Chyawanprash has been around for thousands of years. It\u2019s frequently taken as a dietary supplement and is one of the most popular remedies in Ayurvedic medicine. Read on to learn more about chyawanprash and how you can use it to boost your health.<\/p>\n
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Chyawanprash is an herbal jam-like medicine used in Ayurveda, a system of traditional medicine from India. It is traditionally used as a health supplement to fight everyday illnesses and to support the immune system<\/a>. One of the most popular Ayurvedic medicines, chyawanprash falls under the category of drugs named \u201crasayana,\u201d which are rejuvenating tonics that aim to maintain youth and delay the aging process [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Chyawanprash is most commonly used to boost the immune system<\/b>, to treat any lung or breathing problems<\/b>, and to improve memory and brain function<\/b> [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Chyawanprash is typically composed of around 50 different herbs, though the composition may vary between 25 and 80 herbs, depending on the manufacturer. However, the main ingredient, amla or Indian gooseberry, remains consistent across different formulations. According to official recipes, the amount of Indian gooseberry used is over 100 times the amount of each of the other herbs [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n There are 44 standard herbs<\/b> in chyawanprash according to the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. For some, only the Sanskrit names are available, though the scientific name has been determined for others [R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n Non-herbal ingredients of chyawanprash include [R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n To distinguish their chyawanprash from competitors\u2019, some companies add metals such as gold and silver to their formulations; this is potentially toxic in large amounts<\/b>. Be sure to check the ingredients of the chyawanprash you have!<\/p>\n Indian gooseberry is very high in vitamin C<\/a>. Since Indian gooseberry is the main component of chyawanprash, this high vitamin C content is likely responsible for some of chyawanprash\u2019s antioxidant properties and its other effects [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Indian gooseberry and vitamin C have both been shown to enhance memory, which could be how chyawanprash may exert its improvement on brain function and memory [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Brain degeneration disorders like dementia and Alzheimer\u2019s disease are thought to be partially caused by decreases in cholinergic neurons (a certain type of brain cell). Chyawanprash may improve brain function by enhancing the activity of these brain cells [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Smoking can cause a variety of symptoms, including coughing in the morning, persistent phlegm, and breathlessness after exercise<\/a>. Chyawanprash (12 g, 2x\/day) improved symptoms and increased the quality of life in a clinical trial with 50 smokers [R<\/a>+].<\/p>\n Tobacco smoke can also damage DNA, increasing the risk of mutations and potentially leading to cancer and other diseases. Another study of 25 male smokers found that 20 g, 2x\/day of chyawanprash reduced the DNA damage from smoking [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Chewing tobacco or betel quid, which acts similarly to tobacco smoke, is one of the leading causes of cancer in India. In a clinical trial of 21 people, 20 g of chyawanprash, 2x\/day, along with quitting betel quid chewing reduced the incidence of cancer and the toxic effects of tobacco [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Although promising, the evidence to claim that chyawanprash reduces the damage caused by cigarette smoke is very limited due to the small size of all 3 trials. Their results should be confirmed in larger, more robust studies.<\/p>\n A clinical trial of over 600 children found that chyawanprash (6 g, 1x\/day) reduced illness frequency (from infection or allergies) and improved energy levels, physical fitness, strength, and stamina [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In cell studies, chyawanprash increased the activity of different cells in the immune system and the release of cytokines (molecules involved in activating the immune system) [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Again, the evidence is promising but insufficient to support the use of chyawanprash to boost immunity Further clinical research is needed.<\/p>\nIngredients\/Components<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
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How Chyawanprash Works<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
Health Benefits of Chyawanprash<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
Insufficient Evidence for:<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
1) Reducing Smoking Symptoms<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
2) Immunity Boost<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n