CHYAWANPRASH - A Delicious Nutritive Jam

CHYAWANPRASH

Chyawanprash is a delicious nutritive jam that has been used in Ayurveda for thousands of years, offering a wide range of health benefits. In Sanskrit, the word, “prash” refers to a specially prepared food. It is said that two ancient sages of Ayurveda concocted this particular formula to restore youth to the elderly sage, Chyawan—thus the name, “chyawanprash”.

Chyawanprash (also spelled chyavanaprasha, chyavanaprash, chyavanaprasam, chamanprash  and chyawanaprash) is a cooked mixture of sugar, honey, ghee, Indian Gooseberry (amla), jam, sesame oil, berries and various herbs and spices. It is prepared as per the instructions suggested in Ayurvedic texts. Chyawanprash is widely sold and consumed in India as a dietary supplement.

Origin :--

Chyawanprash is an ancient formulation and product. Various Indian holy books like Mahabharata, Puranas etc., relate that Ashwini Kumar brothers, the twins, who were Raja Vaidya (Royal Physicians) to Devas during Vedic times, first prepared this formulation for Chyawan Rishi at his Ashram on Dhosi Hill near Narnaul, Haryana, India, hence the name Chyawanprash. The first historically documented formula for chyawanprash appears in the Charaka Samhita, the ancient Ayurvedic treatise from the early first millennium BCE.

Composition, Taste & Appearance :--

The recipe of chyavanprash is mentioned in manuscripts written for ayurvedic method of treatment viz. Ashtangahridayam, Charakasamhita, Sangandharasamhita. Amla is a primary ingredient of Chyawanprash which makes it rich in Vitamin C (445 mg/100g). The number of herbs used may vary from 25 to 80 but the main ingredient of all Chyawanprash is amla. Other chief ingredients are:

Ashwagandha ; Asparagus ; Amla ; Bamboo manna ; Blue Egyptian water lily (Makhana) ; Cardamom ; Chebulic myrobalan ; Chinese cinnamon ; Cinnamon bark ; Clove ; Indian rose chestnut ; Country mallow ; Feather foil plant (Bhumiamalaki) ; Galls ; Ghee ; Giant potato ; Giloy (Guduch) ; Honey ; Indian kudzu ; Irish root ; Liquorice ; Long pepper (Piper longum) ; Malabar nut (Seed of Adhatoda vasica) ; Nut grass ; Potassium sorbate ; Raisins ; Round zedoary ; Sandalwood ; Sesame oil ; Spreading hogweed ; Sugar ; Tiger's claw or Ice plant ; Wild black gram ; Wild green gram 

Chyawanprash tastes sweet and sour at the same time. The taste is largely dominated by the flavors of honey, ghee (clarified butter) and amla and the smell by ghee and other spices including sandalwood, cinnamon and cardamom. Its appearance resembles semi-molten tar - a thick dark brown paste.

Ayurvedic jams are often used as anupans (carriers) for other herbs, but they can also be used on their own and frequently are—especially as rejuvenatives and aphrodisiacs. 

The Ayurvedic jam known as chyawanprash is made with a base of amalaki fruits (Emblica officinalis) and typically contains a number of other herbs, ghee, sesame oil, sugar, and/or honey. The honey, ghee, and sesame oil serve as yogavahis (catalytic agents) to carry the herbs deep into the tissues, while the sugar is considered a samvahaka dravya (preservative substance) which helps to safeguard the clinical efficacy of the main ingredient, in this case amalaki.

Amalaki, also known as amla, is renowned for its rich antioxidant content and is generally known to contain vitamin C. Some even say that amalaki has one of the highest known concentrations of vitamin C in the plant kingdom. 

More importantly, the vitamin C frequently contained in the amalaki fruit is stabilized by the presence of tannins, which help to preserve the vitamin content, even through processing. This is particularly relevant in a preparation such as chyawanprash, which requires extensive cooking.

Benefits of Chyawanprash :--

Chyawanprash is a general health supplement and is among the best known Ayurvedic Medicine. It helps fight day to day ailments such as cough and cold. However, it is recommended to take precautions for diabetics, as percentage of sugar may vary from 66% to 87%, depending on chyawanprash, from one manufacturer to another. It's a good source of antioxidants.

Some benefits of Chyawanprash are:

·        Rejuvenates all tissues in the body

·        Supports overall strength and energy

·        Promotes muscle mass

·        Builds ojas for supporting a healthy immune response and youthfulness

·        Supports healthy function of the heart and respiratory systems

·        Tonifies the reproductive system

·        Kindles agni (digestive fire)

·        Gently encourages elimination

·        Supports optimal urinary health

• Chyawanprash for Supporting Overall Strength, Immunity, and Rejuvenation

The primary action of chyawanprash is to bolster the immune system and to support the body’s natural ability to produce hemoglobin and white blood cells. Amalaki (the main ingredient in chyawanprash) aids in the elimination of ama (toxins) and supports the blood, the liver, the spleen, and the respiratory system; it therefore nourishes and protects the body’s natural defense systems. 

Chyawanprash also builds ojas—the essence of immunity and youthfulness—and lends strength to vata, while supporting healthy muscle mass and tonifying the tissues. 

Chyawanprash is particularly good for the lungs because it nourishes the mucous membranes and helps to keep the respiratory passages clean and clear. 

In fact, chyawanprash is often used as a tonic in the winter months, as an added support for the immune system. Ultimately, chyawanprash improves natural resistance and lends strength, energy, and vitality to the entire being. As a result, it is a highly revered rasayana, offering deep nourishment to the tissues, preserving youth, and promoting systemic health and well-being. It is also considered one of the best family tonics—suitable for most ages, from young children to the elderly.

• Chyawanprash for Digestion

It is not surprising that chyawanprash is very supportive of strong digestion because, on a systemic level, strength and immunity both begin with healthy agni. In Ayurveda, digestion is thought to be initiated with the experience of taste, and chyawanprash contains five of the six tastes—lacking only the salty taste. Further, chyawanprash kindles agni without aggravating pitta. It is also an effective carminative (for the healthy movement of gases through the digestive system), it supports regular elimination, and it fosters healthy blood glucose and cholesterol levels when they are already in normal range. Overall, the jam is both stimulating and tonifying to the GI tract, supporting proper metabolism as a whole.

• Chyawanprash for the Reproductive System

According to legend, chyawanprash was originally formulated to restore virility to the elderly sage, Chyawan, so that he could satisfy his young bride. This being the case, chyawanprash was concocted with the intention of nourishing and revitalizing the reproductive tissues. It is used as a tonic to replenish the reproductive system and prevent loss of vital energies in times of sexual activity. In more general terms, chyawanprash supports fertility, healthy libido, and builds overall sexual strength in both men and women.