Chyawanprash
Chyawanprash is a classical Ayurvedic avaleha, a semi-solid herbal confection. Official monograph in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API) with physicochemical and assay standards. The Ayurvedic Formulary of India (Part I, entry 3:11) lists 48 ingredients, beginning with Bilva, Agnimantha, Syonaka and Kasmari (gambhari).
| Also known as | Chyawanprash, Chyavanaprasha, Chyawanprash Avaleha |
|---|---|
| Pharmacopoeia status | Official monograph in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API) with physicochemical and assay standards (minimum 0.5% gallic acid); listed in Ayurvedic Formulary of India; one of the most widely recognized and commercially produced Ayurvedic formulations globally |
Composition
As given in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, entry 3:11 (CYAVANAPRASA), which cites Carakasamhita, Cikitsasthana, Adhyaya 1 (1); 62-69. 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 | Bilva | root or stem bark | 48 g |
| 2 | Agnimantha | root or stem bark | 48 g |
| 3 | Syonaka | root or stem bark | 48 g |
| 4 | Kasmari (gambhari) * | root or stem bark | 48 g |
| 5 | Patali (patala) | root or stem bark | 48 g |
| 6 | Bala | whole plant | 48 g |
| 7 | Salaparni | whole plant | 48 g |
| 8 | Prsniparni | whole plant | 48 g |
| 9 | Mudgaparni | whole plant | 48 g |
| 10 | Masaparni | whole plant | 48 g |
| 11 | Pippali | fruit | 48 g |
| 12 | Svadamstra (goksura) * | whole plant | 48 g |
| 13 | Brhati | whole plant | 48 g |
| 14 | Kantakari | whole plant | 48 g |
| 15 | Srngi (karkatasrngi) * | gall | 48 g |
| 16 | Tamalaki | whole plant | 48 g |
| 17 | Draksa | dry fruit | 48 g |
| 18 | Jivanti | root | 48 g |
| 19 | Puskara | root | 48 g |
| 20 | Agaru | heart wood | 48 g |
| 21 | Abhaya (haritaki) * | pericarp | 48 g |
| 22 | Amrta (guduci) * | stem | 48 g |
| 23 | Rddhi | Sub. Rt. Tr. | 48 g |
| 24 | Jivaka | root tuber | 48 g |
| 25 | Rsabhaka | root tuber | 48 g |
| 26 | Sati | rhizome | 48 g |
| 27 | Musta | rhizome | 48 g |
| 28 | Punarnava (rakta punarnava) | whole plant | 48 g |
| 29 | Meda | root tuber | 48 g |
| 30 | Ela (suksmaila) | seed | 48 g |
| 31 | Candana (Sveta candana) | heart wood | 48 g |
| 32 | Utpala | whole plant | 48 g |
| 33 | Vidari | root tuber | 48 g. |
| 34 | Vrsamula (vasa) * | root | 48 g. |
| 35 | Kakoli | Sub.Rt. | 48 g. |
| 36 | Kakanasika | fruit | 48 g. |
| 37 | Amalaka (amalaki) | fruit | 500 in number |
| 38 | Water for decoction | 12.288 l. reduced to 3.072 l. | |
| 39 | Ghrta | 288 g. | |
| 40 | Taila (tila) | oil | 288 g. |
| 41 | Matsyandika | 2.400 kg. | |
| 42 | Madhu | 288 g. | |
| 43 | Tugaksiri (vamsa) * | silicaceous concretion | 192 g. |
| 44 | Pippali | fruit | 96 g. |
| 45 | Tvak | stem bark | 48 g. |
| 46 | Ela (suksmaila) * | seed | 48 g. |
| 47 | Patra (tejapatra) | leaf | 48 g. |
| 48 | Kesara (nagakesara) | stamens | 48 g. |
* The scanned text was damaged at this row and the name was read from the entry's own Sanskrit verse.
This entry lists 48 numbered rows, which are 46 distinct ingredients: pippali and ela are each listed twice, added at different stages. 3 of them are not plant material (water for decoction, ghrta, madhu), leaving 43 distinct plant ingredients.
A count of 45 that you may see elsewhere is this same formula under a different rule, not a different source: the distinct ingredients less the water, or the rows less water, ghee and honey. Counts of 50 or 18 do not correspond to this entry at all. The Formulary prints no total of its own, so every figure here is a derived count and only means anything with its rule attached.
The preparation note reads “Ingredients 1 to 38 are coarsely powdered”. That is a row range as printed, not a count of powdered herbs: row 38 is the decoction water itself, and the amalaka of row 37 is suspended whole in a cloth bundle rather than powdered.
The evidence at a glance
11papers on this site for this drug, published 2001 to 2026, 9 with a DOI.
- 1Randomised controlled trials
- 3Other clinical studies and reviews
- 7Laboratory and animal studies
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Chyawanprash |
Key Ingredients
- Amalaki (Phyllanthus emblica / Indian gooseberry) - primary ingredient
- Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia)
- Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus)
- Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) (in some modern commercial versions, not classical)
- Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) (in some modern commercial versions, not classical)
- Bala (Sida cordifolia)
- Pippali (Piper longum)
- Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris)
- Dashamula (ten roots)
- Ghrita (cow ghee)
- Tila Taila (sesame oil)
- Madhu (honey)
- Sharkara (sugar)
- 50+ herbs total in classical formulation
Where is it described in the classical texts?
Charaka Samhita Chikitsasthana (Rasayana Adhyaya) - oldest reference; Ashtanga Hridaya; the formulation is attributed to the sage Chyawan and described as 3000+ year old Rasayana
How does it work?
- Amalaki provides extremely high vitamin C content and polyphenols (gallic acid, catechin, quercetin) with potent antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity
- HPLC-identified phenolics (gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, ferulic acid) contribute synergistic antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytoprotective effects
- Adaptogenic herbs (Ashwagandha, Shatavari) modulate HPA axis for stress resilience and immune homeostasis
- Piperine from Pippali enhances bioavailability of other active compounds through inhibition of hepatic and intestinal glucuronidation
- Multi-herb synergy provides broad-spectrum immunomodulation: enhanced neutrophil function, NK cell activity, and antibody production
- Ghee and sesame oil base provides lipid medium for enhanced absorption of fat-soluble antioxidants and adaptogens
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Rasayana (rejuvenation/immunity): traditionally used as a rasayana for rejuvenation and immunity. A meta-analysis of clinical trials reported immunomodulatory and prophylactic effects, including against COVID-19.
- Medhya Rasayana (cognitive enhancement): traditionally used as a cognitive enhancer for brain vitality and mental acuity.
- Vyadhikshamatva (disease resistance): traditionally used to support disease resistance. Animal studies in zebrafish inflammation models and clinical studies have reported immunomodulatory effects.
- Balya (strength-promoting): traditionally taken daily for general vitality, respiratory health, and anti-aging.
What do recent studies show?
- Sharma S, Sethuraman G, Kumari K 2024. Safety and Efficacy of Chyawanprash as a Prophylaxis Treatment for COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Control Trials. Cureus. PMID 39544586 · doi:10.7759/cureus.71532
A meta-analysis of 5 RCTs reported a prophylactic benefit of Chyawanprash against COVID-19 and no adverse effects - Balkrishna A, Tomer M, Manik M and others 2021. Chyawanprash, An Ancient Indian Ayurvedic Medicinal Food, Regulates Immune Response in Zebrafish Model of Inflammation by Moderating Inflammatory Biomarkers. Frontiers in pharmacology. PMID 34867361 · doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.751576
Chyawanprash exerted strong prophylactic effect in zebrafish models, efficiently protecting from inflammatory manifestations at human equivalent dose through immunomodulation
Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. 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
- A meta-analysis of 5 RCTs reported no adverse effects in participants aged 15-75 when used throughout the year
- High sugar content requires monitoring in diabetic patients; sugar-free variants available for diabetics
- API mandates minimum 0.5% gallic acid content as quality standard; consumer-grade products vary significantly in quality - brand verification important
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Avaleha (semi-solid confection/jam), Granules (modern), Capsules (modern), Chewable tablets (modern)
Standard Dosage: 10-20 g (1-2 tablespoons) once or twice daily. The Ayurvedic Formulary of India attributes this formula to Carakasamhita, Cikitsasthana, Adhyaya 1 (1); 62-69.
Optimal Timing: Morning on empty stomach, followed by warm milk. Second dose before bedtime if taking twice daily.
Storage: Store in wide-mouth glass or food-grade HDPE jars with airtight lids. Temperature not exceeding 25°C. Protect from moisture. Refrigeration after opening recommended.
Marker Compounds: Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), Gallic acid, Piperine, Cinnamaldehyde, 1,8-Cineole, Ellagic acid, Eugenol
Vehicle (Anupana): Warm milk (classically prescribed)
Synergistic Combinations
- Ashwagandha Churna
- Shatavari Churna
- Brahmi Ghritam
- Warm milk (primary anupana)
What manufacturers publish about this preparation
Disclosure first. This site is published by Age Ayurveda, which sells Ayurvedic products and sells this preparation, so it is in the table below on the same terms as everyone else. 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 11 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 |
|---|---|
| Age Ayurveda(this site's publisher) | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
| AVN Ayurveda | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
| Baidyanath | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
| Dabur | An ingredient list, without quantities |
| Kerala Ayurveda | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
| Oushadhi | Ingredients and the quantity of each |
| Patanjali Ayurved | Ingredients and the quantity of each (on 4 of its 6 pages for this preparation; the others differ) |
| Shree Dhootapapeshwar | Ingredients and the quantity of each |
| Sitaram Ayurveda | An ingredient list, without quantities |
| The Arya Vaidya Pharmacy, Coimbatore | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
| Zandu | An ingredient list, without 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.
Randomised controlled trials1
- 2001. Effect of Chyawanprash and vitamin C on glucose tolerance and lipoprotein profileIndian journal of physiology and pharmacology. PMID 11211574
Other clinical studies and reviews3
- 2024. Safety and Efficacy of Chyawanprash as a Prophylaxis Treatment for COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Control TrialsCureus. PMID 39544586 · doi:10.7759/cureus.71532
- 2019. Chyawanprash: A Traditional Indian Bioactive Health SupplementBiomolecules. PMID 31035513 · doi:10.3390/biom9050161
- 2023. An Ayurvedic Medication (Chyawanprash) as a Prophylaxis for Non-Communicable Disease and Communicable Disease: A Protocol for Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisCureus. PMID 38021581 · doi:10.7759/cureus.47555
Laboratory and animal studies7
- 2021. Chyawanprash, An Ancient Indian Ayurvedic Medicinal Food, Regulates Immune Response in Zebrafish Model of Inflammation by Moderating Inflammatory BiomarkersFrontiers in pharmacology. PMID 34867361 · doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.751576
- 2026. Ayurvedic nutraceutical, Chyawanprash, enhances longevity and stress resilience via mitochondrial and muscular health in C. elegans model of ageingExperimental gerontology. PMID 42401269 · doi:10.1016/j.exger.2026.113229
- 2011. Beneficial effect of chyawanprash on cognitive function in aged micePharmaceutical biology. PMID 20738179 · doi:10.3109/13880209.2010.489904
- 2004. Effect of Sonachandi Chyawanprash and Chyawanprash Plus--two herbal formulations on immunomodulationNepal Medical College journal : NMCJ. PMID 16295744
- 2016. Chyawanprash, a formulation of traditional Ayurvedic medicine, shows a protective effect on skin photoaging in hairless miceJournal of integrative medicine. PMID 27854199 · doi:10.1016/S2095-4964(16)60272-8
- 2022. Golden Ager Chyawanprash with Meager Evidential Base from Human Clinical TrialsEvidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM. PMID 39258271 · doi:10.1155/2022/9106415
- 2007. High-performance liquid chromatographic method for the quantification of phenolics in 'Chyavanprash' a potent Ayurvedic drugJournal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis. PMID 16971083 · doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2006.08.005
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Available from Age Ayurveda
This encyclopedia is published by Age Ayurveda. The products below are ours, and are listed here because they contain or use what this page describes.
Chyawanprash AvalehaA classical avaleha, traditionally used to support daily vitality and immune function.Ask about this on WhatsApp
Chyawan CapThe classical avaleha in capsule form, traditionally used to support daily vitality.Ask about this on WhatsApp
NutrijamAn amla-based herbal jam, traditionally used to support daily nourishment and immune function.Ask about this on WhatsApp
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.