Vasa Avaleha
Vasa Avaleha is a classical Ayurvedic avaleha, a semi-solid herbal confection. Included in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India Part II (Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare); officially standardized formulation with established quality parameters. The Ayurvedic Formulary of India (Part I, entry 3:26) lists 5 ingredients: Vasaka svarasa (vasa) 768 g, Sita 384 g, Sarpi (goghrta) 96 g, Pippali 96 g and Madhu 384 g.
| Also known as | Vasa Avaleha, VasaAvaleha |
|---|---|
| Pharmacopoeia status | Included in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India Part II (Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare); officially standardized formulation with established quality parameters |
Composition
As given in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, entry 3:26 (VASAVALEHA), which cites Bhaisajyaratnavali, Rajayaksmadhikara; 82-821.. 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 | Vasaka svarasa (vasa) (vasa) | leaf | 768 g. |
| 2 | Sita | 384 g. | |
| 3 | Sarpi (goghrta) (goghrta) | 96 g. | |
| 4 | Pippali | fruit | 96 g. |
| 5 | Madhu | 384 g. |
The Formulary gives the dose as 6 to 12 g, with anupana, the vehicle it is taken with, of milk,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
3papers on this site for this drug, published 2009 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 | Vasa Avaleha |
Where is it described in the classical texts?
Bhaisajyaratnavali, Rajayaksmadhikara (per the Ayurvedic Formulary of India); various Nighantus (pharmaceutical texts); Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India Part II
How does it work?
- Vasicine and vasicinone alkaloids provide bronchodilatory action through smooth muscle relaxation in bronchial tree
- Mucolytic and expectorant properties help clear mucus from airways, reducing congestion and improving airflow
- Raktastambhaka (hemostatic) properties of Vasa provide vasoconstrictive and anti-hemorrhagic action for hemoptysis
- Anti-inflammatory action reduces bronchial mucosal edema and hyperreactivity in asthmatic patients
- Pippali (piperine) enhances bioavailability of Vasa alkaloids and provides synergistic respiratory stimulation
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Tamaka Shwasa (bronchial asthma): traditionally used for bronchial asthma. A randomized clinical study reported improvement in symptoms and lung function.
- Kasa (chronic cough/bronchitis): traditionally used for chronic cough and bronchitis. A multicenter clinical study reported mucolytic and bronchodilator properties.
- Raktapitta/hemoptysis (coughing blood): Vasa is used in classical practice for its hemostatic (Raktastambhaka) action in respiratory hemorrhage.
- Anti-allergic respiratory action: a clinical study reported a decreased eosinophil count, which may point to an anti-allergic action.
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 multicenter clinical trial reported no adverse effects at indicated doses (6g twice daily for 28 days)
- Excess amounts may cause stomach discomfort; recommended doses should not be exceeded without supervision
- Included in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India Part II - manufacturing standards established by Government of India
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: Avaleha (confection), Syrup
Standard Dosage: 6-12g twice daily, as given in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, entry 3:26. The formulary’s anupana: milk,water. The formulary attributes this formula to Bhaisajyaratnavali, Rajayaksmadhikara; 82-821.
Optimal Timing: After meals for respiratory conditions
Storage: Airtight container, cool place
Marker Compounds: Vasicine, Vasicinone, Deoxyvasicine
Vehicle (Anupana): Honey in the source notes; the formulary gives milk or water
Synergistic Combinations
- Honey enhances bronchodilatory action
- With Pippali for enhanced respiratory effect
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. Efficacy of Vasa Avaleha and its granules on Tamaka Shwasa (bronchial asthma): Open-label randomized clinical studyAyu. PMID 27313413 · doi:10.4103/0974-8520.182760
- 2009. A Comparative Study of the effect of Vasa Avaleha prepared with Vasa Swarasa and Vasa Kwatha in Tamaka ShwasaAncient science of life. PMID 22557317
- 2011. A comparative study on efficacy of Bharangyadi Avaleha and Vasa Avaleha in the management of Tamaka Shwasa with reference to childhood asthmaAyu. PMID 22131763 · doi:10.4103/0974-8520.85736
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.