The short answer
Arogyavardhini Vati contains mercury. The official recipe combines purified mercury (parada) and sulphur with bhasmas, the calcined ashes of iron, mica and copper. To these it adds triphala, shilajit, guggulu, castor root and a large share of katuki, all ground in neem leaf juice. The formulary lists it for chronic fever, skin disease, liver disorders and disorders of body fat.
A Baidyanath pack bought online for a 2008 US study held 13,050 micrograms of mercury and 125 of lead per gram. In two rat studies, mercury built up in the kidneys, and in one also in the brain and liver. The studies of the tablet itself that we found were in animals. Indian law requires mercury medicines to be labelled 'to be taken under medical supervision'.
What is in it
The official recipe is in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I (2003), entry 20:4 Arogyavardhini Gutika, printed page 258.[1]
| Ingredient | Botanical name | Part used | Proportion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rasa (parada, mercury) | - | Purified | 1 part |
| Gandhaka (sulphur) | - | Purified | 1 part |
| Lauha (iron) | - | Bhasma (calcined ash) | 1 part |
| Abhraka (mica) | - | Bhasma (calcined ash) | 1 part |
| Sulva (tamra, copper) | - | Bhasma (calcined ash) | 1 part |
| Haritaki | Terminalia chebula | Pericarp | 2 parts |
| Bibhitaka | Terminalia bellirica | Pericarp | 2 parts |
| Amalaki (amla) | Emblica officinalis | Pericarp | 2 parts |
| Shilajatu (shilajit) | - | Purified | 3 parts |
| Pura (guggulu) | Commiphora wightii | Exudate, purified | 4 parts |
| Citra (eranda, castor) | Ricinus communis | Root | 4 parts |
| Tikta (katuki) | Picrorhiza kurroa | Root or rhizome | 22 parts |
| Nimba (neem) leaf juice | Azadirachta indica | Leaf | As needed, for two days of grinding |
Parts by weight, from the printed 2003 edition. The printed page names Citra as eranda (castor), not citraka. Makers' recipes can differ, so check the label.[1]
Classical source
The formulary takes the recipe from the Rasaratnasamuccaya, Visarpadi Cikitsa, chapter 20, verses 106 to 108.[1]
What it is used for
- The formulary lists it for jirnajvara (chronic fever), medodosha (disorders of body fat), kushtha (skin diseases) and yakritvikara (liver disorders).[1]
What the evidence says
AnimalRats were given Arogyavardhini Vati at three dose levels for 28 days and compared with rats given mercuric chloride or saline. Mercury rose in the brain, liver and kidney, although the function tests and tissue checks the study used showed no clear damage. Twenty-eight days in rats says nothing about long-term use in people.[5]
AnimalRats with chemically induced long-term liver damage were treated and checked after eight weeks. Mercury built up in the kidney but not in the brain or liver, and copper did not build up significantly. Liver tests and tissue findings did not get worse. The authors read this as no meaningful toxicity; a rat study cannot show that for people.[6]
Safety notes
- Contains purified mercury (parada) and sulphur, with ashes of iron, mica and copper. This is the recipe, not contamination.[1]
- Parada is on Schedule E(1) of the Drugs Rules, the list of poisonous substances in Ayurvedic medicine. Packs must carry the words 'Caution: to be taken under medical supervision' in English and Hindi.[2]
- In a 2008 US study of medicines bought online, a Baidyanath Arogyavardhini Bati sample held 13,050 micrograms of mercury per gram (about 1.3% by weight) and 125 micrograms of lead per gram. This was one product tested years ago, not every maker or batch.[3]
- The US FDA's Import Alert 99-42, on Ayurvedic products with heavy metals, lists Baidyanath brand Arogyavardhini Bati under AllAyurveda.com, an online seller in Kolkata.[4]
- Guggulu and shilajit, both in the recipe, have their own interaction pages. See Guggulu and blood thinners, Guggulu and thyroid medicines, and Shilajit and diabetes medicines.
Who makes it
Sold in India by makers including Baidyanath, Patanjali (Divya). We list names so you can match your bottle to this page. We do not recommend or sell any brand.
Withheld until review
Questions people ask
Does every brand of Arogyavardhini Vati contain mercury?
Any product made to the official recipe does, because purified mercury is one of its ingredients. The 2008 test and the FDA alert name one Baidyanath product, so they tell you nothing about other makers' batches. Read the ingredient list on your pack.[1][3][4]
Is Arogyavardhini Vati used for fatty liver or liver problems?
The formulary lists it for liver disorders (yakritvikara). We found no trial of it in people with liver disease. The rat study assessed mercury distribution and biochemical and tissue findings; it cannot establish benefit in people with liver disease.[1][6]
Related
Hridayarnava Rasa
A rasa medicine of mercury, sulphur and copper ash, listed for heart disease. We found no study in people, only a batch analysis and a mouse study.
FormulationChandraprabha Vati
A classical tablet used for urinary complaints. It is not purely herbal: it contains iron and copper pyrite ashes, camphor, sugar and danti.
InteractionGuggulu and blood thinners (warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel)
Lab studies suggest guggul speeds up a liver enzyme that helps clear warfarin. Which way the INR would move is not known, and no study tested the pair.
InteractionShilajit and metformin
Not studied in people. We found no human study of shilajit with metformin, and the one rat study could not be checked. Shilajit quality also varies.
Sources
- Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, 2nd revised English edition, 2003. Arogyavardhini Gutika, 20:4, printed page 258.
- Central Drugs Standard Control Organization. The Drugs Rules, 1945 (2022 compilation). Rule 161(2) and Schedule E(1), list of poisonous substances under the Ayurvedic system, which includes Parada.
- Saper RB, Phillips RS, Sehgal A, et al. Lead, mercury, and arsenic in US- and Indian-manufactured Ayurvedic medicines sold via the Internet. JAMA. 2008;300(8):915-23. PMID 18728265.
- US Food and Drug Administration. Import Alert 99-42, entry for AllAyurveda.com (Pvt) Ltd, Kolkata: Baidyanath brand Arogyavardhini Bati (entries dated 1 April 2021).
- Kumar G, Srivastava A, Sharma SK, Gupta YK. Safety evaluation of an Ayurvedic medicine, Arogyavardhini vati on brain, liver and kidney in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2012;140(1):151-60. PMID 22265750.
- Jamadagni S, Jamadagni P, Angom B, et al. Tissue distribution of mercury and copper after Aarogyavardhini Vati treatment in rat model of CCl4 induced chronic hepatotoxicity. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2020;11(4):508-514. PMID 32035767.
Awaiting review by The Good Vaidya Medical Board. Prepared from the sources below and checked against each one.
Published 4 November 2026 · Last updated 4 November 2026
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