The Ayurveda Experience Blog
Mahasudarshan churna (mahasudarshan powder) and mahasudarshan ghan vati are popular Ayurvedic formulations. Let’s take a look at their benefits and uses in Ayurveda.
Both of these formulations are primarily used for treating various types of fevers.
Mahasudarshan churna is simply a powdered formulation of the mahasudarshani preparation.
In classical Ayurvedic texts, this formulation is called sudarshan churna. Commercially, this formulation is known as mahasudarshan churna.
Other Ayurvedic texts like Ras Tantra Saar and Sidh Prayog Sangrah also mention sudarshan churna as mahasudarshan churna.
While many brands market sudarshan churna as mahasudarshan churna, the ingredients of both formulations are identical. The Hindi word maha means ‘great’ or ‘big’.
Since sudarshan churna was known to have many benefits and uses, the word ‘maha’ was added to its name to signify its importance in the Ayurvedic system of medicine.
Therefore, the name mahasudarshan churna has become more popular in recent times than the formulation’s actual Sanskrit name.
Properties of Mahasudarshan Churna
Mahasudarshan churna is a mixture of various herbs. The tablet form of mahasudarshan churna is called mahasudarshan ghan vati.
Classical Ayurvedic texts, however, exclusively mention the uses and benefits of the powdered form (mahasudarshan churna).
Mahasudarshan powder is bitter in taste and some may find it difficult to consume directly. People who cannot tolerate the taste can opt for the tablets after discussing it with their Ayurvedic practitioner.
The mahasudarshan tablet (vati), is easily palatable compared to the mahasudarshan powder.
One should note that the powdered form has better absorption rates than the tablet which is why many Ayurvedic practitioners prefer mahasudarshan churna over mahasudarshan vati (tablet).
This, however, does not mean that mahasudarshan tablets are ineffective. This point is mentioned here just to explain why some Ayurvedic practitioners prefer the powdered form over the tablets.
Mahasudarshan Ingredients 1
- Triphala is a traditional Ayurvedic formulation consisting of three fruits in equal amounts.
- Haridra or Curcuma longa (haldi)
- Daruharidra or Berberis aristata
- Brihati or Solanum indicum
- Kantakari or Solanum surattense
- Shati or Hedychium spicatum
- Trikatu
- Pippali mool or root of Piper longum
- Giloy or Tinospora cordifolia
- Dhamasa or Fagonia cretica
- Kutki or Picrorhiza kurroa
- Pitta papra or Fumaria officinalis
- Musta or Cyperus rotundus
- Trayamana or Gentiana kurroo
- Netrabala or Pavonia odorata
- Nimba or Azadirachta indica
- Pushkarmool or Inula racemosa
- Mulethi (licorice) or Glycyrrhiza glabra
- Vatsak or bark of Holarrhena antidysenterica
- Yavani (ajwain) or Trachyspermum ammi
- Indra yava or seeds of Holarrhena antidysenterica
- Bharangi or Clerodendrum serratum
- Shigru beej or Moringa oleifera
- Saurashtra (fuli fitkari) or aluminum sulfate
- Vacha or Acorus calamus
- Dalchini or Cinnamomum zeylanicum
- Padamak kaath or Prunus puddum
- Usheera or Vetiveria zizanioides
- Chandana or Santalum album
- Ativisha or Aconitum heterophyllum
- Bala or Sida cordifolia
- Shalparni or Desmodium gangeticum
- Prishniparni or Uraria picta
- Vidanga or Embelia ribes
- Tagar or Valeriana wallichii
- Chitrak or Plumbago zeylanica
- Devdaru or Cedrus deodara
- Chavya or Piper retrofractum
- Parval patra or Trichosanthes dioica
- Jeevak or Malaxis acuminta
- Rishabhaka or Microstylis muscifera
- Lavang or Syzygium aromaticum
- Vansh lochan or Bamboo manna
- Kamal or Nelumbo nucifera
- Kakoli or Roscoea procera
- Tej patra or Cinnamomum tamala
- Javitri or Myristica fragrans
- Talis patra or Abies webbiana
All the above-mentioned ingredients are ground into a fine powder and mixed with powdered kiratatikta or Swertia chirata. The resulting powder is sudarshan churna or mahasudarshan powder.
Benefits and Uses of Mahasudarshan Churna 2
- Mahasudarshan powder pacifies all three doshas.
- It is useful in relieving fevers caused by a single dosha, two doshas, or other external causes.
- It is useful in relieving fevers that occur when all three doshas are out of equilibrium.
- It is useful in fevers which affect ras and other dhatus (dhatus are the bodily tissues in Ayurveda).
- It is useful in visham javar. These are fevers caused by weather changes.
- It is helpful in fever due to psychiatric and psychological problems.
Fever, according to Ayurveda, may manifest in the body (deha) or the mind (manas). - It is useful for fevers that are accompanied by cough and cold.
- It is useful in ekahik javar or fevers which occur daily.
- It is helpful in tandra or compromised mental functioning.
- It is helpful in bhrama or vertigo.
- It is useful in quenching excessive thirst.
- It is useful for asthma and chronic respiratory problems.
- It is useful in anemia.
- It helps with jaundice.
- It relieves pain when localized in the sternum, back, and knees.
Clinical Research on Mahasudarshan Churna
Clinical studies have demonstrated that mahasudarshan churna is an excellent remedy for the complications associated with fever, liver enlargement, spleen, fatigue, and nausea.2
Kutaja or Holarrhena antidysenterica, an ingredient in mahasudarshan churna has shown antibacterial activity against S. aureus, S. flexneri, S. typhosa, B. subtilis.2
Studies have indicated the antibacterial potential of mahasudarshan churna against pathogens like S. typhi, S. epidermidis, E. coli, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, P. vulgaris and P. aeruginosa.
Mahasudarshan churna is helpful in controlling infectious diseases such as typhoid fever, intestinal infection, urinary tract infections, and respiratory infections which are associated with the above-mentioned bacterial pathogens.2
Some clinical studies have demonstrated the antioxidant potential of mahasudarshan churna.
These studies have shown how it can be a useful therapeutic agent for the diseases associated with oxidative stress.3
Precautions, Possible Side Effects
In general, both the powdered and tablet formulations do not have any known side effects but should be avoided if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.
If you are taking any prescribed drugs then you should discuss it with your Ayurvedic practitioner and general physician before using mahasudarshan powder or mahasudarshan tablet (vati).
Pregnant and breastfeeding women should consult their Ayurvedic practitioner before use.
It is safe for use in children however, the dosages should be decided by a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner or health care provider only.
It is always advised to take mahasudarshan powder and mahasudarshan tablet (ghan vati) under the strict supervision of a qualified Ayurveda practitioner.
References
- Sharangadhara Samhita with hindi commentary, madhyam khanda, 6/27-36, p.no.177, by Dr. Brahmanand Tripathi, Chaukhamba surbharti prakashan, 2010.
- D.H. Tambekar and S.B.Dahikar. “Antibacterial activity of some Indian Ayurvedic preparations against enteric bacterial pathogens”. 2011 Jan-Mar https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3217688/.
- Weerakoon, Weerakoon Achchige Selvi Saroja et al. “Evaluation of the In Vitro and In Vivo Antioxidant Potentials of Sudarshana Powder” Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine: eCAM vol. 2018 6743862. 10 Apr. 2018, DOI:10.1155/2018/6743862.
