Saraswatarishta (Saraswatharishtam): Excellent Tonic for Memory & Immunity Booster

The health benefits of Saraswatarishta include prevention of mental disorders. It is the most common ayurvedic medicine used for the treatment of neurological and psychological disorders. It is also used as a brain tonic, which helps to lower the risk of suffering from memory loss, dysfunction of the immune system, menstrual disorders, and semen problems.

Saraswatarishta (Saraswatharishtam) increases memory, attention span, concentration, intelligence, mental stamina and glow on the face. It decreases stress and mental fatigue. In ayurvedic medicine, it is helpful in treatment and management of depression, insomnia, anxiety, ADHD, heart diseases, loss of desire to eat, restlessness, vertigo etc.

Ingredients

The main ingredient of Saraswatarishta is Brahmi (Water Hyssop, botanically Bacopa Monnieri). In combination with other herbs and Swarna (Gold), the formulation becomes effective in many mental, neurological and heart disorders having potential health benefits.

Saraswatharishtam with Gold

The formulation is prepared in gold vessel or in earthen vessel in which gold is added. This formulation is called Saraswatharishtam with Gold or Saraswatarishta Swarna Yakut. The real formulation suggests using gold during preparation for maximum health benefits, but nowadays, due to high price of Saraswatarishta with gold, pharmacies start preparing Saraswatarishta without using gold. Both types are available in the market.

Saraswatarishta without Gold

Saraswatarishta is also available without gold, which is likely to be less effective than gold preparation.

Medicinal Properties

1. Anti-Depressive
2. Anti-stress
3. Anti-aging
4. Antioxidant
5. Anti-Inflammatory
6. Anti-Dopaminergic Effects (due to Bacopa, so it is useful in drug dependence
7. Neuro-protective
8. Anti-dementia
9. Anxiolytic or anti-anxiety
10. Anticonvulsant
11. Analgesic
12. Adaptogenic
13. Anti-neoplastic
14. Immuno-stimulatory
15. Potential cognitive enhancer
16. Cardioprotective and cardio tonic
17. Hepatoprotective

Indications

1. Depression
2. Amnesia (Retrograde & Anterograde both)
3. Alzheimer’s Disease
4. Insomnia
5. Memory Loss
6. All Types Of Mood Disorders
7. Stuttering (Stammering Disorder) – Childhood-Onset Fluency Disorder
8. Cardiac Arrhythmia
9. Male Hypogonadism
10. Female Hypogonadism

It is beneficial in following symptoms:

• Angry Outbursts
• Agitation
• Restlessness
• Aggressive Behavior
• Frustration
• Forgetfulness
• Feelings of sadness
• Hopelessness
• Feeling of emptiness
• Feeling of fearfulness
• Irritability
• Loss of interest in daily activities
• Sleep disturbances
• Unexplained tiredness
• Lack of energy even after small tasks
• Abnormal body movements
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Feelings of guilt
• Trouble thinking
• Reduced concentration
• Trouble while making decisions
• Difficulty in remembering things
• Suicidal thoughts
• Psychosomatic symptoms like unexplained physical problems, headache, or pain

In addition to these health conditions and symptoms, it is beneficial as tonic for following purposes:

1. To enhance memory
2. To increase concentration
3. To boost retention power
4. To reduce mental fatigue
5. To improve quality of sleep
6. To increase non-specific immunity in children and adults
7. To improve voice
8. To improve singing voice quality

Saraswatarishta Benefits & Uses

It has effect on brain, nerves, mind, heart, vocal cord, ovaries and testes. Therefore, Saraswatharishtam is beneficial in diseases of these organs. However, the main impact is observable on Vata Dosha, but is a balanced formulation, so it can be helpful to all people with diseases indicated in therapeutic indication section.

Major Benefits

• Increases memory
• Reduces stress
• Boosts mental capabilities and intelligence
• Tonifies nerves
• Improves voice
• Increases fertility in both women and men
• Alleviates stress and produces calmness in the mind

Rasayana (Rejuvenation)

In ayurveda, Saraswatarishta is also taken as Rasayana, which means it can be consumed without any restriction throughout the life for improving general well-being and increasing life span. It increases feeling of calmness, mental peace, joy, satisfaction, patience, and memory. It also stimulates non-specific immunity, which helps protecting a several types of viral, bacterial and other diseases.

Singers can use it for improving voice quality and preventing any damage to vocal cord due to overuse.

Many people who use their mind at maximum levels in thinking, researching, and studying, learning, memorizing, working at night can get benefits from Saraswatharishtam to increase their mental potential.

Depression & Anxiety

Bacopa Monnieri, its main ingredient, is found decreasing anxiety and depression with significant effect. Alkaloids of Brahmi have shown potent anti-depressant and anti-anxiety effects. (1, 2)

Saraswatharishtam is a drug of choice for depression in ayurveda. It produces feeling of well-being, happiness and joy. It calms the mind and releases negative energies from the mind. Person has any symptom of depression or symptoms as explained in Therapeutic Indications can get benefits from it.

It is helpful in all following depression symptoms:

1. Agitation
2. Angry Outbursts
3. Feeling of emptiness
4. Feeling of fearfulness
5. Feelings of sadness
6. Forgetfulness
7. Frustration
8. Hopelessness
9. Irritability
10. Loss of interest in daily activities
11. Psychosomatic symptoms like unexplained physical problems, headache, or pain
12. Restlessness
13. Suicidal thoughts
14. Trouble while making decisions
15. Unexplained tiredness

It reduces following anxiety symptoms significantly:

1. Breathing rapidly
2. Feeling weak
3. Feeling nervous
4. Feeling powerless
5. Feeling tired
6. Increased heart rate due anxiety
7. Sweating
8. Trembling
9. Trouble concentrating

Insomnia

It is beneficial for people with sleep disturbance of sleeplessness. Brahmi in Saraswatarishta improves sleep quality and increase duration of nighttime sleep. (3)

Memory Loss & Forgetfulness

It increases memory and helps in problems like memory loss, forgetfulness and trouble in remembering things. This effect appears due to Brahmi, Vacha, Ashwagandha and Gold.

Stuttering (Stammering Disorder)

It is highly beneficial for people with stuttering (Stammering Disorder or Childhood-Onset Fluency Disorder). Alone Saraswatharishtam is beneficial in such case, but it should be used more than 6 months continuously.

Cardiac Arrhythmia

Along with Yakuti Rasayan, or Jawahar Mohra or other cardioprotective preparation, Saraswatarishta gold provides stability in heart rate and prevents tachycardia and bradycardia.

Hypogonadism

Saraswatarishta along with Makardhwaj (or Siddha Makardhwaj) and Vanga (Bang) Bhasma is beneficial in both cases of male and female hypogonadism. It is likely to increased diminished hormone biosynthesis from the ovaries and testes in female and male respectively.

Menopause Symptoms

It is not only beneficial during menopause, but it is also very helpful in perimenopause (before menopause) and after menopause (post-menopause). It reduces following symptoms:

1. Hot Flashes
2. Mood Swings
3. Sleep disturbance
4. Difficult Concentrating
5. Dizziness
6. Memory Lapses
7. Irritability
8. Headaches
9. Night Sweats
10. Loss of Libido
11. Fatigue
12. Irregular Heartbeat
13. Depression
14. Anxiety
15. Panic Disorder
16. Electric Shocks
17. Muscle Tension
18. Tingling Extremities

For reducing symptoms of menopause, the following combination is also beneficial along with Saraswatharishtam.

Saraswatarishta Dosage

In the market, two types of formulations available:

1. Saraswatarishta (with gold)
2. Saraswatarishta (without gold)

The dosage also differs for each preparation due to gold content.

Saraswatarishta (with gold) dosage

The classical dosage is 4 ml twice daily, according to Bhaishajya Ratnavali for Saraswatarishta gold.

In some patients, this dosage does not provide the desired results. In such cases, the dosage can be increased up to 12 ml twice daily. However, dosage should be increased gradually over several days. So, it needs to start with 3 to 6 ml. After a few days, the dosage can be increased up to 12 ml twice daily.

Saraswatarishta (without gold) dosage

How to Take

Note: In case of child, the quantity of water can be increased if he dislike its taste.

SAFETY PROFILE

Saraswatharishtam is considerably safe in the recommended dosage. The long-term use is also likely safe.

Saraswatharishtam Side Effects

However, there are no side effects reported in most of individual using Saraswatharishtam. Headache may occur in rare cases if Saraswatarishta is taken in higher dosage, especially on empty stomach. Our two patients have reported this side effect in our 6 years clinical practice.

Pregnancy & Lactation

Saraswatarishta (Saraswatharishtam) is not recommendable in pregnancy as a tonic. However, it can be used in pregnant women having severe depression or other mood disorders.

Nursing mothers should take it under supervision of ayurvedic doctor in optimum adult dosage safely without any side effect on breast-fed babies.

Contraindications

There are no absolute contraindications for Saraswatharishtam.

Can diabetic patient take Saraswatarishta?

People with diabetes should check blood sugar level while taking Saraswatarishta for precautionary purpose. It contains sugar content. However, the amount of sugar content in 4 ml Saraswatarishta is insignificant to cause elevation in blood glucose level. Therefore, it is likely safe for diabetic people as well.

Manufacturers

Saraswatarishta (with Gold)

1. Nagarjuna
2. AVP

Saraswatarishta (without Gold)

• Baidyanath
• Sandu