For centuries, a sticky, sweet-and-sour jam-like concoction has occupied a special place in Indian homes as the seasons change. That age-old preparation is chyawanprash, known as a rejuvenating tonic that promotes a healthy immune system. It is more than just a jam that most children love the taste of. Chyawanprash is a highly complex, polyherbal formula involving nearly 50 ingredients, whose combinations can vary depending on its intended purpose. Its power lies in the combination of herbs, spices, and natural sugars, designed to nourish all seven bodily tissues.
The key ingredients that are in the sticky, gooey health tonic can have diverse health benefits, ranging from supporting heart health to building winter immunity. However, it is vital that only a recommended dosage is consumed for maximum health impact, as too much of a good thing can also cause indigestion.
The Core Ingredients In Chyawanprash
The exact formulation of chyawanprash can vary slightly between manufacturers. The classic ayurvedic chyawanprash recipe comprises a few potent core components like amla, dashmoola, herbs, aromatics, and carriers. These components form the paste that has a pungent flavour, is jam-like in consistency and texture, and is packed with health benefits. The core ingredients that can be found in chyawanprash are as follows:
1. Amla (Indian Gooseberry)
The nutrient powerhouse is the primary base in chyawanprash, as it is the conduit that encompasses the whole ingredient list present in this traditional remedy (and provides that underlining tangy taste to the concoction). Amla is one of the world's richest natural sources of vitamin C and is packed with antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress in the body. The Indian gooseberry, when combined with sugar, honey, and ghee in the preparation of chyawanprash, helps preserve this vital vitamin C, making it highly bioavailable (absorbent in the body for maximum health impact).
2. Dashmoola (Ten Roots)
Dashmoola is basically a collection of ten roots from various plants, including bilva, agnimantha, and gokshura. This ten-root collection is known for its detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties, which help the body fight infections. These properties also improve and strengthen the nervous system and overall vitality.
3. Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is known as "Indian ginseng" and helps the body manage stress and maintain mental and physical balance. Along with promoting vitality, it increases energy levels and is linked to improved cognitive function and memory.
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4. The Balancing Herbs
A bunch of herbs are included in chyawanprash that target spedcific systems and supercharge their function. These are be listed as follows:
- For Immunity And Respiration: Pippali (long pepper), vasaka (Malabar nut), guduchi (giloy), and shatavari (Asparagus racemosus).
- For Brain And Stress: Ashwagandha (Indian ginseng) and brahmi (Bacopa monnieri).
5. Aromatics And Carriers
Cardamom (elaichi), cinnamon (dalchini), ghee (clarified butter), and honey. Ghee and honey specifically act as carriers, helping the herbs absorb deeply into the body's tissues when consumed in the recommended dosage.
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6 Health Benefits Of Chyawanprash
The multi-ingredient profile allows chyawanprash to impact several crucial areas of the body that ensure wellness, making it a rejuvenating tonic for the complete body. In the International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (2025), it is documented that eating chyawanprash enhances energy levels and mental clarity.
1. Improves Immunity
The high concentration of naturally occurring vitamin C and other antioxidants from amla and giloy fights free radicals that can accumulate in the body over time from exposure to pollutants and other environmental toxins. In addition, chyawanprash also boosts the production of Natural Killer (NK) cells, which are responsible for regulating immune function and fighting cancer-causing agents. In turn, this strengthens the body's defence mechanism, offering protection against seasonal infections like the common cold, cough, and flu.
2. Supports Respiratory Health
This health benefit makes consuming chyawanprash a must in the cold, air pollution-filled months to keep the seasonal sniffles and allergies at bay. With the presence of Ingredients like pippali, vasaka, and cinnamon, chyawanprash helps cleanse the respiratory passages by reducing mucus build-up and soothing inflammation in the bronchial tubes. The main benefit of chyawanprash consumption is that it helps expand lung power and offer relief to symptoms associated with chronic respiratory ailments.
3. Enhances Digestive Function
The presence of herbs like pippali and cinnamon stimulates digestion, while the fibre content aids in peristaltic (reflexive activities of the longitudinal and circular muscles present in the digestive tract) movement. The main benefit of chyawanprash is that it improves digestion along with enhanced nutrient absorption, which ensures proper nutrition and helps regulate bowel movements, preventing issues like flatulence and mild constipation.
4. Sharpens Memory And Focus
Through the use of ingredients like ashwagandha and brahmi, known as brain tonics, chyawanprash helps reduce mental stress and enhance cognitive function. This makes it an ideal health tonic for students and professionals, as it supports better memory, concentration, and alertness.
5. Purifies Blood
The presence of several herbs in the blend, including amla, possesses blood-purifying properties, which help eliminate harmful toxins that build up over time from exposure to environmental issues and can be detoxified from the system. The main benefit of chyawanprash is that it clears the system and leads to improved skin health, liver function, and an overall boost in health.
6. Revitalises Reproductive Tissues
Chyawanprash nourishes all body tissues with its formulation that comprises specific ingredients which are traditionally used to strengthen the reproductive system. The main benefit is that it helps enhance strength, stamina, and vitality while actively supporting the reproductive health of people.
How To Consume Chyawanprash
According to the traditional method, chyawanprash can be consumed directly, followed by a glass of lukewarm milk. The milk acts as the best vehicle for maximum absorption of the herbs into the body.
Alternative: It can also be consumed with lukewarm water if there is lactose intolerance or a preference for not having milk.
Dosage:
The dosage of chyawanprash avries according to age, lifestyle habits and activity level as the formulation can be heavy on the digestion for some people. Here is the dosage for the herbal formulation as per age:
- For children: Half a tablespoon (3-4 g) as children have a small stomach.
- For teenagers: 1 teaspoon 10-15 gms as their physical activity level is higher.
- For adults: 10-15 g depending on the daily routine.
- For older adults: 6-10g as due to age, the physical activity becomes limited.
Always consult with a certified Ayurvedic practitioner or healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, especially if you have pre-existing conditions like diabetes (in which case, a sugarless variant may be recommended; check the label for the presence of sugar-free additives that can cause harm to health).
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Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
References:
Sharma, R., Kakodkar, P., Kabra, A., & Prajapati, P. (2022). Golden Ager Chyawanprash with a Meagre Evidential Base from Human Clinical Trials. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: eCAM.
Gote, J., & Shrirao, S. (2025). "Chyawanprash: A Traditional Indian Bioactive Health Supplement." International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research.
