Chitrakadi Vati
Chitrakadi Vati is a classical Ayurvedic vati, a herbal tablet or pill. Listed in Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI) Part I; HPTLC-validated quality standards published; individual ingredients monographed in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API) Part I. The Ayurvedic Formulary of India (Part I, entry 12:11) lists 16 ingredients, beginning with Citraka, Pippalimula, Yava ksara and Sarji ksara.
| Also known as | Chitrakadi Vati, ChitrakadiVati |
|---|---|
| Pharmacopoeia status | Listed in Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI) Part I; HPTLC-validated quality standards published; individual ingredients monographed in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API) Part I |
Composition
As given in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, entry 12:11 (CITRAKADI GUTIKA), which cites Carakasamhita,Cikisasthana, Adhyaya 15,96-96%.. 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 | Citraka | root | 1 part |
| 2 | Pippalimula (pippali) * | root | 1 part |
| 3 | Yava ksara (yava) | 1 part | |
| 4 | Sarji ksara (svarji ksara) | 1 part | |
| 5 | Sauvarcala lavana | 1 part | |
| 6 | Saindhava lavana | 1 part | |
| 7 | Vida lavana | 1 part | |
| 8 | Samudra lavana | 1 part | |
| 9 | Audbhida lavana | 1 part | |
| 10 | Sunthi | rhizome | 1 part |
| 11 | Marica | fruit | 1 part |
| 12 | Pippali | fruit | 1 part |
| 13 | Hingu | exudate | 1 part |
| 14 | Ajamoda | fruit | 1 part |
| 15 | Cavya | stem | 1 part |
| 16 | Matulunga rasa or Dadima rasa * | fruit | Q.S. for mardana |
* The scanned text was damaged at this row and the name was read from the entry's own Sanskrit verse.
The Formulary gives the anupana, the vehicle it is taken with, as Important therapeutic use :. This is what the Formulary records for the classical preparation. It is not a dose for any product, and not advice to take anything.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Chitrakadi Vati |
Where is it described in the classical texts?
Chakradatta (Agnimandya/Ajirna Chikitsa); also described in Yoga Ratnakara, Bhaishajya Ratnavali, and Sharangdhara Samhita
How does it work?
- Dual digestive action: Unique combination acts as an appetizer (Deepana) when taken before meals and as a digestive (Pachana) when taken after meals, demonstrating biphasic pharmacodynamic action
- Pitta regulation: Increases Pitta and regulates Vata in the stomach, promoting proper secretion of digestive Pitta (gastric juices)
- Plumbagin-mediated antimicrobial: Plumbagin from Chitraka is reported to have antimicrobial activity
- Carminative and antiflatulent: Hing (asafoetida) and Rock Salt (Saindhava Lavana) reduce gas formation and aid electrolyte balance in the digestive tract
- Bioavailability enhancement: Piperine from Trikatu enhances absorption of all active phytoconstituents, increasing therapeutic efficacy
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Traditionally used for functional dyspepsia. A randomized clinical study reported improvement in symptoms.
- Traditionally used for appetite stimulation (Deepana) and digestion (Pachana), taken before and after meals.
- Traditionally used for flatulence and bloating. The carminative properties are attributed to the combination of Hing and Saindhava Lavana.
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
- Mild GI irritation possible in sensitive individuals; avoid in active gastric/duodenal ulcer; Rock Salt content requires caution in patients with hypertension or sodium-restricted diets
- Contraindicated during pregnancy due to Ushna Virya herbs; not recommended for children under 5 years without physician guidance; long-term use should be guided by a practitioner
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Vati (tablet/pill), Modern compressed tablet
Standard Dosage: 250-500 mg twice daily before meals. The Ayurvedic Formulary of India attributes this formula to Carakasamhita, Cikitsasthana, Adhyaya 15, 96-96½.
Optimal Timing: Before meals (Bhojana-purva), 30 minutes before lunch and dinner for Agni deepana (appetite stimulation)
Storage: Store in airtight containers in a cool, dry place. Protect from moisture (contains multiple salts which are hygroscopic). Temperature not exceeding 30°C.
Marker Compounds: Plumbagin, Piperine, 6-Gingerol, Chavicine
Vehicle (Anupana): Warm water or buttermilk
Synergistic Combinations
- Hingwashtak Churna
- Agnitundi Vati
- Lavanbhaskar Churna
- Shankha Vati
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.