Swarasa – Fresh Juice Extracts of Herbs

Article by Dr.B.K.Prashanth M.D (Ayu), Ph.D
The word Swarasa denotes fresh extract of the herb, in liquid form. It can be from any part of the plant like fruit, leaf, flower, roots etc. Acharya Charaka has also said that any juice extracted from part of the plant using any mechanical force is called Swarasa.

рдпрдиреНрддреНрд░ рдирд┐рд╖реНрдкреАрдбрд┐рддрд╛рддреН рджреНрд░рд╡реНрдпрд╛рддреН рд░рд╕рдГ рд╕реНрд╡рд░рд╕ рдЙрдЪреНрдпрддреЗ ред Charaka Samhita Sutrasthana 4/7

Also Acharya Charaka has told that the juice of a plant can be obtained by cutting or tapping the root of a big tree and collecting the liquid oozing out of it.

Ayurvedic dosage forms

There are five basic dosage forms as per Ayurveda.
swarasa (juice),
kalka(paste),
kwatha (decoction),
hima(cold infusion) and
phanta (hot infusion).
Swarasa is also considered as the most guru (heavy) for digestion among all the panchavidha kashaya kalpana, as per Chraka.

Swrasa - juice smoothie

Acharya Sharangadhara has explained the concept of swarasa in detail. His explanation about different types to prepare swarasa gives a broader meaning to the word swarasa. He has told 4 different methods.

Swarasa preparation methods

1st method of making Swarasa
Fresh part of the plant, devoid of any disease, infestation is collected.
It is crushed using mechanical force like pestle and mortar or the juicer of present day.
The extracted juice is filtered using a clean cloth or sieve. Example- juice from tulasi (Ocimum sanctum Linn.), ardraka (Zingiber officinale Roxb.)
рдЖрд╣рддрд╛рддреНрддрддреНрдХреНрд╖рдгрд╛рдХреГрд╖реНрдЯрд╛рджреН рджреНрд░рд╡реНрдпрд╛рддреНрдХреНрд╖реБрдгреНрдгрд╛рддреН рд╕рдореБрджреНрдзрд░реЗрддреН ред
рд╡рд╕реНрддреНрд░ рдирд┐рд╖реНрдкреАрдбрд┐рддреЛ рдпрдГ рд╕ рд░рд╕рдГ рд╕реНрд╡рд░рд╕ рдЙрдЪреНрдпрддреЗ рее Sharangdhara Samhita Madhyama Khanda, 1/2  

рд╕рджреНрдп: рд╕рдореБрджреНтАМрдзреГрддрд╛рддреН рдХреНрд╖реБрдгреНрдгрд╛рджреН рдпрдГ рд╕реНрд░рд╡реЗрддреН рдкрдЯрдкреАрдбрд┐рддрд╛рддреН ред
рд╕реНрд╡рд░рд╕рдГ рд╕ рд╕рдореБрджреНрджрд┐рд╖реНрдЯ: рее рдЕрд╖реНрдЯрд╛рдВрдЧ рд╣реГрджрдп рдХрд▓реНрдкрдирд╛ рем.реп
рдпрд╕реНрдорд┐рдиреН рджрд┐рдиреЗ рд╕рдореБрджреНтАМрдзреГрддрдВ  рддрд╕реНрдорд┐рдиреНрдиреЗрд╡ рджрд┐рдиреЗ рдкреНрд░рдХреНрд╖рд╛рд▓реНрдп
рдХреНрд╖реБрдгреНрдгрдВ рдкреАрдбрд┐рддрдЮреНрдЪ рдпрджреНрджреНрд░рд╡реНрдпрдВ рддрд╕реНрдп рд░рд╕рдГ рд╕реНрд╡рд░рд╕рдГ ред рдЗрддрд┐  (рд╣реЗрдорд╛рджреНрд░рд┐)
Whichever the day, the fresh herbs are collected, on the same day, the fresh juice from them has to be extracted.
Kshunnat тАУ pounding / grinding
Vastra Nishpeedita тАУ filtered with force, with a clean cloth

2nd method of Swarasa preparation:
In case of part of plant which is soft and dry in nature, the part should be crushed and soaked in twice the amount of water overnight. Next morning the plant is macerated and filtered using a cloth. Example- extract of dhanyaka beeja (seeds of Coriandrum sativum Linn.)
рдХреБрдбрд╡рдВ рдЪреВрд░реНрдгрд┐рддрдВ рджреНрд░рд╡реНрдпрдореН рдХреНрд╖рд┐рдкреНрддрдВ рдЪ рджреНрд╡рд┐рдЧреБрдгреЗ рдЬрд▓реЗ ред
рдЕрд╣реЛрд░рд╛рддреНрд░рдВ рд╕реНрдерд┐рддрдВ рддрд╕реНрдорд╛рджреНрднрд╡реЗрджреНрд╡рд╛ рд░рд╕ рдЙрддреНрддрдордГ рее Sharangdhara Samhita Madhyama Khanda, 1/3  

 3rd method of juice extraction:
In case of a dry part
of the plant where extracting the fresh juice is difficult, the plant is crushed and added with 8 parts of water. Then the mixture is taken in a vessel, boiled and reduced to 1/4th of the original quantity and filtered using a cloth.  Example- extract from Ashoka bark (Saraca asoca Roxb.)
рдЖрджрд╛рдп рд╢реБрд╖реНрдХрджреНрд░рд╡реНрдпрдВ рд╡рд╛ рд╕реНрд╡рд░рд╕рд╛рдирд╛рдорд╕рдореНрднрд╡реЗ ред
рдЬрд▓реЗ рдЕрд╖реНрдЯрдЧреБрдгрд┐рддреЗ рд╕рд╛рдзреНрдпрдВ рдкрд╛рджрд╢рд┐рд╖реНрдЯрдВ рдЪ рдЧреГрд╣реНрдпрддреЗ рее Sharangdhara, Madhyamakhanda, 1/4.
рдЪреВрд░реНрдгрд╛рдирд╛рдВ рдЖрдврдХрдореБрджрдХрд╕реНрдпрд╛рд╣реЛрд░рд╛рддреНрд░рд╕реНрдерд┐рддрдВ рдореГрджрд┐рддрдкреВрддрдВ рд╕реНрд╡рд░рд╕рд╡рддреН рдкреНрд░рдпреЛрдЬреНрдпрдореН ред (рд╕реНрд╡рд░рд╕рд╛рдирд╛рдорд▓рд╛рднреЗ рддреНрд╡рдпрдВ рд╕реНрд╡рд░рд╕рд╡рд┐рдзрд┐: ред)
(рдЪ.рдЪрд┐.рез.реи.резреи)

4th method: Putapaka method:
This method is called as тАШputapakaтАЩ method. The method is followed where, even with the herb being fresh in nature, extracting the fresh juice in large quantity is difficult. The herb is cut into small pieces and covered with a big leaves of trees like
palasha (Butea monosperma Lin.),
Vata (- Banyan tree – Ficus bengalensis Linn.).

The idea behind selecting these leaves are that these leaves should sustain heat for duration of time without burning the herb inside. The leaves are tied with a thread and covered with a thick layer of clean mud. This is made into bolus shape. After drying this under sunlight completely, it is subjected to mild fire from all the sides till the ball turns to red hot. Then the bolus is left for cooling. Later the herb is collected from inside the bolus after breaking it open and the juice is extracted by pressing.

Putapaka method

Putapaka method in short –
The herb ->cut into small pieces -> covered with a big leaves of trees like palasha / banyan -> rolled into a ball, tied with threads, wrapped with mud layer (Multani mitti smeared on cloth). -> Dry -> burn -> take out the herbs -> squeeze -> juice extract.

рдкреБрдЯрдкрд╛рдХрд╕реНрдп рдХрд▓реНрдХрд╕реНрдп рд╕реНрд╡рд░рд╕реЛ рдЧреГрд╣реНрдпрддреЗ рдпрддрдГред
рдЕрддрд╕реНрддреБ рдкреБрдЯрдкрд╛рдХрд╛рдирд╛рдВ рдпреБрдХреНрддрд┐рд░рддреНрд░реЛрдЪреНрдпрддреЗ рдордпрд╛ рее
рдкреБрдЯрдкрд╛рдХрд╕реНрдп рдорд╛рддреНрд░реЗрдпрдВ рд▓реЗрдкрд╕реНрдпрд╛рдЩрд╛рд░рд╡рд░реНрдгрддрд╛ ред
рд▓реЗрдкрдВ рдЪ рджреНрд╡рдпрдВрдЧреБрд▓рдВ рд╕реНрдереВрд▓рдВ рдХреБрд░реНрдпрд╛рджрдВрдЧреБрд╖реНрдЯ рдорд╛рддреНрд░рдХрдореН рее
рдХрд╛рд╢реНрдорд░реА рд╡рдЯрдЬрдореНрдмреНрд╡рд╛рджрд┐ рдкрддреНрд░реИрд░реНрд╡реЗрд╖реНрдЯрдирдореБрддреНрддрдордореН ред
рдкрд▓рдорд╛рддреНрд░рдВ рд░рд╕реЛ рдЧреНрд░рд╛рд╣реНрдпрдГ рдХрд░реНрд╖рдорд╛рддреНрд░рдВ рдордзреБ рдХреНрд╖рд┐рдкреЗрддреН рее
рдХрд▓реНрдХрдЪреВрд░реНрдг рджреНрд░рд╡рд╛рджреНрдпрд╛рд╕реНрддреБ рджреЗрдпрд╛рдГ рд╕реНрд╡рд░рд╕рд╡рджреНрдмреБрджреИрдГ рее (рд╡реИрджреНрдпрдХ рдкрд░рд┐.рдкреНрд░.)

рджреНрд░рд╡реНрдпрдорд╛рд░реНрджреНрд░рдВ  рд╢рд┐рд▓рд╛рдкрд┐рд╖реНрдЯрдВ  рд╢реБрд╖реНрдХрдВ рд╡рд╛ рд╕рдЬрд▓рдореН рддрддрдГ ред
рдЧреЛрд▓рдВ рд╡рд┐рдзрд╛рдп рд╡реГрдХреНрд╖рд╛рдгрд╛рдВ рдкрддреНрд░реИрд░рд╛рд╡реЗрдкреНрдЯрдпреЗрджреВ рджреГрдврдореНрее
рд╕реВрддреНрд░реЗрдг рдмрдзреНрд╡рд╛ рдЧреЛрдзреВрдордкрд┐рд╖реНрдЯреЗрди рдкрд░рд┐рд╡реЗрд╖реНрдЯрдпреЗрддреНтАМ ред
рддрдд рдЖрд░реНрджреНрд░рдореГрджрд╛рд▓рд┐рдкреНрддреНрд╡рд╛ рдЧреЛрдорд╛рдпрд╛рдЧреНрд░реМ рдкреНрд░рддрд╛рдкрдпреЗрддреНтАМ рее
рдЕрдЩреНрдЧрд░рд╡рд░реНрдгрд╛ рдЪ рдореГрджрдВ рджреГрд╖реНрдЯреВрд╡рд╛ рд╡рд╣реНрд░реЗ рд╕рдореБрджреНрдзрд░реЗрддреНтАМ рее
рддрддреЛ рд░рд╕рдВ рд╡рд╕реНрддреНрд░рдкреВрддрдВ рдкреБрдЯрдкрд╛рдХрдВ рдкреНрд░рджрд╛рдкрдпреЗрддреН рее (рджреНрд░.рдЧреБ.рд╡рд┐., рд╢реНрд░реА рдпрд╛рджрд╡рдЬреА)

рдкреБрдЯреЗ рдкрдХреНрд╡рд╕реНрдп рджреНрд░рд╡реНрдпрд╕реНрдп рд╕реНрд╡рд░рд╕реЛ рдЧреГрд╣реНрдпрддреЗ рдпрдд: ред
рдЖрддреЛрд╜рдпрдВ рдкреБрдЯрдкрд╛рдХрдГ рд╕реНрдпрд╛рджреНтАМ рд╡рд┐рдзрд╛рдирдВ рддрд╕реНрдп рдХрдереНрдпрддреЗ рее  (рдкрд░рд┐. рдкреНрд░рджреАрдк)

Prakshepa Dravya

Prakshepa – extra ingredients added for enhanced benefits:
рдордзреБ рд╢реНтАНрд╡реЗрддрд╛рдЧреБрдбрдВ рдХреНрд╖рд╛рд░рд╛рдиреНтАМ рдЬреАрд░рдХрдВ рд▓рд╡рдгрдВ рддрдерд╛ ред
рдШреГрддрдВ рддреИрд▓рдВ рдЪ рдЪреВрд░реНрдгрд╛рджреАрдиреНтАМ рдХреЛрд▓рдорд╛рддреНрд░рдВ рд░рд╕реЗ рдХреНрд╖рд┐рдкреЗрддреН(рд╢рд╛.рд╕рдВ.рдо.рез.рем)
рдШреГрддрдВ рд╕рд┐рддрд╛рдВ рдХреНрд╖реМрджреНрд░рдВ рдХреЛрд▓рдорд╛рддреНрд░рдВ рд░рд╕реЗ рдХреНрд╖рд┐рдкреЗрддреНтАМред|
рд▓рд╡рдгрдХреНрд╖рд░рдЪреВрд░реНрдгрд╛рдирд┐ рдпреЛрдЧреНрдпрдорд╛рдирд╛рдирд┐ рджрд╛рдкрдпреЗрддреНтАМ рее(рд╢реНрд░реА рдпрд╛рджрд╡ рдЬреА)

Based on requirement, to the Swarasa, honey, white Jaggery, Kshara, cumin seed powder, black salt, ghee, oil or herbal powders can be added in a dose of 1 Kola – 6 grams.

Example of Putapaka Swarasa – Vasa (Adhatoda vasica)
рдкрд┐рд╖реНрдЯрд╛рдирд╛рдВ рд╡реГрд╖рдкрддреНрд░рд╛рдгрд╛рдВ рдкреБрдЯрдкрд╛рдХрд░рд╕реЛ рд╣рд┐рдордГ ред
рдордзреБрдпреБрдХреНрддреЛ рдЬрдпреЗрджреНрд░рдХреНрддрдкрд┐рддреНрддрдХрд╛рд╕рдЬреНрд╡рд░рдХреНрд╖рдпрд╛рдиреНтАМ рее (рд╢рд╛.рд╕рдВ.рдо.рдЦ)

The Putapaka Swarasa extracted from Vasa – Adhatoda Vasica, is adminsitered along with honey, is useful in the treatment of
Raktapitta – bleeding disorders
Kasa – cough, cold
Jwara – fever
Kshaya – emaciation, depletion of body tissues.

Analysis of different methods of Swarasa preparation:
By using the 1st method, the active principles can be obtained by extracting the juice of the plant. But in plants which are soft, the 2nd method is followed. Here, by soaking the plant in water overnight, the active ingredients which are in the part of the plant gets soaked in water. The next morning when the plant is macerated, the principle is released due to the mechanical force.

In dry herbs, since the above 2 methods are not sufficient to extract the principles, the 3rd method is followed. By boiling the part of the plant in water, it is exposed to a quantum of heat for a sufficient time, due to which the active principles are released into the water when the water is reduced. But precaution should be taken that plants having volatile principles are not subjected to this method as exposure to the heat may destroy the principles present. Examples- buds of lavanga – Clove (Syzygium aromaticum Linn.) should not be subjected for this method to extract active principles.

The 4th method is adopted when sufficient quantity of fresh juice cannot be extracted by mechanical force from a fresh plant. By putapaka method the plant becomes soft after exposure to heat and extracting the juice is comparatively easier.

The above methods give a clear indication that the word swarasa is not only fresh juice of a plant but also the extraction of the active principles into liquid media like water.

Dose, Uses

Dose:
24 ml of juice which are extracted by the 1st and 2nd method as they are guru (heavy) for digestion.
48 ml of juice which are extracted after exposing to heat. (3rd and 4th method) as they are comparatively laghu (light) for digestion

Uses of swarasa: swarasa is used for many purposes in the field of ayurveda. Depending upon the herb from which it is prepared, based upon the disease in which it is given, based upon the preparation of a medicine like tablet etc. the uses varies.

  • As medicine. Example- Tulasi swarasa (juice of leaves of Ocimum sanctum Linn.)
  • As bhavana dravya. (Medium of binding agent and enhancing the property of the formulation). Example- during preparation of chitrakadi tablet, juice of dadima (pomegranate seed juice)
  • As Anupana (liquid media taken with medicine). Example- juice of ardraka (Zingiber officinale Roxb.) along with tablet tribhuvana keerti rasa.

The shelf life of swarasa is sadyo sevanath i.e. it should be consumed immediately after preparation.  It is spoiled if kept for more than 10-12 hours irrespective of the method used for the preparation.
Article by Dr.B.K.Prashanth M.D (Ayu), Ph.D ([email protected]) and Dr Hebbar

5 comments

  • Claudia

    Which are the five herbs that should be used only in the form of expressed juice? A collegue tell me tinospora cordifolia and adhatoda vasica but don’t remember others Thank you

    Reply
    • Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)Author

      I have not come across such a reference yet.
      Both tinospora and adhatoda are used in the form of kashaya as well. (as in case of panchatikta kashaya)

      Reply
  • harsha Vardhan

    Hai doctor
    I apply soak bringaraj Amla and other herbs to my scalp.
    Which is more potent, fresh bringaraj- amla juice or bring raj- Amla paste prepared from powders soaked in water overnight?
    By how much percentage one dosage form is more potent than other dosage form?

    Reply
    • Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)Author

      Hi, bring raj- Amla paste prepared from powders soaked in water is more potent, by around 30-40 %.

      Reply
  • Sherry Carpenter

    Hello Doctor,
    Is there a text or a book that you could refer me to that talks about the individual herbs that can be made into juice form? I am currently a student of Ayurveda. I would love to know more on the subject!
    Namaste,
    Sherry Carpenter

    Reply

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