Ayurveda – Facts you must know about Chyawanprash

I am a former Professor retired in 2016 after 40 years of teaching career spent in the academic field of Ayurveda. Apart from teaching I have also career experience in research, quality testing of drugs and academic and technical administration; all related to Ayurveda at Central and State level. On this background I am tempted to write this blog post to bring forth the facts you must know regarding many myths and beliefs surrounding drug, food and behavioural directives and advisories believed to be originating from Ayurveda. I will be covering the topics and subjects having current relevance. The purpose of this blog is not to teach or propagate anything but to make people aware about the reality. The information in this blog will be based on the original classical literature of Ayurveda. I will also cite some relevant references from recent research studies if required. This blog is for everybody who is interested to follow Ayurveda or for those who have strong reservations about Ayurveda. I will be writing more on don’ts rather than do’s in my deliberations. The first topic I have selected for this blog is a very popular Ayurvedic drug Chyawaprash.

Chyawanaprash must be a hot selling OTC Ayurvedic product, particularly in these CORONA scary days. Usually it is perceived as a general tonic for every age, every gender and every disease. In CORONA affected days it is being enthusiastically consumed as an immunity booster. Let us find out what classical Ayurveda has to say about it.

First thing everybody should understand that Chywanprash is not a general tonic, which can be taken at any time by everybody in every condition. It has its own do’s and don’ts to be observed while taking it. Talking about drugs it is more important to know what is not to be done than what is to be done. If you do a thing which is not to be done, it will do more harm than good. Not to do a thing to be done, will at the most deprive you from it’s benefits.

As prescribed by Caraka Samhita, Chyawanprash is prepared from the fruit pulp of Amala, Indian gooseberry (Emblica offfficanalis). The pulp is fried in a mixture ghee and edible oil and then cooked with sugar in the decoction made of multiple medicinal plants. The cooked material is then fortified with addition of honey and powders of long pepper, cinnamon bark, bay leaf, cardamom and Mesua ferrea and Vamshalocana. Chyawanprash when ready to eat should be thick in consistency and should not appear like honey or a syrup. Remember it needs to be eaten and not to be licked. The word ‘Prash’ in the name ‘Chyawanprash’ indicates its form. ‘Chyawan’ is the name of the Seer who has originally formulated it.

Regarding don’ts, Chyavanprash should not be taken by obese, fatty, overweight persons, persons suffering from metabolic disorders like diabetes, high blood pressure, central obesity, increased blood cholesterol and triglycerides, PCOD and people who have a habit of overeating. People suffering from indigestion, dyspepsia, chronic renal failure and hepatic dysfunction should also not take Chywanprash.

Chyawanprash is very heavy to digest, since it contains, ghee, oil, sugar and honey. The basic requirement of taking Chyawanprash is that the digestive functioning of the consumer should be perfectly healthy. The drug should be taken on empty stomach early in the morning at breakfast time in the dose of approx. 50 g. with lukewarm water. Our teachers use to advise us to eat Chyawanprash in place of breakfast. It should not be mixed in milk or any other drink. Nothing should be taken, eaten or drunk after taking Chyawanprash till it is digested completely. It takes at least three hours to digest Chyawanprash.

Few words about sugar free Chyawanprash. Some products imitating Chyawanprash have appeared in the market claiming that it is sugar free Chyawanprash and it is safe for people having diabetes. Variations in the original ingredients of the classical products like Chyawanprash are legally not permitted according to Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940. Therefore, nobody can use the name Chyawanprash if any of the ingredients is dropped or replaced. Be careful the product you are buying is Chyawanprash or something imitating Chyawanprash. If one sees carefully the name Chyawanprash is being used by tweaking it little, to escape from legal action.

Sugar is an important drug ingredient of Chyawanprash. It is not used as a sweetener in this drug. Sugar has its own therapeutic effect. Moreover, sugar or no sugar, products like Chyawanprash are basically not made for and hence never good for people suffering from diseases like diabetes and metabolic disorders.

To conclude yes Chyawanprash may be having immunity boosting activity. Not only Chyawanprash, many more Ayurvedic drugs and even a plain fruit of Amala i.e. Indian gooseberry will also give immunity boosting action. There are no restrictions on eating an Amala. It will be much cheaper and safe than taking Chyawanprash. So eat one fresh Amala, if not, pop up two tablespoons of dry Amala powder or Amala supari with lukewarm water every day and get your immunity boosted. It not only tastes sweet but has a wonderful taste which lingers on your tongue for a long time.

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