Mr Indra asks - what is the diffrence between Brahma rasyan and Chyavanprash? why do we need to have Brahma rasayan or chyawanprash if both are giving same benefits? Brahma rasyan is not suitable for youth? So can we have brahma rasayan and chyawan prasa in morning and evening?As you know that Brhama rasayan is less available in market.
Let us analyse.
Note: There are many references for Chyawanaprasha and Brahma Rasayan. But I have taken the following standard references:
- Chyawanaprasha – Charaka Samhita Chikitsa Sthana 1:1:62 – 74
- Brahma Rasayana – Ashtanga Hrudaya Uttarasthana 39/15-23
This is because, both the formulas are approved by Ayurvedic Formulary of India. (A government of India publication).
Disclaimer:
- The below explanation is based on my personal experience and understanding.
- The advice below (or any part of this website for that matter), should not be considered as substitute for your doctor’s prescription / advice.
Details of each product
Chyawanaprash – A very well known anti aging Ayurvedic product, with immense effect on respiratory health, mental health and immunity. Please find my previous article(s) on Chyawanprash
Brahma Rasayana – Another anti aging Ayurvedic medicine, with immense effect on mental health and immunity. Read the details here.
Similarity between these two products.
Both products have Amla (Indian gooseberry) as the main ingredient.
Both the products have 30 ingredients in common. They are -
- Haritaki – Chebulic Myrobalan fruit rind – Terminalia chebula
- Agaru – Aquilaria agallocha
- Agnimantha – Premna corymbosa (Burm.f) Merr
- Amalaki – Indian gooseberry fruit – Emblica officinalis Gaertn.
- Bala – Country mallow (root) – Sida cordifolia
- Bilva – Bael (root) – Aegle marmelos
- Brihati – Indian Nightshade (root) – Solanum indicum
- Chandana – Sandalwood – Santalum album
- Ela – Cardamom – Elettaria cardamomum
- Ghrita – Cow ghee
- Jivaka - Malaxis acuminata
- Jivanti – Leptadenia reticulata
- Kantakari – Yellow berried nightshade (whole plant) – Solanum xanthcarpum
- Gambhari – Coomb Teak (root) – Gmelina arborea
- Nagakeshara – Mesua ferrea
- Madhu
- Mashaparni – Teramnus labialis / Vigna radiata
- Meda – Litsea monopetala
- Mudgaparni – Green gram – Phaseolus trilobus
- Musta – Nut grass (root) – Cyperus rotundus
- Patala – Trumpet (root) – Stereospermum suaveolens
- Pippali – Long pepper fruit – Piper longum
- Prishniparni – Uraria picta
- Punarnava – Spreading Hogweed – Boerhaavia diffusa
- Rishabhaka – Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.) Dubard / Mimusoops hexandra Roxb.
- Shalaparni – Desmodium gangeticum
- Shyonaka – Oroxylum indicum
- Sita – Sugar candy
- Taila – Sesame oil – Sesamum indicum
- Twak – Cinnamon – Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Both have following common Benefits:
- Smruti - Both help to improve memory
- Medha - Both help to improve intelligence and mental strength.
- Bala – Both improve immunity
- Both are attributed with anti-aging benefits such as – relieving skin creases, grey hairs etc.
- Both are told that they are suitable for people of all ages
Differences:
Special ingredients in Chyawanprash:
- Amruta – Indian Tinospora (stem) – Tinospora cordifolia
- Bhumi amalaki – Phyllanthus niruri
- Draksha – Raisin – Vitis vinifera
- Kakanasika
- Kakoli – Fritillaria roylei
- Karkatashrungi – Colocynth (dried pulp)- Citrullus colocynthis
- Patra – Cinnamomum tamala
- Pushkaramoola – Inula racemosa
- Riddhi – Vigna cylindrica
- Shati – Curcuma zeodaria / Hedychium spicatum
- Utpala – Nymphaea stellata
- Vamshalochana – Bambusa bambos
- Vasa – Malabar nut tree (root / whole plant) – Adhatoda vasica
- Vidari – Pueraria tuberosa
- Darbha - Desmostachya bipinnata
- Eranda – Castor – Ricinus communis
- Gokshura – Small caltrops (whole plant) – Tribulus terrestris Linn.
- Haridra – Turmeric rhizome – Curcuma longa
- Ikshu – Sugarcanne – Saccharum officinarum
- Kasha – Saccharum spontaneum
- Mandukaparni – Gotu Kola – Centella asiatica
- Plava – Nyctanthes arbor-tristis
- Shali – Rice – Oryza sativa
- Shankhapushpi – Clitorea ternatea
- Shara – Serratophyllum submersom
- Shatavari – Asparagus racemosus root
- Vacha – Acorus calamus
- Vidanga – False black pepper – Embelia ribes
- Yashtimadhu – Licorice – Glycyrrhiza glabra
Chyawanprash is has following special benefits:
- It is useful in cough, cold, bronchitis, asthma and such other respiratory disorders.
- It is useful in people with chest injuries.
- Angavardhana – it promotes proper growth and body nourishment.
- Swarakshaya hara – It strengthens voice
- It is useful in heart diseases, gout, excessive thirst, nocturnal emission,premature ejaculation, sperm anomalies and bloating
- It improves digestion power.
- The amount of Haritaki, a very well known anti aging herb (one among Triphala) is more in Brahmarasayana.
- Most of the special herbs of Chyawanprash are targeted towards respiratory health. Hence, when it is far a better medicine for asthma, bronchitis etc, than the other.
- The special herbs that are in Brahma Rasayana are nourishing, energizing in nature. Hence, it is more beneficial if you have tiredness, fatigue, laziness etc.
- If you are targeting to improve your overall immunity and if you have no issues with frequent cough cold etc, Brahma Rasayana might be more apt for you.
- If you are targeting to good sexual health and respiratory health, then Chyawanprash is better choice for you.
- There are many research articles on Brahma Rasayana, inhibiting Sarcoma development, cancer development etc. If you have family history of any type of cancer, then probably, Bahma Rasayana is more opt for you.
It is no doubt, suitable to youth.
As always thanks for the wonderful explanation. Appreciate it. Last question on youth ? Do you think Brahma rasayanam can be taken by 7 yr old? Please advice.
Thanks. Yes it can be given. But better to check with your Ayurvedic doctor once.
Really thanks for your valuable time to post on this.really it has given clear vision to all and helped to know about ayurveda very well.Thanks for your time on this.
Welcome
Hi Sir,
I read it it really nice article and cleared few myths on both products.But i have few things on it as Even brahama rasayana mainly focus on age related problems as per my knowledge as growing age asthma ,brochilitis and short breath while speaking are common.So can we use BR morning and evening CP(even CP mentioned mrng and evng) these medicines .One doctor suggested like this after that i reported to doctor i am gaining weight probably due to usage of rasayans both as ghee is ingredient.then he told reduce the dose.i was used few days later i stopped it.only thing is will BR reduce the breathe problems also?
It will need a doctor’s consultation to decide if one can take both at the same time or day.
Bramha Rasayana has high amount of Haritaki and hence its taste may not be acceptable to many people. Chyavanaprash has very pleasing taste, but generates lot of heat.
I’m yet to receive the e-book “Blue Print For A Healthy Lifestyle” It has been 8 days since I subscribed.
Hi, Thanks for subscribing. I had already sent it to you. Resending again.
Thank you…I have received it
Dr. Hebbar –
I enjoyed your explanation re: how to choose a goody quality Chyavanprash. Similarly, how can one determine a good quality Brahma Rasayan? Thanks for your informative newsletters!
Dr Mark,
Most of the features that I have explained in the Chyawanprash Video holds good even for Brahma Rasayan – like sinking in water, not too sticky, not too smooth.
The Brahma Rasayan is slightly more bitter than Chyawanprash.
Thank you, for your kind reply. Do you recommend any particular formulations/brands?
Recommending the perfect brand has been the most difficult task. Any organic brand should be safer.
Nice explanations, doc…
I don’t believe in trolling but I feel your readers should also note that Rasayans made by all companies you’ve mentioned on your website also add Sodium Benzoate(E211) to the Rasayan making it a deadly carcinogen. One does not have to be an MD in Ayurveda to google and find out Vitamin C(Absorbic Acid in Amla- C6H8O6) and Sodium Benzoate(E211- NaC6H5CO2) creates Benzine(C6H6), a highly Carcinogenic chemical which causes CANCER.
Formula: 6 NaC6H5CO2 + 6 C6H8O6 = 13 C6H6 + 6 NaO2 + 18 O2
As you mentioned, Vit C are present in Rasayan’s as well as Chawanprash, so this applies to Chawanprash as well…
I know that my comments are subject to “moderation” & may be subsequently deleted by you since it’s neither in your interest nor the manufacturer’s interest to be aware of this.. Just posting this in the interest of your readers of easyayurveda that modern manufacturers have made so difficult and deadly!
It is the interest on science of Ayurveda, which is most important than that of mine, yours or manufacturers’. Isn’t it?
1. I do not recommend adding Sodium Benzoate to Chyawanprash. The Amla itself is a very good anti oxidant, so there is absolutely no need of any preservative, if made in the traditional recommended way.
2. Chyawanprash does not contain Vitamin C. Vitamin C is highly sensitive to temperature. Here we boil Amla, fry in ghee by which time, all the Vitamin C will be extinct.
Apart from spam comments the other type of comments that I delete are personal health queries, which I communicate to the enquirer directly by email.
Dear Sir,
Can a Bp Patient can use Chyawanprash, when to have Chyawanprash? in the morning after food or before food…
Yes he can use. The general dosage is half to one spoon in the morning, before food with milk. Consult your doctor for personalized dosage for you.
thank u doctor for making people like me to know about chavanprash .can a diabetic patient use chavanprash ?
A diabetic person can take Chyawanprash, but it contains sugar. Hence one needs to consult doctor, do regular monitoring of glucose level to know if Chyawanprash is causing any glucose spikes and harming the whole treatment process.