Ayurvedic medicines come in defined dosage forms, and knowing which is which tells you how to take it, how long it keeps, and how much to worry about it. The categories are not marketing terms — they are pharmaceutical classifications with their own preparation standards in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia.
The dosage forms
| Form | What it is | Typical dose | Shelf life |
|---|---|---|---|
| Churna | Powdered herb or blend | 1–6 g | 1–2 years |
| Vati / Gutika | Tablet or pill | 1–2 tablets, 2–3× daily | 2–3 years |
| Kwath / Kashaya | Decoction | 40–80 ml | Fresh, or concentrate |
| Arishta / Asava | Self-fermented liquid | 15–30 ml with equal water | Improves with age |
| Guggulu | Resin-based tablet | 1–2 tablets, 2× daily | 2–3 years |
| Taila | Medicated oil | External, or as directed | 2–3 years |
| Ghrita | Medicated ghee | 5–10 g | 1–2 years |
| Avaleha / Leha | Herbal jam | 1–2 teaspoons | 1–2 years |
| Bhasma / Rasa | Processed mineral or metal | 125–250 mg | Long |
Arishtas and Asavas — the fermented ones
These are worth understanding because people are often surprised to find alcohol in them. Arishtas and Asavas are fermented preparations that generate 5–10% alcohol themselves during production. No spirit is added — the fermentation is driven by wild yeasts carried on Dhataki flowers, which is why Dhataki appears in every classical Arishta formula.
The alcohol acts as a carrier and preservative, and these preparations genuinely improve with age. Take them with an equal quantity of water, after meals.
This matters if you avoid alcohol for medical, religious or recovery reasons, take metronidazole or disulfiram, or are pregnant. Ask for a Churna or Vati alternative instead.
Common ones: Ashwagandharista for stress and stamina, Ashokarista for women's health, Dashmularishta post-partum and for Vata, Arjunarista for the heart, Khadirarista for skin.
The Guggulu family
More formulations are named after Guggulu than any other single drug, because the purified resin carries other herbs deep into tissue. They are not interchangeable:
- Maha Yograj Guggul — joint pain and Vata disorders
- Kaishore Guggul — inflammatory skin conditions, gout, acne
- Medohar Guggul — weight and fat metabolism
- Kanchanara Guggulu — thyroid nodules, cysts, glandular swellings
- Gokshuradi Guggul — urinary complaints and prostate
- Triphala Guggul — piles, weight, sluggish bowels
Guggulu cautions apply to all of them: avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding; take advice with thyroid disease, warfarin or diltiazem; stop before surgery. Skin rash is a common reaction and a reason to stop rather than push through.
The label tells you more than the price. A manufacturing licence number, batch number, expiry date and full ingredient list are the four things worth checking every time.
Bhasma and Rasa — the category that needs care
This deserves plain statement rather than a footnote. Rasa Shastra preparations contain processed metals and minerals — including mercury, lead, arsenic and iron. Classical practice holds that repeated purification (Shodhana) and incineration (Marana) render them safe and therapeutically potent.
The problem is that you cannot verify correct processing by looking at a tablet, and lead and mercury poisoning traced to Ayurvedic products is documented in peer-reviewed case series — including several from products bought outside India.
Practical position: buy this category only from licensed GMP-certified manufacturers; avoid it in pregnancy, breastfeeding and childhood; do not take it long term without monitoring; and tell your doctor you are taking it. Purely herbal formulations carry none of this risk, and for most complaints there is a herbal alternative.
The formulations you will meet most
- Triphala — constipation, digestion, eye health, daily Rasayana. The most widely used preparation in Ayurveda.
- Chyawanprash — the winter immune Rasayana.
- Sitopaladi Churna — cough and congestion, one of the most-prescribed powders.
- Arogyavardhani Vati — liver, skin and digestion. Contains minerals; the caution above applies.
- Chandraprabha Vati — urinary complaints, and one of the broadest classical formulas.
- Hingwashtak Churna — bloating and trapped wind.
- Avipattikar Churna — hyperacidity.
- Maha Narayan Tel — the standard external oil for joint and nerve pain.
How to read a label
- Manufacturing licence number — its absence is disqualifying.
- Batch number and expiry date.
- Full ingredient list with botanical names, not just Sanskrit ones.
- Whether it contains minerals or metals — Bhasma, Rasa, Sindura, Lauha, Mandoor in the name are the signals.
- Alcohol content, if it is an Arishta or Asava.
- GMP certification and the manufacturer's address.
Interactions worth knowing
Guggulu with thyroid medication, warfarin and diltiazem. Ashwagandha with thyroid drugs, sedatives and immunosuppressants. Turmeric at medicinal dose with anticoagulants. Guduchi, jamun and fenugreek with diabetes medication. Yashtimadhu with antihypertensives and diuretics.
Take Ayurvedic and conventional medicines about two hours apart, and tell both practitioners everything you take. That single habit prevents most of the harm that occurs where the two systems meet.
