Varunadi Kashayam
Varunadi Kashayam is a classical Ayurvedic kashaya, a water decoction. Listed in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI). Also referenced in Sushruta Samhita and Bhaishajya Ratnavali for Mutrashmari (urolithiasis). The formulation contains 16 herbal ingredients in total.
| Also known as | Varunadi Kashayam, VarunadiKashayam |
|---|---|
| Pharmacopoeia status | Listed in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI). Referenced in Chakradutta and Bhaishajya Ratnavali. Varuna (Crataeva nurvala) bark monograph included in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. |
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Varunadi Kashayam |
Where is it described in the classical texts?
Chakradutta. Also referenced in Sushruta Samhita and Bhaishajya Ratnavali for Mutrashmari (urolithiasis). The formulation contains 16 herbal ingredients in total.
How does it work?
- Lithotriptic action of Varuna and Aerua lanata breaks down urinary stones into small pieces for easy expulsion
- Potent diuretic effect increases urine output, flushing kidneys and bladder to aid stone passage
- Anti-inflammatory activity inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokines, reducing urinary tract and renal inflammation
- Anti-obesity and lipid-lowering effects through inhibition of adipogenic regulators in visceral adipose tissue
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
- Urinary stones (Mutrashmari/Urolithiasis) - validated by lithotriptic and diuretic studies and clinical trials
- Kidney and bladder disorders - supported by anti-inflammatory macrophage studies (PMC published)
- Obesity management - newly validated by anti-obesity research in animal models
- Inflammatory conditions - supported by cytokine inhibition in THP-1 macrophage studies
What do recent clinical trials show?
- Chinchu JU, Mohan MC, Devi SJR and others 2018. Evaluation of anti-inflammatory effect of Varanadi Kashayam (decoction) in THP-1-derived macrophages. Ayu. PMID 31367148 · doi:10.4103/ayu.AYU_53_18
PMC-published study demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory effects through inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines in THP-1 macrophage cell lines.
2 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
- Toxicity study showed no signs of toxicity at 3.236 gm/kg body weight over 14 days. Overdose may cause excessive urination.
- Should be used cautiously in patients on diuretic medications to avoid electrolyte imbalance. Adequate hydration is recommended during therapy.
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: 40-80ml twice daily for urinary conditions
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: Lupeol, Punarnavine, Protodioscin
Quality Parameters: pH 4.0-6.5, specific gravity 1.01-1.05, total solids 2-8%, marker assay: Lupeol, Punarnavine, Protodioscin
Vehicle (Anupana): Warm, usually taken on empty stomach
Synergistic Combinations
Composition
As given in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part II, entry 4:22 (VARUNADI KVATHA CURNA), which cites Cakradatta, Asmaricikitsa; 29. 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 | Varuna tvaka | St.bk. | 1 Part |
| 2 | Sila (Pasanabheda) | root | 1 Part |
| 3 | Sunthi | rhizome | 1 Part |
| 4 | Goksura | fruit | 1 Part |
| 5 | Yavaksara (Praksepa dravya) * | Q.S. |
* The scanned text was damaged at this row and the name was read from the entry's own Sanskrit verse.
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 studies1
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.