Balarishta
Balarishta is a classical Ayurvedic fermented arishta or asava. Listed in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI). It is described in Bhaishajya Ratnavali, where it was called Baladwaya Arishta or nourishing fermented tonic. The Ayurvedic Formulary of India (Part I, entry 1:24) lists 13 ingredients, beginning with Bala, Asvagandha, Guda and Dhataki.
| Pharmacopoeia status | Listed in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI). Referenced in Bhaishajya Ratnavali. Manufactured under Drug and Cosmetics Act, 1940 by licensed pharmacies. |
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Composition
As given in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, entry 1:24 (BALARISTA), which cites Bhaisajyaratnavali, Vatavyadhyadhikara; 569-571.. 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 | Bala | root | 4.800 kg |
| 2 | Asvagandha | root | 4.800 kg |
| 3 | Water for decoction * | 49.152 l, reduced to 12.288 l | |
| 4 | Guda | 14.400 kg | |
| 5 | Dhataki * | flower | 768 g |
| 6 | Payasa (ksira vidari) * | Sub.Rt. | 96 g |
| 7 | Pancangula (eranda) | root | 96 g |
| 8 | Rasna * | Lf./Rt. | 48 g |
| 9 | Ela (suksmaila) * | seed | 48 g |
| 10 | Prasarani * | illegible | 48 g |
| 11 | Devapuspa (lavanga) * | illegible | 48 g |
| 12 | Usira | root | 48 g |
| 13 | Svadamstra (goksura) * | fruit | 48 g |
Cells marked illegible are damaged in the source scan. The ingredient name is shown where it was readable, and nothing is inferred to fill a gap.
* 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
4papers on this site for this drug, published 1998 to 2022, 3 with a DOI.
- 4Laboratory 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 | Balarishta |
Where is it described in the classical texts?
Bhaishajya Ratnavali (13th century CE), where it was called Baladwaya Arishta or nourishing fermented tonic. Also referenced in Charaka Samhita for Balya (strength-promoting) indications.
How does it work?
- Bala (Sida cordifolia) is regarded in classical practice as a nervine tonic
- Adaptogenic and immunomodulatory effects of Ashwagandha enhance stress resistance and immune function
- Anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties are traditionally attributed to it in joint and muscle pain
- Nutritive and restorative (Balya) action improves overall body strength and organ nourishment
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- General debility and weakness post-illness: traditionally used for general debility and weakness after illness.
- Rheumatic pain and joint disorders: traditionally used for rheumatic pain and joint disorders. Studies in arthritis models have reported anti-inflammatory activity.
- Post-paralysis rehabilitation: traditionally used during recovery after paralysis. In classical practice, Bala is regarded as a nervine tonic.
- Hemiplegia support: traditionally used as support in hemiplegia. Studies have reported neuroprotective activity and effects on neurotransmitters.
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 without known serious side effects at recommended dose (12-24 ml twice daily with equal water). Some individuals with gastric sensitivity may experience stomach irritation or burning.
- Contains 5-10% self-generated alcohol. Caution in liver disorders, pregnancy, and pediatric use. Sida cordifolia contains ephedrine alkaloids in trace amounts; monitor in hypertensive patients.
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Arishta (fermented decoction), Syrup (modern), Capsules (modern)
Standard Dosage: 12 to 24 ml twice daily after meals with equal water, as given in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, entry 1:24. The formulary attributes this formula to Bhaisajyaratnavali, Vatavyadhyadhikara; 569-571.
Optimal Timing: After meals, twice daily, for sustained use (minimum 1-3 months for Rasayana effect)
Storage: Store in well-closed amber glass or HDPE containers in a cool, dry place. Protect from sunlight. Temperature not exceeding 30°C.
Marker Compounds: Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine, Beta-sitosterol, Ecdysterone, Withanolide A (from Ashwagandha component)
Vehicle (Anupana): Equal quantity of warm water
Synergistic Combinations
- Ashwagandharishta
- Dashamularishta
- Bala Taila
- Ashwagandha Churna
- Dhanwantaram Thailam
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 7 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 |
| Kerala Ayurveda | An ingredient list, without quantities |
| Maharishi Ayurveda | 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 studies4
- 2018. Influence of intrinsic microbes on phytochemical changes and antioxidant activity of the Ayurvedic fermented medicines: Balarishta and ChandanasavaAyu. PMID 31000995 · doi:10.4103/ayu.AYU_237_17
- 1998. Anti - inflammatory potential of balarishta and dhanvantara gutika in albino ratsAncient science of life. PMID 22556860
- 2022. Phytochemical profiling of Balarista formulation by GC-MS analysisNatural product research. PMID 32772709 · doi:10.1080/14786419.2020.1799364
- 2021. Ayurvedic Balarista ameliorate anti-arthritic activity in adjuvant induced arthritic rats by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stressJournal of traditional and complementary medicine. PMID 34012869 · doi:10.1016/j.jtcme.2020.04.006
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.