Asava and Arishta – Ayurvedic Fermented Formulations

What are Asava and Arishta?

Asava and Arishta are ayurvedic preparations that contains self-generated alcohol content and herbal extracts soluble in both water as well as alcohol.

Difference between Asava and Arishta

The main difference between Asava and Arishta is involvement of the heat. Generally, Asava formulations are prepared without making decoctions and Arishta formulations are prepared making decoctions. However, it is not a universal principle and there are a few exceptions.

What is Asava?

Asava are ayurvedic medicines, which are prepared with natural fermentation process using herbs, water and sugar. Almost all Asava medicines do not include preparation of decoctions, but it has a very few exceptions.

What is Arishta?

Arishta are type of ayurvedic medicines, which are prepared with natural fermentation process using herbal decoctions, Dhataki (Woodfordia Fruticosa) flowers and sugar. Arishta means to have a long shelf life.

All these preparations (Asava Arishta) have longer shelf life and have no expiry. In Ayurveda, it is believed old Asava and Arishta are more beneficial.

List of Asava

1. Ahiphenasava
2. Amalakasava
3. Angoorasava
4. Aragwadhadyasava
5. Arvindasava (Aravindasavam)
6. Bhringrajasava (Bhringarajasavam)
7. Bilvasava
8. Chandanasava (Chandanasavam)
9. Chavikasavam
10. Chitrakasavam
11. Dhatryasava
12. Drakshasava
13. Gomutrasava
14. Guggulwasava
15. Kalmeghasava – Kalmegh (Nilavembu) is a main ingredient)
16. Kanakasava (Kanakasavam)
17. Karpoorasava (Karpurasava)
18. Kumaryasava (Kumari Asav) – Kumaryasavam
19. Kushmandasava
20. Lodhrasava (Lodhrasavam)
21. Lohasava (Lohasavam)
22. Madhukasava (Madhukasavam)
23. Mrigamadasava
24. Nalikerasavam (Nalikerasava)
25. Nimbamritasavam (Nimbaamruthasavam)
26. Nimbasava
27. Palashpushpasava
28. Panchakolasava (Panchakolasavam)
29. Patolasava
30. Patrangasava
31. Pippalyasavam (Pippalyasava)
32. Punarnavasavam (Punarnavasava)
33. Pushkaramoolasava (Pushkaramulasava)
34. Putikaranjasavam (Putikaranjasava)
35. Rohitakasava
36. Sarivadyasava (Saribadyasavam)
37. Srikhandasavam (Srikhandasava) – Sreekhandasavam
38. Sudarshanasavam
39. Sukumarasavam
40. Takrasava
41. Ushirasava (Usheerasava)
42. Varanasava
43. Varanasava
44. Vasakasava (Vasakasav or Vasasava)
45. Veeratharadyasavam (Virataradyasava)
46. Vidaryadyasavam (Vidaryadyasava)
47. Vidangasava

List of Arishta

1. Abhayarishta (Abhayarishtam)
2. Amritarishta (Amrutharishtam)
3. Aragwadharishtam (Aragvadharista)
4. Arjunarishta
5. Arvindasava (Aravindasavam)
6. Ashokarishta (Asokarishtam)
7. Ashwagandharishta (Aswagandharishtam)
8. Ayaskriti
9. Babularishta
10. Balamritam
11. Balarishtam (Balarishta)
12. Dantyarishta (Dantyarishtam)
13. Dashamoola Jeerakarishtam
14. Dashmoolarishta (Dashmularishta or Dasamoolarishtam)
15. Devadarvarishta (Devadarvarishtam)
16. Dhanwanthararishtam
17. Dhatryarishta
18. Draksharishta
19. Duralabharishta (Duralabharishtam)
20. Eladyarishta
21. Gulguluthikthakamarishta
22. Jeerakarishtam (Jirakadyarishtam or Jeerakadyarishtam)
23. Jeevabandhu Arishtam
24. Kanakabinduarista
25. Khadirarishta
26. Kutajarishta
27. Lakshmanarishtam
28. Mahamanjisthadyarishta
29. Mridweekarishtam
30. Mrit Sanjeevani Sura (Mritasanjeevani Arishta)
31. Mustakarishta (Mustharishtam)
32. Nimbadyarista
33. Parpatakarisha (Parppatakarishta) – Parthadyarishtam
34. Parthadyarishta
35. Patolarishta
36. Punarnavarishta
37. Raktshodhakarishta
38. Rohitakarishta (Rohitakarishtam)
39. Saraswatarishta (Saraswatharishtam)
40. Sirisharishta
41. Sudarshanarista
42. Sukumarishta (Sukumararishttam)
43. Takrarishta
44. Varanadyarishta
45. Vasarishtam (Vasarishta or Vasakadyarishtam)
46. Vidangarishta

Dietary Restrictions

The following foods should not be taken with Asava Arishta Medicines:

1. Stale foods
2. Jaggery
3. Oil
4. Sour foods
5. Hot spices
6. Black Lentils (Urad bean/dal)
7. Chickpeas
8. Red lentil (Masoor Dal)
9. Pickles
10. Potato
11. Meat