Yakrit Shulavinashini Vatika – Ingredients, Preparation, Medicinal Properties, Indications & Dosage

Classical Reference : A.F.I. Part 1 – 12:24 (Bhaishajya Ratnavali, Pliha-Yakrit Rogadhikara, verse 62–63)

Abstract

Liver disorders surge globally, driven by toxin accumulation, viral hepatitis, NAFLD, and vitiated pitta-rakta, yet Ayurveda provides holistic restoration through hepatoprotection, cholagogue action, and rasayana therapy. Ayurveda links yakrit shula (liver pain) and pliha roga (spleen disorder) to aggravated pitta-vata, ama (toxin)- related obstruction, and rakta dushti, progressing from jaundice and splenomegaly to chronic fatigue, ascites (jalodara), and digestive collapse amid lifestyle toxins and metabolic stress. Hepatocyte damage and vata-pitta imbalance trigger inflammation, pain, and debility, especially in metabolic syndrome, echoing modern liver diseases with oxidative stress. Yakrit Shulavinashini Vatika, a potent herbo-mineral vati from ancient Ayurveda texts, halts this cascade. Let’s explore this formulation.

Introduction

Yakrit Shulavinashini Vatika is a classical herbo-mineral formulation cited in Bhaishajya Ratnavali for managing Pitta-Vata imbalances in liver and spleen disorders. The name “Yakrit Shulavinashini Vatika” signifies its prowess in annihilating liver pain (yakrit shula) and restoring hepatic harmony, emphasizing its deep-acting hepatoprotective and cholagogue qualities. It is used in conditions like liver disorder, splenomegaly with ascites, and abdominal tumours, providing both palliative and curative effects. The formulation exhibits Pitta-Vata pacification, digestive stimulation, and tissue rejuvenation properties, acting on Yakrit-Pliha Srotas (hepato-splenic channels), Raktavaha Srotas (blood channels), and Purishavaha Srotas (microchannels associated with formation and excretion of the faeces). By alleviating inflammation, jaundice, splenomegaly, abdominal distension, and ama accumulation, Yakrit Shulavinashini Vatika helps restore digestive fire, strengthens liver tissues, and enhances vitality, making it a trusted remedy for chronic hepatic and abdominal disorders.

Classical Indication

Yakrit shula (Liver pain).

Ingredients

नरसारं कर्षमात्रं सैन्धवञ्च द्विकर्षकम् ।
कोकिलाक्षोद्भवं बीजं त्वचं रोहितकस्य च ॥ ६२ ॥

यमानी चित्रकञ्चापि दशकार्षप्रमाणकम् ।
सम्मर्द्य बदरारस्यां वटकाः पूतिकाम्बुना ॥ ६३ ॥ (Bhaishajya Ratnavali, Pliha-Yakrit Rogadhikara 62–63)

Narasara-shuddha (purified orpimentum) – 1 part
Saindhava Lavana (rock salt) – 2 parts
Kokilaksha beeja (Asteracantha longifolia seeds) – 10 parts
Rohitaka tvak (Tecomella undulata stem bark) – 10 parts
Yavani (Trachyspermum ammi fruits) – 10 parts
Chitraka mula (Plumbago zeylanica roots) – 10 parts
Putikambu (Holoptelea integrifolia leaves)- Q.S. for trituration

Ingredient Description

Narasara-shuddha (Purified Orpimentum)

Narasara-shuddha (Purified Orpimentum) powerfully balances pitta-vata doshas in hepatic and splenic channels to annihilate liver pain, jaundice, and splenomegaly. As a potent mineral catalyst in controlled purified form, it drives hepatoprotection, promotes cholagogue action for bile flow, repairs damaged hepatocytes while shattering ama-obstructed pitta channels. This rejuvenative agent kindles digestive fire, clears deep-seated toxins from blood and adipose tissues, regulates inflammatory cytokines disrupted in NAFLD, and provides profound stability to yakrit-pliha srotas (hepatosplenic channels), making it ideal for hepatomegaly, chronic fatigue, abdominal distension, ascites, and all pitta-vata aggravated liver disorders.

Saindhava Lavana (Rock Salt)

Saindhava Lavana (Rock Salt) powerfully ignites digestive fire and metabolic harmony in liver-spleen disorders to relieve pliho-dara (splenomegaly). As a penetrating saline carrier with light sharp qualities, it accelerates ama dissolution, delivers companion herbs deep into hepatic tissues, balances electrolyte flux in ascites, and curbs pitta inflammation at cellular level. Salt’s unique mineral profile fosters tissue detoxification, supports liver enzyme normalization, enhances absorption of hepatotonics essential for regeneration, and strengthens vascular integrity in portal hypertension, making it perfect for jaundice, digestive weakness, toxin-induced hepatotoxicity, and debilitating abdominal debility.

Kokilaksha Beeja (Asteracantha Longifolia Seeds)

Kokilaksha beeja (Asteracantha longifolia seeds) powerfully pacifies kapha-pitta in liver disorders to resolve hepatomegaly, jaundice, and urinary complications. As a diuretic hepatotonic with bitter cooling potency, it flushes ama-rakta toxins, regenerates liver parenchyma through antioxidant flavonoids, dissolves kapha obstructions in bile ducts, and restores fluid balance in pliho-dara. This rejuvenating herb enhances Kupffer cell function, balances lipid peroxidation in fatty liver, supports detoxification pathways, and invigorates mamsa-rakta dhatus (body tissues associated with muscles and blood), making it ideal for splenomegaly, chronic inflammation, fatigue from hepatic weakness, and all kapha-dominant liver-spleen pathologies.

Rohitaka Tvak (Tecomella Undulata Stem Bark)

Rohitaka Tvak (Tecomella Undulata Stem Bark) powerfully destroys pitta ama in liver disorders to eradicate pain in liver (yakrit shula), jaundice, and abdominal masses. As a prime antihepatotoxic with bitter astringent taste and light potency, it protects hepatocytes against viral toxins, exhibits silymarin-like membrane stabilization, inhibits lipid accumulation in NAFLD, and powerfully reduces portal inflammation. This cholagogue bark scrapes visceral fat, regulates ALT/AST elevation, promotes biliary drainage obstructed by kapha, and rejuvenates hepatic architecture, making it perfect for hepatosplenomegaly, ascites, alcoholic liver injury, digestive collapse, and pitta-aggravated abdominal crises.

Yavani (Trachyspermum Ammi)

Yavani (Trachyspermum ammi) powerfully kindles agni and dispels vata-kapha in abdominal disorders to relieve abdominal masses, distension, and hepatic indigestion. As a carminative penetrant with hot pungent potency, it breaks endotoxins adhesions in purishavaha srotas (microchannels associated with faeces), delivers antispasmodics deep into hepatic channels, dissolves gaseous obstructions causing pliho-dara (splenomegaly related) pain, and curbs microbial overgrowth complicating liver dysfunction. This digestive catalyst balances thymol-mediated anti-inflammatory pathways, enhances portal circulation, supports enzyme production for detoxification, and fortifies gut-liver axis, making it ideal for liver pain, chronic bloating, toxin-induced anorexia, and vata-pitta digestive debility.

Putikambu (Holoptelea Integrifolia Leaves)

Putikambu (Holoptelea Integrifolia Leaves) powerfully binds and levigates herbo-mineral potency in Yakrit Shulavinashini Vatika to enhance pill integrity while pacifying vata-kapha in hepato-abdominal disorders. As a versatile binder with astringent sticky qualities and moderate potency, it facilitates uniform drug release in yakrit-pliha srotas (hepato-splenic channels), seals therapeutic compounds against gastric degradation, dissolves kapha adhesions causing abdominal masses, and supports structural stability during trituration with Badara rasa. This Holoptelea integrifolia leaves preparation fosters deep microchannel penetration, balances mucilage-mediated detoxification in ascites, enhances co-herbs’ bioavailability for sustained hepatoprotection, and fortifies digestive mucosa against ama reinfiltration, making it perfect for maintaining formulation efficacy in chronic liver pain, splenomegaly, abdominal distension, digestive collapse, and all vata-dominant hepatic instabilities requiring prolonged therapeutic stability.

Chitraka Mula (Plumbago Zeylanica Roots)

Chitraka Mula (Plumbago Zeylanica Roots) powerfully incinerates ama-kapha in hepato-abdominal disorders to shatter abdominal masses, restore digestive fire, and alleviate liver disorders. As a fiery digestive stimulant with pungent heating potency, it activates pancreatic-liver enzymes, plumbagin penetrates deep microchannels blockages, scrapes visceral toxins causing splenomegaly, and ignites metabolic transformation. This scraping herb regulates inflammatory cascades in chronic hepatitis, enhances bioavailability of co-herbs, purifies blood and adipose tissues, and prevents fatty infiltration, making it perfect for hepatotoxicity, abdominal tumors, endotoxin-induced jaundice, weakness from digestive fire extinction, and all kapha-pitta hepatic imbalances.

Method Of Preparation

Yakrit Shulavinashini Vatika preparation begins with separate purification (shodhana) of Narasara (orpimentum). Then other ingredients are coarsely powdered and thoroughly triturated (sam Mardana) in a stone mortar (Khalva Yantra) with fresh Badara rasa (Ziziphus jujuba juice) until uniform paste forms. Putikambu (Holoptelea integrifolia) leaf decoction or paste (q.s.) is added for final levigation (bhavana) to achieve pill-binding consistency. The levigated mass is formed into tablets (750 mg), shade-dried on clean cloth, and preserved in airtight glass containers away from sunlight and moisture.

Medicinal Properties

Yakrit Roga (Liver Disorders)

Administer Yakrit Shulavinashini Vatika (750 mg) with Karavella rasa (10 ml) twice daily to relieve hepatomegaly, jaundice, and yakrit shula through Rohitaka’s hepatoprotection and Chitraka’s ama-scraping action.

Yakrit Shula (Liver Pain)

Administer Yakrit Shulavinashini Vatika (750 mg) with warm water twice daily to annihilate hepatic inflammation, restore bile flow, and relieve right hypochondriac tenderness through Narasara-shuddha’s catalytic detoxification and Saindhava Lavana’s metabolic harmony.

Plihodara (Splenomegaly With Ascites)

Administer Yakrit Shulavinashini Vatika (750 mg) with bitter gourd juice (10 ml) twice daily to reduce spleen enlargement, eliminate fluid accumulation, and clear kapha obstructions through Kokilaksha’s diuresis and Yavani’s carminative penetration.

Gulma (Abdominal Tumors)

Administer Yakrit Shulavinashini Vatika (750 mg) with warm water once daily to shatter palpable abdominal masses, relieve colic, and dissolve vata-kapha adhesions through Chitraka mula’s lekhana potency and Yavani’s gas expulsion action.

Kamala (Jaundice)

Administer Yakrit Shulavinashini Vatika (750 mg) with Karavella rasa (10 ml) twice daily to cure yellow discoloration of eyes/skin, enhance bilirubin clearance, and restore normal scleral whiteness through Rohitaka tvak’s pitta-pacification and Narasara’s rakta shodhana.

Hepatomegaly

Administer Yakrit Shulavinashini Vatika (750 mg) with warm water twice daily to reduce liver enlargement, reverse congestive hepatomegaly, and normalize liver span through synergistic ama-kapha scraping by Chitraka and diuretic detox by Kokilaksha beeja.

Ascites and Distension

Administer Yakrit Shulavinashini Vatika (750 mg) with Punarnava kwath (20 ml) twice daily to eliminate jalodara, reduce intra-abdominal pressure, and mobilize fluid retention through Saindhava Lavana’s electrolyte balance and Kokilaksha’s potent diuresis.

Digestive Weakness

Administer Yakrit Shulavinashini Vatika (750 mg) with warm water before meals twice daily to reignite agni mandya, cure arochaka, and restore appetite through Chitraka’s enzyme stimulation and Saindhava Lavana’s gastric secretion enhancement.

Chronic Fatigue And Debility

Administer Yakrit Shulavinashini Vatika (750 mg) with milk (10 ml) at bedtime to reverse tiredness, restore ojas, and combat hypoalbuminemic weakness through Kokilaksha’s rasayana rejuvenation and Narasara-shuddha’s metabolic catalysis.

Impact On Dosha

Yakrit Shulavinashini Vatika primarily pacifies Pitta-Vata doshas causing liver pain, hepatomegaly, and abdominal tumors.
Bitter astringent herbs (Rohitaka, Kokilaksha) cool excess pitta in jaundice while Chitraka’s heating potency destroys ama-kapha blockages.
Rock salt balances ascites fluids in splenomegaly, restoring hepato-splenic channel equilibrium.

Indications

Yakrit roga (liver disorders)
Yakrit shula (liver pain)
Plihodara (splenomegaly with ascites)
Gulma (abdominal tumors)
Kamala (Jaundice)
Hepatomegaly
Ascites and distension
Digestive weakness
Chronic fatigue and debility

Dosage

Adults: 750 mg once or twice daily, before or after food.

Anupana (Adjuvant)

Karavella rasa (Bitter gourd juice), Ushnodaka (Warm water), Punarnava kwath for ascites.

Conclusion

Yakrit Shulavinashini Vatika is a herbo-mineral formulation that masterfully targets Pitta-Vata aggravated liver-spleen disorders through synergistic hepatoprotection, cholagogue action, and deep ama detoxification. Its precisely balanced ingredients—led by Rohitaka’s silymarin-like membrane stabilization, Kokilaksha’s flavonoid regeneration, and Chitraka’s fiery lekhana potency—provide comprehensive relief from liver related pain, kamala (jaundice), pliho-dara (splenomegaly), and gulma (abdominal masses) while restoring Yakrit-Pliha Srotas equilibrium. Clinical administration yields rapid symptom resolution in hepatomegaly, jaundice, ascites, and digestive collapse, establishing dosha harmony. This classical formulation bridges ancient wisdom with modern hepatic care needs, offering safe, effective restoration for toxin-induced liver crises and chronic abdominal debility.