Your neighbour says Triphala helped her. Your cousin says Ashwagandha helped her sleep. Then you see an ad for some new jar on your phone. Soon there are four new bottles at home. And nobody knows which one is really working.
There is an easy way to stop this. Start with your health problem. Buy only for that problem.
Start With Your Main Health Problem
Pick one problem. Not five.
Most people come to Ayurveda with one clear problem. Gas after every meal. Waking up in the middle of the night. Knee pain while climbing stairs. Feeling very tired by the afternoon. Once you know your problem, you only need to look at a few products, not hundreds.
That is why it is better to shop by problem, not by brand. On BodyStop.in, each health problem has its own page. For example:
- Acidity or gas after meals? Go to Digestive Health.
- Sleep Support is for people who can't fall asleep, or who wake up again and again at night.
- If you feel tired even after rest, look at Energy & Stamina.
- Period problems and other women's health problems are in Women's Health.
Have two problems? Start with the one that troubles you more.
Two Kinds of Ayurvedic Medicine: Classical and Proprietary
Every Ayurvedic medicine in India is one of two kinds. It helps to know which kind you are buying.
A classical medicine has a fixed recipe. Every company has to follow the same recipe. Chandraprabha Vati and Ashokarishta are two examples. So Chandraprabha Vati from any company should have the same herbs in it. On the box, you may see a short code in brackets after the name, like [Bh.R.] or [AFI]. This code tells you which book the recipe comes from.
A proprietary medicine is a company's own mix. Only that company makes it, and it has its own name. These boxes often say "Ayurvedic Proprietary Medicine" on them.
Why is this important? In a classical medicine, the recipe is the same everywhere. So you only have to choose the company. In a proprietary medicine, you must read the list of ingredients. Two medicines for acidity can have very different herbs.
Do you see Rasa, Bhasma or Vati in a medicine's name? Read our simple guide to Rasa, Bhasma and Vati to learn what these words mean.
Choose a Form You Can Take Every Day
If you keep forgetting a medicine, it cannot help you. So think about your daily life before you choose.
- Churna is a powder. You mix it in warm water. It costs less. But the taste is strong, and you need a spoon every time. Easy at home. Not so easy at work.
- Vati means tablets. They are easy to carry, so they suit people who travel or work long hours.
- Asava and arishta are liquid medicines. Most people take them after meals, mixed with the same amount of water. They are made by keeping the mix in a closed pot for many days. This makes a little natural alcohol in them.
- Chyawanprash is like a thick jam. It is easy to eat, and most children like the taste.
- Oils are mostly for body massage. Drink an oil only if the box clearly says you can.
If you have diabetes, be careful. Many arishtas and jam-type medicines like Chyawanprash have jaggery or sugar in them. Read the ingredients, or buy a sugar-free one.
How to Check If an Ayurvedic Medicine Is Genuine
The law in India says what every Ayurvedic medicine box must show. This helps you. A real box always has these details. If one is missing, be careful.
Turn the box over and check for these things. The numbers match the picture below.
- The words "Ayurvedic Medicine"
- A licence number. It is often written as "Mfg. Lic. No." or "M.L."
- A batch number
- The date it was made, and the expiry date
- The name and full address of the company that made it
- The list of ingredients and how much of each is used. If the list is long, it may be on a paper inside the box. Some new boxes have a QR code for it.
- The MRP printed on the box itself. It should not be on a sticker stuck over an old price.
Does the box show an FSSAI number instead of a licence number? Then it is sold as a food supplement, not as a medicine. That is allowed. But you should know what you are buying.
Some boxes have this line in Hindi and English: "Caution: To be taken under medical supervision." You can see it at number 8 in the picture. It means you should take it only with a doctor's advice. The law asks for this line when a medicine has some strong ingredients, like metals. Do not start these medicines on your own. Ask a doctor how much to take and for how many days.
Still not sure about a box? Most big brands print a customer care number on it, like number 9 in the picture. Call them and tell them the batch number. They will tell you if the box is really from them.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
These are small mistakes. But they can stop a medicine from helping you.
Starting many medicines in the same week makes it hard to know what is working. If you feel better or worse, you will not know which medicine did it. Start with one. Add another after two or three weeks, and only if you need it.
Some people think that taking more will give faster results, but two tablets do not work twice as well as one. Medicines like Rasa and Bhasma can even harm you if you take too much. Always take the amount written on the box.
Buying two medicines for the same problem can mean you take a double amount without knowing it. For example, a churna for gas from one brand and a tablet for gas from another may have the same herbs in them. Before you buy a new one, compare the two ingredient lists.
Medicines also go bad when they are kept the wrong way. A wet spoon in a churna jar can make lumps and fungus. Tablets can turn soft in a hot, steamy kitchen. Close the lid tightly. Keep the jar away from the gas stove.
A Simple Daily Ayurvedic Routine for Beginners
You don't need many bottles. Choose from these three times of the day. Skip any that do not match your problem.
Morning. Take a spoon of Chyawanprash with warm milk. Many people take it for strength, mostly in winter. You can find more products like this in Immunity Booster.
With meals. Only if you have stomach problems. Avipattikar Churna is often used for acidity. Hingvastak Churna is used for gas and a heavy, full stomach. Some churnas are taken before food, and some with the first bite. Follow the time written on the box.
At night. Many people take Triphala Churna with warm water before bed. It is used when the stomach does not clear easily in the morning. Had a stressful day? Ashwagandha tablets at night are a popular choice to calm the mind. Studies show that when people take Ashwagandha daily for a few weeks, their stress goes down and many of them sleep better. You can find more calming products in Stress & Anxiety.
When to Ask a Doctor First
You can start many simple herbal products on your own. But ask an Ayurvedic doctor first if:
- You are pregnant or feeding a baby.
- The medicine is for a small child.
- You already take daily tablets for BP, sugar, thyroid or blood thinning.
- You have kidney or liver problems.
- You have a surgery in the next few weeks.
Some health problems need a doctor, not a medicine from a shop. Blood in stool or urine. Chest pain. Losing weight without any reason. Fever for more than three days. For these, see a doctor quickly.
