Age Ayurveda Nighantu

Suryavarta

Suryavarta is a substance used in the Ayurvedic materia medica. Nasya (nasal) administration provides rapid absorption of volatile and lipophilic constituents via nasal mucosa — onset of action within 15-30 minutes for headache relief.

Key facts
Substance typeIdentity unsettled: the sources disagree on what this drug is, so no botanical name is given

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishSuryavarta

Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)

PropertyValueDescription
Rasa (Taste)KatuPrimary taste
Guna (Quality)Laghu, TikshnaPhysical quality
Virya (Potency)UshnaHeating/Cooling effect
Vipaka (Post-digestive)KatuPost-digestive effect

What is it made of?

Mineral/Elemental Profile

  • Primary component: Mineral-derived preparation
  • Note: Composition varies by specific preparation method

Analytical Methods: XRD, ICP-OES, SEM-EDS

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Kwatha (decoction), Swarasa (fresh juice), Vati (tablet), Capsule, Nasya (nasal drops)

Standard Dosage: 3-5 g powder per day; 50-100 mL kwatha twice daily; 5-10 mL swarasa twice daily; 2-4 drops nasya oil per nostril for headache

Bioavailability: Flavonoid glycosides and phenolic acids show moderate oral bioavailability (25-35%). Nasya (nasal) administration provides rapid absorption of volatile and lipophilic constituents via nasal mucosa — onset of action within 15-30 minutes for headache relief. Essential oil components are well-absorbed transdermally.

Optimal Timing: Morning before sunrise for preventive headache management (per traditional rationale); nasya in morning after facial steaming; acute use as needed

Standardized Extract: Whole plant extract (6:1 in 50% ethanol), characterized by HPTLC fingerprint; nasya oil processed per Sneha Kalpana with standardized herb content

Shelf Life: 7 days for swarasa; 24 months for churna and capsules; 24 months for nasya oil

Storage: Swarasa: refrigerate 2-8 deg C. Churna and capsules: below 25 deg C, airtight, protect from light. Nasya oil: amber glass dropper bottles at room temperature.

Marker Compounds: Acteoside (if Clerodendrum species), Beta-sitosterol, Ursolic acid, Flavonoids (total), Essential oil constituents

Extraction Methods

  • Aqueous decoction
  • Hydroalcoholic extraction (50-60% ethanol)
  • Cold pressing for swarasa
  • Maceration in sesame oil for nasya preparation
  • Steam distillation for volatile fraction

Synergistic Combinations

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.