Kumaryasava
Kumaryasava is a classical Ayurvedic fermented arishta or asava. Listed in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI). Charaka Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya. Chavannapalli's commentary on Madhava Nidana (16th century) describes Kumari Asava for menstrual pain and uterine tone enhancement. The Ayurvedic Formulary of India (Part I, entry 1:12) lists 46 ingredients, beginning with Kumari rasa, Guda, Maksika and Pakva Loha-bhasma.
| Pharmacopoeia status | Listed in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI). Kumari (Aloe vera) monograph in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. |
|---|
Composition
As given in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, entry 1:12 (KUMARYASAVA (A)), which cites Sarngadharasamhita, Madhyamakhanda, Adhyaya 10;18-24½. 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 | Kumari rasa (kumari) * | leaf | 12.288 l. |
| 2 | Guda | 4.800 kg. | |
| 3 | Maksika (madhu) | 2.400 kg. | |
| 4 | Pakva Loha-bhasma (lauha) * | 24 g. | |
| 5 | Sunthi | rhizome | 24 g. |
| 6 | Marica * | fruit | 24 g. |
| 7 | Pippali * | fruit | 24 g. |
| 8 | Lavanga | flower bud | 24 g. |
| 9 | Tvak * | stem bark | 24 g. |
| 10 | Ela (suksmaila) * | seed | 24 g. |
| 11 | Patra (tejapatra) | leaf | 24 g. |
| 12 | Nagakesara | stamens | 24 g. |
| 13 | Citraka * | root | 24 g. |
| 14 | Pippalimula * | root | 24 g. |
| 15 | Vidanga | fruit | 24 g. |
| 16 | Gajapippali | fruit | 24 g. |
| 17 | Cavika | stem | 24 g. |
| 18 | Hapusa | fruit | 24 g. |
| 19 | Dhanya (dhanyaka) | fruit | 24 g. |
| 20 | Kramuka (puga) * | 24 g. | |
| 21 | Katurohini (katuka) * | rhizome | 24 g. |
| 22 | Musta * | rhizome | 24 g. |
| 23 | Haritaki * | pericarp | 24 g. |
| 24 | Bibhitaka | pericarp | 24 g. |
| 25 | Amalaki * | pericarp | 24 g. |
| 26 | Rasna * | 24 g. | |
| 27 | Devadaru * | illegible | |
| 28 | Haridra * | illegible | |
| 29 | Daruharidra | stem | 24 g. |
| 30 | Murva * | illegible | |
| 31 | Madhurasa (yasti) * | root | 24 g. |
| 32 | Danti * | root | 24 g. |
| 33 | Puskaramula (puskara) * | root | 24 g. |
| 34 | Bala | root | 24 g. |
| 35 | Atibala | root | 24 g. |
| 36 | Kapikacchu (atmagupta) * | seed | 24 g. |
| 37 | Trikantaka (goksura) | fruit | 24 g. |
| 38 | Satapuspa (satahva) * | fruit | 24 g. |
| 39 | Hingupatri * | leaf | 24 g. |
| 40 | Akallaka (akarakarabha) * | 24 g. | |
| 41 | Utingana * | seed | 24 g. |
| 42 | Sveta Punarnava * | root | 24 g. |
| 43 | Rakta Punarnava | root | 24 g. |
| 44 | Lodhra * | stem bark | 24 g. |
| 45 | Dhatumaksika-bhasma (maksika) * | illegible | |
| 46 | Dhataki | flower | 384 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 evidence at a glance
3papers on this site for this drug, published 1997 to 2015, 2 with a DOI.
- 3Laboratory 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 | Kumaryasava |
Where is it described in the classical texts?
Charaka Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya. Chavannapalli’s commentary on Madhava Nidana (16th century) describes Kumari Asava for menstrual pain and uterine tone enhancement.
How does it work?
- Hepatoprotective action through reduction of liver enzymes (SGOT, SGPT, ALP) and promotion of hepatocyte recovery
- Traditionally described as balancing Apana Vata in menstrual disorders
- Deepana-Pachana (appetite stimulant and digestive) action enhances digestive capacity and nutrient absorption
- Contains Loha Bhasma, an iron-based component traditionally used in Pandu (anemia)
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Liver disorders (jaundice, hepatomegaly): traditionally used for these conditions. An animal study in rats reported hepatoprotective activity.
- Gynecological disorders including PCOS: traditionally used for these conditions. A double-blind clinical study reported improved LH/FSH ratios.
- Digestive weakness and anorexia: traditionally used for these conditions as a deepana-pachana formulation.
- Anemia: traditionally used for this condition. The formulation contains Loha Bhasma, an iron-based component.
What do recent studies show?
- Khan MA, Gupta A, Sastry JL and others 2015. Hepatoprotective potential of kumaryasava and its concentrate against CCl4-induced hepatic toxicity in Wistar rats. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences. PMID 26681887 · doi:10.4103/0975-7406.168029
PMC-published study demonstrated both Kumaryasava and its concentrate protected against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity, evidenced by reduced SGOT, SGPT, ALP levels and elevated serum albumin.
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
- Contains 5-10% self-generated alcohol and Loha Bhasma (iron calx). Excessive use may cause loose stools or gastric irritation due to Aloe vera’s purgative properties.
- Not recommended during pregnancy. Patients with iron overload conditions (hemochromatosis) should avoid due to Loha Bhasma content. Long-term use requires periodic liver function monitoring.
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Asava (fermented infusion), Syrup (modern), Capsules (modern)
Standard Dosage: 15-30 mL twice daily after meals with equal water. The Ayurvedic Formulary of India attributes this formula to Sarngadharasamhita, Madhyamakhanda, Adhyaya 10; 18-24½.
Optimal Timing: After meals, twice daily, for Yakrit Roga (liver disorders), Pandu (anemia), and Udara Roga (abdominal disorders)
Storage: Store in well-closed amber glass or HDPE containers in a cool, dry place. Temperature not exceeding 30°C. Protect from sunlight.
Marker Compounds: Barbaloin (Aloin A), Aloe-emodin, Iron (from Loha Bhasma), Piperine, Gallic acid
Vehicle (Anupana): Equal quantity of water
Synergistic Combinations
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 6 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 |
| Patanjali Ayurved | An ingredient list, without quantities |
| Sitaram Ayurveda | 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 studies3
- 2015. Hepatoprotective potential of kumaryasava and its concentrate against CCl4-induced hepatic toxicity in Wistar ratsJournal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences. PMID 26681887 · doi:10.4103/0975-7406.168029
- 2015. Determination of ethanol content in ayurvedic formulations kumaryasava and mustakarista by gas chromatographyIndian journal of pharmaceutical sciences. PMID 25767329 · doi:10.4103/0250-474x.151600
- 1997. Hepatoprotective effect of Liv-52 and kumaryasava on carbon tetrachloride induced hepatic damage in ratsIndian journal of experimental biology. PMID 9357172
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.