Kalyanaka Ghritam
Kalyanaka Ghritam is a classical Ayurvedic ghrita, a medicated ghee. Listed in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API). The Ayurvedic Formulary of India (Part I, entry 6:7) lists 29 ingredients, beginning with Haritaki, Bibhitaka, Amalaki and Visala.
| Also known as | Kalyanaka Ghritam, KalyanakaGhritam |
|---|---|
| Pharmacopoeia status | Listed in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API); enlisted under National List of Essential Ayush Medicines (Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, January 2022); standardized per API norms by GMP-certified manufacturers |
Composition
As given in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, entry 6:7 (KALYANAKA GHRTA), which cites Astangahrdaya, Uttarasthana, Adhyaya 6; 26-28½.. 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 | Haritaki | ९ (garbled) | 12 g. |
| 2 | Bibhitaka | pericarp | 12 g. |
| 3 | Amalaki | pericarp | 12 g. |
| 4 | Visala (rakta indravaruni) | fruit | 12 g. |
| 5 | Bhadraila (sthulaela) | seed | 12 g. |
| 6 | Devadaru | Hd. Wd. | 12 g. |
| 7 | Elavaluka | stem bark | 12 g. |
| 8 | Sveta sariva | root | 12 g. |
| 9 | Krsna sariva | root | 12 g. |
| 10 | Haridra | rhizome | 12 g. |
| 11 | Daru haridra | stem | 12 g. |
| 12 | Salaparni * | whole plant | 12 g. |
| 13 | Prsniparni * | whole plant | 12 g. |
| 14 | Phalini (priyangu) * | flower | 12 g. |
| 15 | Nata (tagara) | Rt./Rz. | 12 g. |
| 16 | Brhati * | whole plant | 12 g. |
| 17 | Kustha | root | 12 g. |
| 18 | Manjistha * | stem | 12 g. |
| 19 | Nagakesara | stamens | 12 g. |
| 20 | Dadima-phala tvak | fruit | | ty (garbled) |
| 21 | Vella (vidanga) | fruit | 12 g. |
| 22 | Talisa patra (talisa) | leaf | 12 g. |
| 23 | Ela (siksmaila) | seed | 12 g. |
| 24 | Malati mukula (jati) * | flower | 12 g. |
| 25 | Utpala * | flower | 12 g. |
| 26 | Danti | root | 12 g. |
| 27 | Padmaka | Hd. Wd. | 12 g. |
| 28 | Hima (rakta candana) | Hd. Wd. | 12 g. |
| 29 | Sarpi (go ghrta) | 768 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 g, with anupana, the vehicle it is taken with, of warm milk, warm water. 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 2023 to 2026, every one with a DOI.
- 1Randomised controlled trials
- 1Other clinical studies and reviews
- 2Laboratory 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.
This entry and kalyanaka ghrita describe the same drug, , under different names. Both pages are kept because both names are in use, and each is cited as itself.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Kalyanaka Ghrita |
Where is it described in the classical texts?
Ashtanga Hrudayam Uttarasthana 6/26-33 (Mahakalyanaka Ghritam); Charaka Samhita (Kalyanaka Ghrita); Chakradatta (Ksheerakalyanaka Ghrita); Bhaisajya Ratnavali; Sharangadhara Samhita; Sahasrayoga
How does it work?
- Polyherbal synergy of 28+ plant extracts in lipid medium enhances bioavailability of neuroprotective compounds
- Haridra (curcumin) is reported to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity
- Sariva and Daruharidra provide cooling, pitta-pacifying action that calms aggravated mental states
- Balances Tridosha with emphasis on Vata-Pitta pacification, restoring equilibrium in Manovaha Srotas (mental channels)
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Unmada (psychosis/schizophrenia): traditionally used for unmada. Clinical studies have reported improvement in psychiatric conditions including OCD.
- Cognitive deficit in children: traditionally used for cognitive support in children. A prospective clinical study reported on its safety and on cognitive improvement in children.
- Fertility enhancement: traditionally used for both male (sperm quality) and female (ovum quality) fertility.
- Apasmara (epilepsy): used in classical practice for apasmara. Pharmacological studies have reported anticonvulsant properties in its ingredients.
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
- A prospective clinical study (not identified on this page) reported on its safety in children with cognitive deficits
- Caution advised for individuals with diabetes, high cholesterol, heart diseases, and hypertension due to ghee base
- Excessive consumption could lead to gastrointestinal distress; should be used under medical supervision
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Ghritam (medicated ghee), Soft gelatin capsules (modern)
Standard Dosage: 12 g twice daily on empty stomach, as given in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, entry 6:7. The formulary’s anupana: warm milk, warm water. The formulary attributes this formula to Astangahrdaya, Uttarasthana, Adhyaya 6; 26-28½.
Optimal Timing: On empty stomach, morning and evening, for Unmada (psychiatric), Apasmara (epilepsy), and cognitive conditions
Storage: Store in airtight glass or tin containers in a cool, dry place. Temperature not exceeding 25°C. Protect from light and moisture.
Marker Compounds: Bacoside A, Alpha-santalol, Beta-asarone (within limits), Piperine, Gallic acid
Vehicle (Anupana): Warm water or warm milk
Synergistic Combinations
- Brahmi Ghritam
- Saraswatarishta
- Manasamitra Vatakam
- Ashwagandha Churna
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
Other clinical studies and reviews1
Laboratory and animal studies2
- 2024. Product development and characterization of a lipid-based Ayurvedic polyherbal formulation: Kalyanaka GhritaJournal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine. PMID 39413551 · doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2024.101011
- 2023. Standardization and Ameliorative effect of Kalyanaka ghrita in β-amyloid induced memory impairment in wistar ratsJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 36055476 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2022.115671
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.