Punarnavarishta Benefits, Uses & Side Effects

August 23, 2015Last Updated: March 28, 2019

11 4 minutes read

Punarnavarishta is an ayurvedic medicine used for liver disorders, jaundice, anemia, gout, heart diseases, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, oedema, kidney failure and gastrointestinal diseases.

Basic Information

Safety Classification	Likely Safe & Well Tolerable
Medicine Type	Asava-Arishta (Fermented Liquid)
Main Indication	Oedema
Potential Action	Diuretic
Dosage	4 Teaspoons
Best Adjuvant	Water in equal amount
Manufacturers	Baidyanath, Zandu, Dabur
Availability Range	Liquid

Ingredients (Composition)

The main ingredient of this remedy is Punarnava (Boerhavia Diffusa).

Medicinal Properties

Punarnavarishta has following healing properties.

Anti-inflammatory
Anti-arthritic
Mild Anti-hypertensive
Carminative
Haematinic (increases hemoglobin levels)
Hematogenic (helps in formation of red blood cells)
Lowers bilirubin
Anti-gout
Mild Analgesic
Lithontriptic (lithotriptic) – dissolving kidney stone
Diuretic

Therapeutic Indications

Punarnavarishta is helpful in following health conditions.

Heart & Blood

Congestive heart failure
Edema of cardiac origin
Anemia

Liver disorders

Hepatitis
Jaundice
Loss of appetite due to liver diseases
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Fatty liver (used with Arogyavardhini vati)
Hepatomegaly – Enlargement of liver
Liver Cirrhosis
Alcoholic liver disease

Kidney & Urinary System

Chronic kidney failure
Kidney stones – for diuretic action and adjuvant to other remedies
Albuminuria
Crystalluria

Others

Inflammation of gallbladder
Splenomegaly
Gout or high uric acid level
Rheumatoid arthritis (for its anti-inflammatory action) – rarely used, but effective remedy

Benefits & Medicinal Uses

Punarnavarishta is an excellent anti-inflammatory and diuretic remedy, which provides relief in heart, kidney and liver disorders.

Congestive Heart Failure

However, Punarnavarishta is not a potent remedy to treat congestive heart failure, but it is given as adjuvant for supporting Tapyadi Loha, Terminalia Arjuna Bark Powder and other beneficial remedies used to treat congestive heart failure. It reduces workload on the heart by reducing edema.

Anemia

Punarnavarishta helps anemic patients suffering with appetite loss and weakness. It promotes formation of the red blood cells. However, iron supplement should be taken with Punarnavarishta. The best combination is given below:

Punarnavarishta	4 tsp. mixing with 4 tsp. water *
Mandur Bhasma	50 mg *
Abhrak Bhasma	25 mg *
Swarna Makshik Bhasma	100 mg *

* Twice daily

Fatty liver (Hepatic Steatosis)

Punarnavarishta along with Arogyavardhini Vati helps reducing the fat accumulated on the liver. It is effective in both cases – Alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Gout & High Uric Acid Level in the blood

Punarnavarishta or Punarnavasavam is an excellent remedy for elevated uric acid level. It increases the uric acid secretion through the kidneys.

Dosage

The general dosage of Punarnavarishta is as follows.

Children	2 teaspoons (10 ml) *
Adults	3 to 6 teaspoons (15 ml to 30 ml) *
Maximum Daily Dosage	12 teaspoons (60 ml) **

* Twice a day with equal amount of water ** Total daily dosage should be taken in divided doses

Recommended Treatment Duration

Jaundice & Hepatitis A	2 to 8 weeks
Chronic kidney failure	Lifelong treatment
Albuminuria	7 to 15 days
Crystalluria	4 to 8 weeks
High Uric Acid Level	3 to 6 months
Hepatomegaly & Splenomegaly	2 to 6 months

Caution & Side Effects

Punarnavarishta is LIKELY SAFE & WELL TOLERABLE in the dosage described above. In rare cases, some people may feel burning sensation in the throat. This problem occurs when Punarnavarishta is taken either on empty stomach or without mixing an appropriate amount of water.

Contraindication

Punarnavarishta may not suitable for diabetic patients because it contains sugar and some self-generated alcohol content.

Q&A

Does Punarnavadi Mandur have same actions like Punarnavarishta?

However, both Punarnavadi Mandur and Punarnavarishta are recommended in same diseases. But both have a little difference based on ingredients and pharmacological actions.

Punarnavadi Mandur contains Mandur Bhasma, which also helps to get iron and beneficial in iron deficiency anemia in addition to its other benefits. It also promotes the flow of bile from the gallbladder and liver.

Punarnavarishta has more diuretic action, promotes appetite and reduces toxins in the blood in addition to other benefits.

Can diabetic patients replace Punarnavarishta with Punarnavadi Mandur or Punarnavadi Guggul for similar benefits?

For diabetic patients, the much better option is Punarnavadi Kashayam. It is also available in tablets and readymade Decoction (Kwath) form.

Does Punarnavarishta help to recover the kidney functions in patients with kidney disease?

Punarnavarishta is likely to help patients with Kidney diseases. It will likely to delay the progress of the disease, but it may not provide a complete relief or recover the optimum kidney functions in chronic kidney failure.

Can I use Punarnavarishta and Kumaryasava for the cure of hepatitis B?

Punarnavarishta and Kumaryasava both are beneficial for improving liver functions, reducing viral load, and improving overall health in liver diseases. I am not sure if these both remedies will be effective alone in Hepatitis B. We are using in combination with other ayurvedic medicines according to the dominance of Dosha. Therefore, effective medicines may be different for each individual.

Is Punarnavarishta helpful in raising Hemoglobin level for a person with Beta Thalassemia Trait?

Yes, Punarnavarishta is likely helpful for raising Hemoglobin level.

Does Punarnavarishta work for protein loss in the urine? Is it safe in such case?

There are several causes of proteinuria, so the treatment should be according to the underlying cause. If it occurs due to high blood pressure or inflammation of kidneys, Punarnavarishta might be helpful.

The more appropriate medicine for proteinuria is Chandraprabha Vati, which works well for all underlying causes of proteinuria.

Can post kidney transplant patient take Punarnavarishta?

Punarnavarishta is safe for kidney and patient with post kidney transplant can take it.

Which is more beneficial Punarnavarishta or Kumaryasava in the case of raised uric acid level and elevated SGPT and SGOT levels?

In such case, Punarnavarishta will be the best choice. It will help in both cases – reducing uric acid level as well as correcting liver functions.

Is Arogyavardhini Vati compulsory along with Punarnavarishta for raised uric acid and elevated SGOT & SGPT?

Arogyavardhini Vati reduces liver enzymes and also helps to correct the metabolism in the body. Some ingredients like Shilajit in it may also help to reduce uric acid level. Arogyavardhini Vati with Punarnavarishta is not compulsory, but it will help.

Which medicines are best for reducing serum creatinine level, protein in urine and reducing blood pressure along with Punarnavarishta?

Chandraprabha Vati, Punarnavadi Kashayam, Punarnavarishta, and Vrikkdoshhar Vati etc. are good for reducing serum creatinine, urea, and uric acid. Chandraprabha Vati along with Punarnavarishta is more reliable as per classical texts. In chronic renal failure, one may have to take these preparations throughout the life.

What type of diet should be advisable with Punarnavarishta for Liver diseases?

The person taking Punarnavarishta should take light foods, which are easy to digest including Khichdi, fruits, boiled vegetables, simple dal, and chapatti etc. Heavy foods like fried things, fast food, fatty foods, sour things, and Masala, etc. should be avoided.