Astavarga – An Eight Magical Herbs

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Astavarga herbs are also called as herbs of immortality. It is one of the main ingredients of Chawanprasha and other Ayurveda medicines. The Astavarga herbs found at the height of nearly 6000 feet mostly on Himalaya, Uttarakhand, and Jammu Kashmir region.

In India ancient days there are a lot of Ayurveda acharya, Rishis, named Rishi Bhardwaj, Dhanwantri, Surut, Charak,  Aswani Kumar, etc. Aswani Kumar who was known for using and introduce miracle herbs has seen an old, weak sage named rishi chayanam, so Aswani Kumar rishi decided to rejuvenate the body of chayanam rishi. For this, the Bhardwaj muni introduced chawanprash with Astavarga herb. and using chawanprash the body of rishi chayanam restored to young and rejuvenated. There was a book named Paryayaratnamala an ancient book that provides good information on Astavarga Plants.

So the Astavarga means Astha – Eight and Varga _ group combination of eight herbs. These herbs have very good health-restoring properties and rejuvenating effects. It is well effective in increasing the immune system and works as antioxidants. It cures all three doshas Vatta, pitta, and Kapha. It is also effective in blood disorders.

Ingredients of Astavarga:-

1:- Kakoli - Roscoea purpurea

Properties: Sweet in taste, cold in potency, pacifies Vata and pitta. having Cooling and spermophytic effects.

2:- Kshirakakoli - Lilium podophyllum

Properties: Sweet in taste, cold in potency, pacifies Vata and pitta. having Cooling and spermophytic effects

3:- Jeevak – Malaxis Acuminata

Properties: Sweet in taste, cold in potency, pacifies Vata and aggravates Kapha. having cooling, febrifuge, and spermophytic.

4:- Rishabhka - Malaxis Muscifera

Properties: Sweet in taste, cold in potency, pacifies Vata and aggravates Kapha. having cooling, febrifuge, and spermophytic.

5:- Meda – Polygonatum verticillatum

Properties: Sweet in taste, cold in potency, pacifies Vata and pitta. having Cooling and spermophytic.

6:- Mahameda – Polygonatum Cirrhifolium

Properties: Sweet in taste, pacifies pitta and aggravates Kapha. having cooling, febrifuge, and spermophytic.

7:- Riddhi – Habenaria intermedia

Properties: Sweet in taste and pacifies Vata and pitta but aggravates Kapha. having Cooling and spermophytic. It is used in blood diseases

8:- Vriddhi – Edgewort`s Habenaria

Properties: Sweet in taste and pacifies Vata and pitta but aggravates Kapha. having Cooling and spermophytic. It is used in blood diseases

As these Astavarga herbs are rarely available in the market so there are substitutes of above plants also given by Ayurveda acharya

1:-  Kakoli  can be substituted by Ashwagandha with Kali Musli

2:- Kshirakakoli can be substituted by Ashwagandha with safed musli

3:- Jeevak can be substituted by Vidarikand ( Pueraria tuberose) with safed Behen and guruchi.

4:- Rishabhka can be substituted by Vidarikand ( Pueraria tuberose) with lal behen

5:- Meda can be substituted by Shatavari with Salam mishri

6:- Mahameda can be substituted by Shatavari with Nagbala (Sida veroniciflolia), Prasarani (Paederia Foetida) and Shakakul mishri (Polygonatum multiflorum)

7:-Riddhi substitute herb will be Varahikand and Bala ( sida cordifolia)

8:- Vriddhi substituted herb will be Varahikand and Salam panja