Rasnasaptakam Kashayam
Rasnasaptakam Kashayam is a classical Ayurvedic kashaya, a water decoction. Listed in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI). Earliest reference in Ashtanga Hridaya commentaries. Hints of formula in Vangasena Samhita (circa 11th century CE).
| Also known as | Rasnasaptakam Kashayam, RasnasaptakamKashayam |
|---|---|
| Pharmacopoeia status | Listed in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI). Referenced in Sahasrayogam and Kerala Ayurvedic pharmacopoeias. Available as standardized tablets and liquid decoctions from licensed manufacturers. |
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Rasnasaptakam Kashayam |
Where is it described in the classical texts?
Earliest reference in Ashtanga Hridaya commentaries. Hints of formula in Vangasena Samhita (circa 11th century CE). Documented extensively in Kerala Ayurvedic tradition for Vata disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
How does it work?
- Anti-inflammatory activity through inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-6) by Rasna and Guduchi
- Ama (toxin) digestion by Rasna’s digestive action helps resolve metabolic waste contributing to joint inflammation
- Vata-Kapha balancing through the synergistic seven-herb combination reduces joint stiffness and swelling
- Analgesic action from Devadaru and Eranda provides direct pain relief in musculoskeletal conditions
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
- Joint pain and rheumatoid arthritis - validated by clinical trial showing 35% improvement in pain scores
- Chronic low back pain - supported by double-blind trial at Amrita Institute
- Fever associated with body aches - supported by anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties of Guduchi
- Sciatica and neuralgia - traditional use corroborated by analgesic mechanisms of Devadaru and Eranda
What do recent clinical trials show?
3 further claims previously listed here could not be traced to a published paper and have been removed. 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
- No significant adverse effects reported at standard dosage. Research gaps include long-term safety profiling and standardized extract optimization.
- Comparative trials against standard NSAIDs for specific arthritis types are still needed. Should be taken under physician supervision for chronic conditions.
What is it made of?
Key Active Markers
- Derived from constituent herbs (see individual herb profiles)
- Standardized on primary bioactive markers
Analytical Methods: HPLC fingerprinting, TLC (identity), LC-MS/MS (marker quantification)
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Kashayam (decoction), Kashayam tablet, Concentrated liquid
Standard Dosage: 15-30ml twice daily
Bioavailability: Aqueous decoction provides good bioavailability for water-soluble compounds; concentration step may reduce volatile components
Optimal Timing: Before meals, typically morning and evening
Shelf Life: 1 day (fresh kashayam); 2 years (kashayam tablet); 6 months (concentrated liquid with preservative)
Storage: Fresh: refrigerate, use within 24h. Tablet/liquid: cool dry place, airtight
Marker Compounds: Isorasnol
Quality Parameters: pH 4.0-6.5, specific gravity 1.01-1.05, total solids 2-8%, marker assay: Isorasnol
Vehicle (Anupana): Warm, usually taken on empty stomach
Synergistic Combinations
- Classical combination of Rasna and 6 other herbs provides synergistic therapeutic effect
Composition
As given in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part II, entry 4:20 (RASNASAPTAKA KVATHA CURNA), which cites Bhaisajyaratnavali, Amavatadhikara; 9. 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 | Rasna | root | illegible |
| 2 | Amrta (gudtci) | stem | illegible |
| 3 | Aragvadha | Fr.P. | illegible |
| 4 | Devadaru | illegible | |
| 5 | Trikantaka (goksura) | fruit | illegible |
| 6 | Eranda | root | illegible |
| 7 | Punarnava (Rakta Punarnava) | root | illegible |
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.
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.