The short answer
Lodhrasava (also written Rodhrasava) is a fermented medicine of lodhra bark and 29 other herbs, made from a decoction with honey. The Ayurvedic Formulary of India lists it for meha (urinary disorders), disorders of the uterus, anaemia, piles, skin disease including shvitra (white patches), obesity and weak digestion.
Like every asava it contains alcohol made during fermentation, and honey is its only sweetener, which matters if you have diabetes. The one study we found was done in a lab, where a simulated digest blocked two enzymes that break down starch. That does not show it lowers blood sugar in people. Tell your doctor you take it, especially if you take diabetes medicine or a medicine that should not be mixed with alcohol.
What is in it
The official recipe is in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, entry 1:30, as Rodhrasava (2003 printed edition, pages 19-20).[1]
| Ingredient | Botanical name | Part used | Proportion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rodhra (lodhra) | Symplocos racemosa | Stem bark | 12 g |
| Murva | Marsdenia tenacissima | Root | 12 g |
| Shathi (shati, kachur) | Hedychium spicatum | Rhizome | 12 g |
| Vella (vidanga) | Embelia ribes | Fruit | 12 g |
| Bharngi | Clerodendrum serratum | Root | 12 g |
| Nata (tagara) | Valeriana wallichii | Rhizome | 12 g |
| Nakha (vyaghranakha) | Unresolved (see note) | Fruit | 12 g |
| Plava (musta) | Cyperus rotundus | Rhizome | 12 g |
| Kalinga (kutaja) | Holarrhena antidysenterica | Seed | 12 g |
| Kushtha | Saussurea lappa | Root | 12 g |
| Kramuka (puga, areca nut) | Areca catechu | Seed | 12 g |
| Priyangu | Callicarpa macrophylla | Flower | 12 g |
| Ativisha | Aconitum heterophyllum | Root tuber | 12 g |
| Agni (chitraka) | Plumbago zeylanica | Root | 12 g |
| Vishala (rakta indravaruni) | Unresolved (see note) | Fruit | 12 g |
| Vishala (pita indravaruni) | Unresolved (see note) | Fruit | 12 g |
| Tvak (cinnamon) | Cinnamomum zeylanicum | Stem bark | 12 g |
| Ela (sukshmaila, cardamom) | Elettaria cardamomum | Seed | 12 g |
| Patra (tejapatra) | Cinnamomum tamala | Leaf | 12 g |
| Nagakeshara | Mesua ferrea | Stamen | 12 g |
| Bhunimba | Swertia chirata | Whole plant | 12 g |
| Katurohini (katuka, kutki) | Picrorhiza kurroa | Rhizome or root | 12 g |
| Yavani (ajwain) | Trachyspermum ammi | Fruit | 12 g |
| Paushkara (pushkara) | Inula racemosa | Root | 12 g |
| Patha | Cissampelos pareira | Root | 12 g |
| Granthi | Leonotis nepetaefolia | Root | 12 g |
| Chavya | Piper chaba | Stem | 12 g |
| Haritaki (harad) | Terminalia chebula | Pericarp | 12 g |
| Bibhitaka (baheda) | Terminalia bellirica | Pericarp | 12 g |
| Amalaki (amla) | Emblica officinalis | Pericarp | 12 g |
| Water for decoction | - | - | 12.288 l, reduced to 3.072 l |
| Makshika (honey) | - | - | 1.536 kg |
Quantities for one batch, from the 2003 printed edition. Three botanical names are left open: the formulary's appendix lists nakha (vyaghranakha) only as an animal material although the recipe calls for a fruit, and it gives conflicting names for the two indravarunis. Products on sale may differ, so check the label.[1]
Classical source
The formulary takes the recipe from the Ashtanga Hridaya, Chikitsa Sthana, chapter 12, verses 24 to 26½. The verse opens with rodhra, murva, shathi, vella, bharngi, nata, nakha and plava.[1]
What it is used for
- The formulary lists it for meha (urinary disorders), garbhashaya roga (disorders of the uterus), pandu (anaemia), arsha (piles), shvitra (white patches on the skin), kushtha (skin disease) and kandu (itching).[1]
- It also lists aruchi (loss of taste), grahani (a long-standing digestive disorder), agnimandya (weak digestion), pliha (spleen disorders), krimi (worms) and sthaulya (obesity).[1]
What the evidence says
In vitroLaboratory study, 2017. Lodhrasava was put through a simulated digestion, and the digest blocked alpha-amylase by 90% and alpha-glucosidase by 78%, two enzymes that break down starch. It also held back fat-cell development in a cell line. No people or animals were tested, so this says nothing yet about blood sugar or weight in patients.[3]
Safety notes
- Contains alcohol. The formulary says asavas and arishtas ferment to generate alcohol, which also preserves them. This matters if you avoid alcohol or have liver disease. Tell your doctor about any other medicines you take. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your vaidya and your doctor before taking it.[2]
- We found no measurement of the alcohol in Lodhrasava itself. Twelve samples of three other arishtas made in Sri Lanka measured between 5.80 and 8.35% alcohol by volume.[4]
- Each batch is made with 1.536 kg of honey in about 3 litres of decoction. The formulary lists it for meha, but the honey still matters if you have diabetes.[1]
Who makes it
Sold in India by makers including Baidyanath. 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
Is Lodhrasava used for women's health?
The formulary lists garbhashaya roga, disorders of the uterus, among its uses. We found no trial of it in any women's health condition, so how well it works for periods, PCOS or other problems is not known.[1]
Related
Ashokarishta
A fermented ashoka bark liquid used for period pain and white discharge. It contains alcohol and jaggery, and has almost no testing of its own.
ConditionType 2 diabetes (sugar): what Ayurveda offers
Some herbs, such as methi and karela, lowered HbA1c a little in trials. Taken with diabetes medicines, they can add to the risk of low sugar.
FormulationPhala Ghrita
Ghee cooked with milk, 18 herbs and sugar, listed for infertility and for disorders in pregnancy and childhood. Only one small, uncontrolled study found.
FormulationKumaryasava
Fermented aloe vera juice with jaggery, honey and many herbs, listed for digestion and weakness. It contains iron and copper pyrite bhasmas and some alcohol.
Sources
- Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, 2nd revised English edition, 2003. Rodhrasava (synonym Lodhrasava), 1:30, printed pages 19-20.
- Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, 2nd revised English edition, 2003. Section 1, Asava and Arista, Definition, printed page 3.
- Butala MA, Kukkupuni SK, Vishnuprasad CN. Ayurvedic anti-diabetic formulation Lodhrasavam inhibits alpha-amylase, alpha-glucosidase and suppresses adipogenic activity in vitro. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2017;8:145-151. PMID 28668259.
- Fernando N, Pigera S, Rashani N, et al. Screening for performance enhancing substances and quantification of ethanol in different Arishta manufactured in Sri Lanka. Ceylon Med J. 2020;65(4):112-117. PMID 34825559.
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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