Abhaya Arishtam: The Ultimate Rejuvenator

by Kottakkal Support March 29, 2024

Abhaya Arishtam balances all three doshas by supporting digestive strength, reducing ama from the gut, easing gas and bloating, and supporting normal bowel movements. Abhaya Arishtam is useful for piles due to its astringent quality which helps reduce swelling in the bowels. And at the same time is useful for constipation as it promotes the body’s natural peristalsis movement. 

Rejuvenative Benefits of Abhaya Arishtam

• Supports normal bowel movements
• Promotes normal appetite and digestive activity
• Helps remove ama from the digestive system
• Aids relief in flatulence and abdominal bloating
• Helps reduce discomfort associated with piles, fissure and fistula
• Promotes normal urination
• Promotes healthy skin

 Abhaya Arishtam is an herbal decoction that is fermented, a process that is unique to Ayurveda. Arishtams belong to a category of Ayurvedic formulas that are fermented with sugar, jaggery or honey. The sugar ferments and self generates a small amount of alcohol about 3 – 5 percent. The alcohol acts as a natural preservative that extends the shelf life. The alcohol and water together function as a carrier for the active principles of the herbs. Arishtams are ideal for people with weak digestion because they are easily absorbed in the body, and they taste quite good due to the sugar content. Dosage: 15 to 30 ml for adults/5 to 10 ml for children or as directed by Ayurvedic Practitioner.

Abhaya Arishtam Ingredients

• Guda - Saccharum officinarum
• Abhaya - Terminalia chebula
• Dhatri - Phyllanthus emblica
• Kapitha - Limonia accidissima
• Vishala - Citrullus colocynthis
• Lodhra - Symplocos cochinchinensis
• Maricha - Black pepper
• Krishna - Long pepper
• Vella – False black pepper - Embelia ribes
• Elavaluka - Prunus avium
• Dhataki - Woodfordia fruticosa

The Main Herb is Haritaki

Abhaya is a secondary name for Haritaki and is the main herbal ingredient in Abhaya Arishtam. The scientific name for Haritaki is Terminalia chebula and according to Ayurveda, provides the following herbal actions, Dipana (increases appetite), Rasayana (rejuvenates vata), Brimhana (nourishing), Yogavahi (enhances action of other herbs), Pacana (digestive), Grahi (absorbs liquid from the intestines), Lekhana (removes accumulations), Caksusya (helps eyesight), Anulomana (redirects the flow of vata downward), Stanya Shodhana (helps breast milk), Recana (purgative), Vibandhahara (helps constipation), Kasahara (helps cough), Medhya (enhances intellect), Ayurvardhaka (enhances longevity), and Arsoghana (helps piles).

 Haritaki includes five of the six tastes of Ayurveda and is only missing the salty taste. The main qualities are astringent, dry, and hot which helps cleanse and stimulate digestive strength and normal elimination. Its post digestive effect is sweet which rejuvenates the whole body with a special affinity for helping intelligence and eye health.

 Its sweet, bitter and astringent tastes pacify pitta and kapha dosha, and its pungent, astringent and sour tastes pacify vata dosha. You may wonder why its pungent and sour tastes do not aggravate vata and pitta. This is because Haritaki has a special effect known as prabhava that is unique to its properties.

	Ayurvedic Properties	Haritaki
1	Taste (rasa)	Astringent (kashaya), Pungent (katu), Bitter (tikta), Sweet (madhura), Sour (amla)
2	Potency (virya)	Hot (ushna)
3	Post digestion effect (vipaka)	Sweet (madhura)
4	Qualities (guna)	Light (laghu), Rough (ruksha)
5	Actions (karma)	Pacify vata, pitta and kapha
6	Special effect (prabhava)	Removes all the three dosha

Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) belongs to the family of plants called Combretaceae and has been used since ancient times for therapeutic purposes. Haritaki is the first herb listed in the Bhavaprakasa Nighantu: Indian Materia Medica of Sri Bhava Misra and is referred to as the King of all Herbs. Haritaki possesses extraordinary healing powers with a wide spectrum of biological activity. It helps to improve physical and mental health, prevents degeneration, extends youth and helps reverse the aging process.

Modern scientific research is also interested in the chemical components and pharmacological activities of Haritaki. They discovered its highly nutritious and contains essential vitamins, minerals, and proteins and is a good source for vitamin C, manganese, selenium, potassium, iron and copper. And it contains many constituents like tannic acid, gallic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid and behenic acid which offer an array of health benefits.

AYURVEDIC CONSULTATION

Kottakkal is committed to offering the highest quality Ayurvedic Healthcare. We offer two ways to have an Ayurvedic consultation. 1. Free 15-minute Consultation with our Ayurvedic practitioner, Julie Wardwell, for when you need a product recommendation for a basic health problem. 2. In-depth Consultation with our Ayurvedic doctor, Vaidya Vishwanath Guddadar for when your condition is chronic with multiple symptoms.

References:

1. Bhavaprakasa Nighantu, Chap 6, 160-162.
2. Shalu Sharma, Dr. Bhavna Singh, and Dr. Hement Kumar. “A Critical Review of Pharmacological Actions of Haritaki (Terminalia Chebula Retz) In Classical Texts.” Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences, Vol. 4, no. 04, Aug. 2019, pp. 258-69, doi:10.21760/jaims. v4i04.673.

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Kottakkal Ayurveda products and information are not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. If you have serious, acute, or chronic health problems, please consult a trained health professional. If you are seeking the advice of a trained Ayurvedic professional, call (800) 215-9934 or email us at contact@kottakkal.shop. We will provide you with information to consult with Ayurvedic professionals. Always check with your doctor before taking herbs when pregnant or nursing.

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