheumatoid ailments
- Acute hemiplegia
- Acute facial palsy, paralysis
- Pain in muscles
- Inflammatory conditions of joints
- Ama Dosha
Dosage of Ashtavargam Kashayam
The recommended dosage for this medicine 10-15 ml with 50 ml warm water,
twice a day, in empty stomach or as directed by physician. This medicine is
effective in Vata dominant joint disorders.
This is a hot potency medicine and increases Pitta. It may cause acidity,
gastritis and discomfort.
You can buy this medicine online or from medical stores.
This medicine is manufactured by Arya Vaidya Pharmacy (Ashtavargam Kashayam
Tablets), Nagarguna (Ashtavargam Kashayam Tablets), Kottakal Arya Vaidya Sala
(Ashtavargam Kashayam), AVP (Ashtavargam Kashayam), Vaidyaratnam (Ashtavargam
Kashayam) and many other Ayurvedic pharmacies.