Difference Between Chyawanprash And Brahma Rasayan
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.
Table of Contents
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.
Similarities in ingredients, benefits
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
Difference in ingredients
Special ingredients in Chyawanprash:
- Amruta – Indian Tinospora (stem) – Tinospora cordifolia
- Bhumi amalaki – Phyllanthus niruri
- Draksha – Raisin – Vitis vinifera
- Kakanasika
- Kakoli – Fritillaria roylei
- Karkatashrungi – Pistacia integerrima
- 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
Special ingredients in Brahmarasayanam –
- 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
Difference in benefits
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 abdominal bloating.
- It improves digestion power.
Brahma Rasayana is having following special benefit:
Tandra – Shramahara – It is one of the best medicines to relieve tiredness and fatigue
Overall differences
- 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 like frequent cough, cold etc, Brahma Rasayana might be more apt for you.
- If you are targeting good sexual health and respiratory health, then Chyawanprash is a 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 apt for you.
So, there are many instances where both have their own distinct advantages. It is upto the discretion of the doctor to choose the best one for you.
FAQs
Can we have brahma rasyan and chyawan prasa in morning and evening?
I do not think, both are needed at the same time, same day. Anyone would be good.
It requires time for body to digest and assimilate the herbal active ingredients. Hence, it is ideal to go with single formula for a consistent period of time.
Brahma rasayan is not suitable for youth?
Sure, suitable to youth.
56 comments on “Difference Between Chyawanprash And Brahma Rasayan”
indira
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.
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Welcome 🙂
vin
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.
biju
I’m yet to receive the e-book “Blue Print For A Healthy Lifestyle” It has been 8 days since I subscribed.
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Hi, Thanks for subscribing. I had already sent it to you. Resending again.
biju
Thank you…I have received it
Dr. Mark J.
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 J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
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.
Dr. Mark Johns
Thank you, for your kind reply. Do you recommend any particular formulations/brands?
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Recommending the perfect brand has been the most difficult task. Any organic brand should be safer.
Nishant
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!
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
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.
Pooja
Dr Hebbar,
Chyanwanprash would contain good amount of Vitamin C because, as per Ayurveda, Amla is the only food in which Vitamic C is not destroyed by heat.
Nishant has a very valid point and I have been trying hard to get these Ayurvedic formulation from manufacturers producing no-preservative versions.
It seems the food industry is hell bent on adding preservatives without looking into any other way of increasing shelf-life as all these other ways entail more responsibilities.
Maybe, the government should be more active in this and now allow the food industry to market anything as safe by adding deadly preservatives without proper tests in place.
Sandeep Aiyar
Doctor has been very right in pointing out that Chyawanprash has no Vitamin C. Here is a scientific paper published on that.
Determination Of Vitamin C Content Of Phyllanthus Emblica And Chyavanprash
C. J Shishoo, S. A Shah, I. S Rathod, S. G Patel
They analyzed three samples of branded chyawanprash and found NO vitamin C in any of the 3 samples. They concluded that the Vitamin C is lost due to frying of amla pulp in Ghee, which stands very high temperatures.
Also, as per the same paper, the preservative used in Chyawanprash is POTTASIUM SORBATE and NOT Sodium Benzoate. However, I will email Vaidyaratnam Oushadashala and ask them the preservative that they are using in their leghyams and rasayanams and share the reply if at all I receive any from them.
I think it is better to be assertive and alert, but making presumption based conclusions and thinking that we are the most intelligent people, based on our internet knowledge, without even confirming with the manufacturers and experts is sophomanical IMHO. People who have no trust on companies should manufacture their own products, I reckon.
Cheers
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Thanks!
Sri Dhooptapapeshwar Ltd., Panvel, Maharashtra, one of the leading brands of Ayurveda in India, has mentioned in their label of Chyawanprash that they use Sodium Benzoate as preservative.
nivritti roy
awaynprash
what is the difference between amrit rasayan and ch
Sandeep Aiyar
It should be possible to test samples of Brahma Rasayanam and Chyawanprash from Vaidyaratnam Oushadashala or Kotakkal Arya Vaidya sala for the presence of Benzene in it and report to the companies and to the food inspection department of the central government about this. I cannot believe that such reputed companies, with dedicated research labs wouldn’t know this chemical reaction. Do you know the complete list of ingredients used in Vaidyaratnam Oushadashala and Kotakkal Arya Vaidyashala’s rasayanams? Besides, did you try emailing these two companies and asking them directly to get your doubts clarified?
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
It will need a doctor’s consultation to decide if one can take both at the same time or day.
Vijai Kumar G H
Dear Sir,
Can a Bp Patient can use Chyawanprash, when to have Chyawanprash? in the morning after food or before food…
G.Subramanya
thank u doctor for making people like me to know about chavanprash .can a diabetic patient use chavanprash ?
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
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.
Debkant Sahu
Hello Sir… very useful information… but i have little doubt…
Is amrit rasayan and brahma rasayana are same ??
Gaurav
Is Brahma Rasayana less heating than Chyawanprash in theory and from your experience?
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Presuming that all your health parameters are normal, it can be taken by any healthy person with a dose of 1 teaspoon in morning, 10 minutes before food with milk.
Whether this is particularly suitable to you or not, to know it, please consult an Ayurveda doctor in person.
Ole
Very detailed analysis, thank you.
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
welcome 🙂
sudipt
Is amlaki rasayana the same as chywanprash?
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
No. They are different.
chinmaya
1) Is the process of making chyawanprash (mentioned by u) & brahma rasayan same?
2) I have heard that there are specific time (like tithi, nakshtra, grahan etc) where some of the trees have highest medicinal properties compared to other time. Will u plz mention about them?
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
1. Quite similar.
2. Will write about time of herb collection on future.
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
1. They are quite similar.
2. There are no specific time mentioned for making chyawanprash. Albeit, auspicious day and auspicious time is good to start.
Rockie
Great article.
I just purchased Sri Sri Ayurveda’s Brahma Rasayana. It claims to be based on Ashtang Hrudaya and contains about 45 ingredients but i can’t see “Haridra” in the list. Am i missing something?
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Hi, Sri Sri Ayurveda is a very good company. Have trust and start using it.
Vijaylakshmi
I’m yet to receive the e-book “Blue Print For A Healthy Lifestyle”
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Sent by email just now.
Vijaylakshmi
Thanks a lot for this very wonderful explanation on brahmarasayana. Highly appreciate it.
DEVI S NAIR
difference between Bramarasayanam and Amrit Rasayanam
N Kumar
DR very good comparison. I hear Rasayan could contain mercury or arsenic. Is mercury involved in the processing of Brahma Rasayana. Could there be heavy metals in it as it is called a Rasayana?
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Rasayana term is not applied for mercurial preparations.
Only Ras or Rasa is used to indicate them. Example – hinguleshwara rasa.
Brahamrasayana does not contain any heavy metal as ingredient.
Vikram
Namaste Dr.Hebber
I am interested to know from your end what does it mean when its said that Bhrama Rasayan can cure radiation damage, what kind of radiation does that mean?
Secondly, does Bhrama Rasayan cure DNA damage as Astaxanthin?
I thank you for giving your valuable time and can consideration to our queries.
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Please read about its anti radiation effects here – http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/24105/1/IJEB%2038(10)%20999-1002.pdf
Theoretically, it is useful to cure DNA damage.
Krishan pal sharma
Sir
May a diabetic person use Brahamrasayana !
Regards
Girish Agarwal
Whether Braham Rasayan Can be taken during Summer
Girish Agarwal
Mayank kaushik
Hello vaidji , can brahmha rasayan be taken with cold milk in summer & in what dosage .
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
It can be taken at night. It does not decrease sleep.
PK
Is Brahma rasayana same as patanaji’s amrit rasayana?
Thanks
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
No.
Nikhil
I purchased Sri Sri Tattva Brahma Rasayana. It tastes bitter, is it normal?
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Yes.
Sudhakar
Sir, I am consuming brahmarasayanam of AVS Kottakal since two weeks. Now I’m worried whether it contains Sodium Benzoate. I emailed to them but there is no reply. Please help.
Chandra
Dear Viadji, I am highly confused during selection of brand of Brahm Rasayan. I was using made by one vaid and it is in powder form but its very costly. I dont know which brand of bhrahm rasayan contains all gradients and really effective to improve memory. I am facing memory loss and its not improving even after 3 months of course. Which brand of bhrahm rasayan contains brahmi, shankhpuspi, manduk parni , gotukola and jatamansi.
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Kottakkal is a good brand.
Rahul
Is kottakkal Brahma rasyanam is good?
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Yes