Abhayarishta
Abhayarishta is a classical Ayurvedic fermented arishta or asava. Listed in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI), Parts I and II. Bhaishajya Ratnavali, Arsha Rogadhikara (Piles treatment chapter). Also referenced in Charaka Samhita for Vibandha (constipation) and Udara Roga (abdominal disorders). The Ayurvedic Formulary of India (Part I, entry 1:1) lists 16 ingredients, beginning with Abhaya, Mrdvika, Vidanga and Madhuka kusuma.
| Pharmacopoeia status | Listed in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI), Parts I and II. Referenced in Bhaishajya Ratnavali and Charaka Samhita. Widely manufactured by major Ayurvedic pharmacies under GMP standards. |
|---|
Composition
As given in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, entry 1:1 (ABHAYARISTA), which cites Bhaisajyaratnavali, Arsorogadhikara ; 105-107. Names, parts and quantities are transcribed as printed and checked row by row against the book. Manufacturers' versions of a classical formulation can differ from the formulary.
| # | Ingredient | Part | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abhaya (haritaki) | pericarp | 4.800 kg. |
| 2 | Mrdvika (draksa) | dry fruit | 2.400 kg. |
| 3 | Vidanga | fruit | 480 g. |
| 4 | Madhuka kusuma * | flower | 480 g. |
| 5 | Water for decoction reduced to | 49.152 l. reduced to 12.288 l. | |
| 6 | Guda | 4.800 kg. | |
| 7 | Svadamstra (goksura) | fruit | 96 g. |
| 8 | Trivrta (trivrta) | root | 96 g. |
| 9 | Dhanya (dhanyaka) | fruit | 96 g. |
| 10 | Dhataki | flower | 96 g. |
| 11 | Indravaruni | root | 96 g. |
| 12 | Cavya | stem | 96 g. |
| 13 | Madhurika (misreya) * | fruit | 96 g. |
| 14 | Sunthi | rhizome | 96 g. |
| 15 | Danti | root | 96 g. |
| 16 | Mocarasa (salmali) | exudate | 96 g. |
* The scanned text was damaged at this row and the name was read from the entry's own Sanskrit verse.
The Formulary gives the dose as 12 to 24 ml. This is what the Formulary records for the classical preparation. It is not a dose for any product, and not advice to take anything.
The evidence at a glance
1paper on this site for this drug, 0 with a DOI.
- 1Laboratory and animal studies
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people.true See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Abhayarishta |
Where is it described in the classical texts?
Bhaishajya Ratnavali, Arsha Rogadhikara (Piles treatment chapter). Also referenced in Charaka Samhita for Vibandha (constipation) and Udara Roga (abdominal disorders). Known as the ‘king of medicine’ for piles.
How does it work?
- Cholagogue action increases bile secretion by the liver, stimulating intestinal peristalsis for smooth fecal passage
- Venotonic activity has been reported in studies on Haritaki
- Haritaki is described as having a mild laxative action
- Vidanga and Haritaki are described as having anti-inflammatory properties
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Constipation (Vibandha): traditionally used for constipation. A double-blind clinical study reported significant improvement.
- Piles/Hemorrhoids (Arsha): traditionally used for piles. Studies on Haritaki have reported venotonic and anti-inflammatory activity.
- Abdominal distension and flatulence: traditionally used for abdominal distension and flatulence. A cholagogue action that increases bile flow has been reported.
- Dysuria (difficult urination): traditionally used for difficult urination. Gokshura is described as having diuretic properties.
What do recent studies show?
No study for this section could be traced to a published paper. Classical formulations are researched largely in journals that PubMed does not index, so an absence here reflects the reach of the index rather than the state of the evidence.
Recent safety updates
- Generally safe at recommended dose. Contains 5-10% self-generated alcohol. Excessive use may cause loose stools or mild abdominal cramping.
- Not recommended during pregnancy due to mild purgative action. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease should use under medical supervision. Avoid in bleeding hemorrhoids without physician guidance.
What is it made of?
The Ayurvedic Formulary of India recipe, every ingredient with its part and quantity, is in the composition table near the top of this page.
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Arishta (fermented liquid), Capsules (modern), Syrup (modern)
Standard Dosage: 12 to 24 ml twice daily after meals with equal quantity of water, as given in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, entry 1:1. The formulary attributes this formula to Bhaisajyaratnavali, Arsorogadhikara; 105-107.
Optimal Timing: After meals (Bhojana-uttara), twice daily, preferably after lunch and dinner
Storage: Store in a cool, dry place in well-closed amber glass or HDPE containers. Protect from direct sunlight. Temperature not exceeding 30°C.
Marker Compounds: Gallic acid, Chebulagic acid, Chebulinic acid, Ellagic acid, Tannic acid
Vehicle (Anupana): Equal quantity of lukewarm water
Synergistic Combinations
- Triphala Churna
- Kutajarishta
- Bilvadi Leha
- Panchasakara Churna
What manufacturers publish about this preparation
Disclosure first. This site is published by Age Ayurveda, which sells Ayurvedic products, though not this preparation. Every cell states what that company's own product page carried when it was read, not our judgement of it. There is no score, no rank and no winner here, and the table is in alphabetical order for that reason.
The formulary entry above fixes the ingredients and the quantity of each. Whether you can check a particular product against it depends on what its manufacturer publishes. Of the 12 companies surveyed that sell a product under this name, this is what their pages carried when they were read on 8 October 2026.
| Company | What its product page publishes |
|---|---|
| AVN Ayurveda | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
| Baidyanath | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
| Dabur | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
| Kerala Ayurveda | An ingredient list, without quantities |
| Maharishi Ayurveda | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
| Oushadhi | Ingredients and the quantity of each |
| Patanjali Ayurved | An ingredient list, without quantities |
| Sandu Pharmaceuticals | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
| Shree Dhootapapeshwar | Ingredients and the quantity of each |
| Sitaram Ayurveda | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
| SNA Oushadhasala | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
| The Arya Vaidya Pharmacy, Coimbatore | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
This measures what each company publishes, not the quality of anything it makes. A company that publishes nothing here may make an excellent preparation, and the label in the box is a separate, regulated surface that is not what was read. What disclosure changes is whether a reader, a pharmacist or an answer engine can check a product against the formulary entry it claims.
Method, the full counts across every company surveyed, and what this measurement got wrong the first time: which manufacturers publish what is in the bottle. The URL of every page read is recorded in brand-disclosure.json. If a row here is wrong, including where the correction favours a company other than ours, tell us and we will fix it and say that we did. How the same companies' stated doses compare with the formulary dose, preparation by preparation: Ayurvedic company doses against the Ayurvedic Formulary of India.
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Laboratory and animal studies1
- 2010. Chemical changes during fermentation of Abhayarishta and its standardization by HPLC-DADNatural product communications. PMID 20433076
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.