Chyawanprash is an ancient Ayurvedic recipe, having originated several thousands of years ago from the Charaka Samhita. Since then, there have been a number of adaptations and changes over time. Read on to learn about the evolution of the Chyawanprash recipe.
Chyawanprash, the foremost Rasayana
The Charaka Samhita is one of the oldest surviving Ayurvedic texts, and it outlines a number of foundational concepts that led to Ayurveda as we know it. According to this text, Chyawanprash is the foremost rasayana in all of Ayurveda.
According to the Charaka Samhita, people who consume Chyawanprash become resilient to the problems of aging, disease, and ill health. They also become stronger and better able to use their bodies and minds.
Changes to the Chyawanprash Recipe
Since Chyawanprash has been formulated for several thousands of years, the recipe has been altered quite a few times. One of the major reasons for changes to the Chyawanprash recipe has been the extinction of certain botanicals. A select number of ingredients that were included in the original recipe have become extinct (e.g. Jivaniya Gana herbs have not been available for 200 years). As such, Ayurvedic practitioners have had to make substitutions to ensure the medicinal benefits of the formula remain intact.
In addition, before the ease and convenience of modern goods exchange, Ayurvedic practitioners often lived in remote areas in which the original herbs were not available. Instead, they had to work with the elements around them. This resulted in changes according to their environments.
According to Ayurveda, changes to the recipe are perfectly acceptable — and even encouraged. The original formulation crafted by Sage Chywana was for that specific Time and Space. Since Ayurveda customizes everything as per Time and Space (as these are 2 of the 9 Dravya), adjustments may need to occur based on specific time periods and geographic areas. Specifically, Chyawanprash’s usefulness in the Eastern and Western worlds are entirely different based on the health profiles of the populations. The average Western person needs additional digestive aids.
Chyawanprash Recipe
The most important components of Chyawanprash remain the same:
- Amla
- Ghruta (cow ghee)
- Honey
- Jaggery
- A variety of medicinal herbs
How PIOR Living Chyawanprash Is Made
PIOR Living strives to produce Chyawanprash as authentically as possible. Our formulation uses the Charaka and Bhavaprakasha recipes for guidance with adjustments according to modern botanical availability and western health and digestive needs. All of the ingredients used are organic, wild-crafted, and sustainably sourced from India.
We use traditional, hand-crafted methods to produce Chyawanprash in small batches using the following process:
- 17 herbs are converted in decoction
- Amla berry is steam baked in the decoction and cooked. The pulp is treated with ghee (Ghruta)
- 8 botanicals in raw and fine powder form are added in pulp
- Mix is aged for a few days
- Honey, sesame seed oil and ghee (Ghruta) is added to the mix
- 3 botanicals extracts are added to the mix
- 4 aromatic herbs are added to the mix
- Final mix is aged for a few days, then checked for heavy metals, microbial count and organoleptic behavior.
First time buyers of PIOR Living Chyawanprash get 15% off with discount code yogisbreakfast. Questions? Contact us at service@pior.com.
Photocred: @nabalo
Reviewed by Dr. Jayant Lokhande, MD (Botanical Drugs), MBA (Biotechnology)
