A plain-language reference to the recurring vocabulary of Ayurvedic practice — what a kwath actually is, how much an anjali holds, and when not to dose. Each entry cites its classical or modern source.
Health Disclaimer · UK
The content on this page is provided for general educational and historical reference only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is not a substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare professional registered in the United Kingdom. Ayurvedic herbs and preparations are not regulated as medicines under the UK Human Medicines Regulations 2012 and no therapeutic claims are made. Always seek the advice of your GP or a suitably qualified practitioner before starting, stopping, or changing any treatment, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking prescribed medication, or have an existing medical condition. In an emergency call 999 or NHS 111.
The classical pharmacy (Bhaiṣajya Kalpana) recognises liquid, solid, fermented, and processed preparations — each with its own indication, shelf life, and dosing range.
Kvātha / Kashāya
A water decoction made by simmering coarsely-powdered herbs in water until reduced to one-quarter the original volume. Considered the strongest classical liquid preparation.
Example ·1 part herb (16 g) + 16 parts water (256 ml), reduced to 64 ml. Adult dose 30–60 ml twice daily before food.
Source · Śārṅgadhara Saṃhitā · Madhyama Khaṇḍa 2; API Vol. I.
Cūrṇa
A finely sieved herbal powder (single or compound). Easy to dose, but loses potency after roughly 60 days from manufacture.
Example ·Triphala churna · 3–6 g (≈ 1 level tsp) with warm water at night.
Source · Śārṅgadhara Saṃhitā · Madhyama Khaṇḍa 6.
Vaṭi · Guṭikā
A compressed or hand-rolled tablet, often with a binding base of jaggery, guggulu, or honey. Self-life roughly 2 years.
Example ·Yogaraj Guggulu vati · 1–2 tablets (250–500 mg each) twice daily with warm water.
Source · Bhaiṣajya Ratnāvalī; AYUSH Pharmacopoeia.
Āsava · Ariṣṭa
Naturally fermented herbal preparations (alcohol content typically 5–12%). Āsava uses cold infusion; Ariṣṭa uses decoction.
Example ·Ashwagandharishta · 12–24 ml diluted with equal warm water after meals.
Source · Śārṅgadhara Saṃhitā · Madhyama Khaṇḍa 10.
Ghṛta
Cow's ghee cooked with herb decoctions and pastes (kalka) until water evaporates. Acts as a fat-soluble carrier (yogavāhi).
Example ·Brahmi Ghrita · 3–10 g on an empty stomach with warm water.
Source · Charaka · Sūtrasthāna 13 (Sneha-adhyāya).
Taila
Sesame, coconut, or other base oil processed with herbs for external (Abhyanga, Nasya, Basti) or, rarely, internal use.
Example ·Mahanarayan taila · external massage, 30–50 ml warmed before joint pain.
Source · Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdayam · Sūtrasthāna 16.
Avaleha
A thick semi-solid preparation cooked with sugar/jaggery, herb decoctions, ghee, and honey. Long shelf life.
Example ·Chyawanprash · 10–20 g (1–2 tsp) once or twice daily with warm milk.
Source · Charaka · Cikitsāsthāna 1/1 (Rasāyana).
Bhasma
Repeatedly purified and incinerated mineral or metallic preparation reduced to a nano-particulate ash. Dispensed only by qualified physicians.
Example ·Praval pishti · 125–250 mg (≈ 1 chana-mātra) with honey or rose water.
Source · Rasaratna Samuccaya; AYUSH GMP rules.
Rasaṁ (regional)
A thin, sour, pungent broth (tamarind, pepper, cumin, garlic, tomato) eaten with rice. Culinary rather than pharmacopoeial, but a classical agni-kindler for daily use.
Example ·150–200 ml served warm with rice, once daily at lunch.
Source · Regional siddha & culinary tradition (Tamil Nadu, Kerala).
Hima · Phāṇṭa
Hima — herbs steeped overnight in cold water (for Pitta). Phanta — hot water poured over herbs and steeped briefly (for delicate aromatics).
Example ·Coriander hima · 1 tsp seeds in 1 cup cool water overnight; drink in the morning for hyperacidity.
Source · Śārṅgadhara Saṃhitā · Madhyama Khaṇḍa 4.
Anupāna
The carrier in which a medicine is taken — warm water, milk, honey, ghee, or buttermilk. Chosen to direct the herb to a specific tissue or dosha. Throughout this site we label this field simply as 'Usage'.
Example ·Ashwagandha · taken with warm milk for tissue building, with warm water for general use.
Source · Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdayam · Sūtrasthāna 8.
Classical Ayurvedic units (māna) translated to modern metric values. Use them as a guide, not a substitute for a calibrated scale or a practitioner's prescription.
Añjali
A handful — the volume formed by cupping both palms together. Used historically for fluid prescriptions.
Example ·≈ 80–100 ml in an average adult.
Source · Charaka · Śārīrasthāna 7.
Karṣa
Classical weight unit equal to roughly 12 g (sometimes given as 10 g in modern API).
Example ·1 karsha churna ≈ 1 heaped teaspoon.
Source · Śārṅgadhara Saṃhitā · Pūrva Khaṇḍa 1.
Pala
Four karshas ≈ 48 g. Often used for ghee or oil portions in classical formulae.
Source · Śārṅgadhara Saṃhitā · Pūrva Khaṇḍa 1.
Māṣa
A small weight ≈ 1 g. Common for potent powders and bhasmas.
Example ·1 māṣa praval bhasma ≈ 1 g — typically subdivided to 125–250 mg per dose.
Source · API Vol. I, General Chapter 2.
Guñjā
Smallest practical weight ≈ 125 mg, classically the weight of a guñjā (Abrus precatorius) seed.
Example ·Used for dosing bhasmas and rasa preparations.
Source · Rasaratna Samuccaya.
Caṇa-mātra
The size of a chickpea — roughly 250 mg. Used as a household dose for tablets and pastes.
Source · Bhaiṣajya Ratnāvalī.
Yava-mātra
The size of a barley grain — roughly 65 mg. Used for paediatric and very fine dosing.
Source · Śārṅgadhara Saṃhitā · Pūrva Khaṇḍa 1.
Mātrā
The therapeutic dose. Adjusted by age, agni (digestive strength), prakṛti, season, and severity of disease.
Source · Charaka · Sūtrasthāna 5.
Conditions and combinations that require either dose adjustment or specialist supervision. Verified against AYUSH advisories, classical texts, and the Memorial Sloan Kettering About Herbs database.
Reference
Kashyapa Saṃhitā · Khila Sthāna; AYUSH Paediatric Guidelines (2020).
Halve adult doses for individuals over 70 or under 16. For children under 5, classical paediatric (Kaumarabhṛtya) protocols use yava-mātra to chana-mātra ranges — supervised only.
Reference
Charaka · Śārīrasthāna 8 (Garbhavyākaraṇa); AYUSH advisory on Ayurvedic care in pregnancy.
Avoid emmenagogues and strong purgatives — castor oil, dry ginger churna at therapeutic doses, trikatu, ativiṣa, śatāhva, and all bhasmas unless prescribed.
Reference
AYUSH Notification GSR 663(E), 2018; CCRAS Safety Reviews.
Only dispense bhasmas (calcined metals/minerals) and pārada-yoga (mercury preparations) under a registered Ayurvedic physician. Modern heavy-metal testing per AYUSH GMP is required for safe practice.
Reference
Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdayam · Sūtrasthāna 5.
Per Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdayam, honey heated above body temperature or combined with equal-weight ghee is considered ama-forming. Add honey only after a preparation has cooled to warm.
Reference
Śārṅgadhara Saṃhitā · Madhyama Khaṇḍa 2.
Use freshly prepared kwath within 3 hours; potency drops markedly after that. Refrigeration is not classical and may alter virya (potency).
Reference
Memorial Sloan Kettering About Herbs database; PubMed clinical reviews.
Herbs with documented interactions include ashwagandha (immunosuppressants, thyroid hormones), guggulu (statins, beta-blockers), guduchi (insulin/sulfonylureas), and brahmi (anticonvulsants). Always disclose Ayurvedic use to your physician.
The information presented here is for educational and historical purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, prescription, or treatment. Ayurvedic herbs and formulations contain potent substances that can interact with medications and may be unsafe for certain conditions. Always consult a qualified physician or registered Ayurvedic practitioner before use.