2. Tutorial on supplements
Diploma in
Ayurvedic
Lifestyle & Nutrition
Level 1
Tutorial on supplements
March 2019

3. Different herbal preparations
Two kinds of preparations:
single herb preparations
multiple herbal preparations
Both single and multiple herbal preparations can be primary
(using 1 procedure):
swarasa (juice)
kalka (pastes)
kwatha (decoctions)
hima (cold infusions)
phanta (hot infusion)
Secondary - using some of above preparations to make arista, awaleha (confectionary), ghee preparations, tablets etc

4. Action of single herbal preparations can be described by its rasa, guna, virya, vipaka, prabhava etc.
Multiple herbal preparations have all the rasas, guna, virya and vipaka combined, hence hard to explain their effect on this basis

5. After digestion, virya and vipaka is described as “karma” (action)
Karma can be on
dosha - aggravate (kopa) or balancing (shamaka)
dhatu and mala - vriddhi (increase) or kshaya (reduce)
srotas – annavaha (digestive tract), pranavaha (lungs, heart and circulatory system), mutravaha (urinary system)…

6. Dose of the preparations
Always start with the lowest, appropriate dose you feel confident to prescribe (and increase incrementally if needed)
Dose can vary with
power of agni
severity of disease
the strength and age of patient
climate/ season

7. Shatawari choorna Root powder of Asparagus racemosus
Recommended to use fresh
Cleaned and washed roots are made into a paste
Dried, powdered and sieved
Ingredients:
shatawari
Dose:
- ½ -1 teaspoon twice a day
Anupana:
- hot water, milk (especially in pitta disorders)

8. Karma (action) of shatawari choorna
Decrease pitta, vata & kapha balancing
Women’s disorders- menopause, fertility, menstrual problems
Nourishes body tissues
Increase breast milk
Increase libido

9. Ashwagandhadi choorna
Main ingredients :
ashwagandha, ginger, long pepper, black pepper
Ashwagandha – Withania somnifera Indian winter cherry/ Indian ginseng
Dose:
- ½ -1 tea spoon twice a day
Anupana:
- hot water, milk (specially in pitta disorders)

10. Karma (action) Increases vata, balances pitta, decrease kapha
Energiser (increases energy)
Increases circulation
Dipana, pachana
Nourishes body tissues
Increase reproductive tissues specially in males
Increases sexual activities

11. Tripala tablets Haritaki (Terminalia chebula)
Vibhithaki (Terminalia belerica)
Amla (Phyllanthus emblica)

12. Properties of tripala in Ayurvedic texts
Rasayana- rejuvenator
Tridosha shamaka - pacify tridosha
Deepana
Anulomana – stimulates downward movements (bowel tonic at low dose, purgative at high doses)
Rochana- increase the sense of taste
Shukrala- increase quality and quantity of sperms
Mehaghna- control meha
Vishamajwara nashana- cures different types of fever

13. Netrarogaghna- cures eye disorders Medohara- removes excess fat
Contd..
Netrarogaghna- cures eye disorders
Medohara- removes excess fat
Kushtaghna- cures eczema
Kanduhara – relieves itchiness
Kledaapaharana- eliminates wastes
Kapha nissaraka- expectorant, bronchodilator, removes excess water in the body
Vranashodhana/ropana- clears and cures wounds
Varnya - restores normal skin color
Yonishulaprashamana - helps pains in vagina

14. Pittahara tablet (sudarshana shoorna)
Main ingredient - kiratha (Andrographis paniculata)
53 ingredients in equal amounts
Most of them are bitter in taste
Pacify tridosha:
vata disorders- arthritis, body aches, back ache
pitta disorders- fever, dizziness, vertigo, confusion, excess thirst, jaundice, anaemia
kapha disorders- respiratory disorders, heart disorders

15. Promotes bile flow
Normalizes liver functions
Improves immunity
Used to prevent and cure epidemic disorders of flues (swine flue, chikungunya), communicable disorders

16. Munronia pinnata little king bitter
Andrographis paniculata
Munronia pinnata is substituted by Andrographis paniculata in pittahara tablet

17. Mahanarayana oil 77 ingredients in decoction 63 ingredients in paste
Base oil - sesame
Shatawari juice, cows milk
Pacify vata and pitta
Good for head and body
Joints disorders, muscle and nerve disorders
Wasting disorders
Headaches and disorders in adjoining organs

18. Pinda oil Body oil Prepared without boiling the ingredients
Base oil- sesame
Bees wax is an ingredients
Pacify pitta
Use as a cosmetic
Skin disorders, itchiness
Burning sensation
Gout

19. Kumari oil
Hair oil
Contain many cooling ingredients- amruta (Tinospora cordifolia), Aloe vera, sandal wood, water lily. Cows milk
Base oil- sesame
Insomnia
Migraine and stress related headaches
Eye disorders due to excess heat
Can aggravate kapha

20. Triphala oil Head and body oil, mouth wash Pacify tridosha
Has 30 ingredients
Base oil- sesame oil
All kinds of disorders

21. Sarshapadee oil Body oil Pacify kapha and vata, aggravate pitta
Base oil- mustard
Camphor (Cinamomum camphora) and turpentine (obtain from pine trees)
Effective pain killer
Swellings, sprains, joint pains, muscle cramps, asthma
Long term use can aggravate vata

22. Ashwagandha oil Body oil Main ingredient is ashwagandha 18 ingredients
Base oil- sesame
Vata disorders including muscle wasting
Impotency

23. Neelyadee oil Head and body oil Base oil- coconut, coconut milk
18 ingredients including Juices of 7 plant leaves
Pacify pitta, can aggravate kapha
Headaches and associated disorders
Hair falling, hair thinning
Skin disorders
Piles, anal fissures