Gandharvahastadi Kashayam
Gandharvahastadi Kashayam is a classical Ayurvedic kashaya, a water decoction. Listed in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI), which attributes it to Sahasrayogam (kasayaprakarana). Traditionally used for constipation and flatulence. The Ayurvedic Formulary of India (Part I, entry 4:5) lists 8 ingredients: Gandharvahasta 1 part, Ciribilva 1 part, Hutasa 1 part, Visva 1 part, Pathya 1 part, Punarnava 1 part, Yavasaka 1 part and Bhumitala 1 part.
| Also known as | Gandharvahastadi Kashayam, GandharvahastadiKashayam |
|---|---|
| Pharmacopoeia status | Listed in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI), which attributes it to Sahasrayoga (kasayaprakarana). Manufactured under Drug and Cosmetics Act, 1940. |
Composition
As given in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, entry 4:5 (GANDHARVAHASTADI KVATHA CURNA), which cites Sahasrayoga, kasayaprakarana; 394.. 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 | Gandharvahasta (eranda) | root | 1 part |
| 2 | Ciribilva | leaf | 1 part |
| 3 | Hutasa (citraka) | root | 1 part |
| 4 | Visva * | rhizome | 1 part |
| 5 | Pathya (haritaki) | pericarp | 1 part |
| 6 | Punarnava (rakta punarnava) | root | 1 part |
| 7 | Yavasaka (yavasaka) * | 1 part | |
| 8 | Bhumitala * | root | 1 part |
* 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 48 g. 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 | Gandharvahastadi Kashayam |
Where is it described in the classical texts?
The Ayurvedic Formulary of India attributes it to Sahasrayogam (kasayaprakarana), where it is referenced for constipation and flatulence.
How does it work?
- Prostaglandin-mediated stimulation of intestinal motility by Eranda (castor root) promotes bowel evacuation
- Agni (digestive fire) enhancement by Shunthi and Musta improves overall digestive capacity
- Haritaki and Trivrit are classically described as mild purgatives
- Vata-balancing properties of Devadaru and Daruharidra are traditionally described as Vata-pacifying
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Constipation: traditionally used for constipation. A case series reported improved bowel regulation.
- Flatulence and bloating: traditionally used for flatulence and bloating, to enhance digestive fire (Agni).
- Vata disorders with low back pain: traditionally used for Vata disorders with low back pain. Its ingredients include Devadaru and Daruharidra.
- Loss of appetite: traditionally used for loss of appetite. Its ingredients include Shunthi and Musta.
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 dosage. Excessive use may lead to loose stools or abdominal cramping. Not recommended during pregnancy due to purgative ingredients.
- Should be used cautiously in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Physician supervision recommended for prolonged use to prevent electrolyte imbalance.
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: Kashayam (decoction), Kashayam tablet (modern), Concentrated liquid (modern)
Standard Dosage: 15-30 mL or 2 tablets twice daily before meals. The Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, entry 4:5 specifies 48 g of the kvatha curna to prepare the decoction, which is a quantity of drug rather than a dose taken, so it is not comparable with the volume above. The formulary attributes this formula to Sahasrayoga, kasayaprakarana; 394.
Optimal Timing: Before meals, or at bedtime with Eranda Taila for Vatanulomana (normalizing Vata)
Storage: Fresh: use same day. Concentrates: amber glass at room temperature. Tablets: airtight containers at room temperature.
Marker Compounds: Ricinoleic acid derivatives, 6-Gingerol (from Shunthi), Cedrene (from Devadaru), Beta-sitosterol
Vehicle (Anupana): Eranda Taila (castor oil) 5-10 mL is the classical anupana
Synergistic Combinations
- Eranda Taila (castor oil, classical anupana)
- Dashamula Kashayam
- Rasnadi Kashayam
- Guggulu preparations
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 5 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 |
| Maharishi Ayurveda | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
| 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.
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.