Punarnavasava

Classical Ayurvedic Asava of Punarnava for swelling and the liver

Puffy feet, a heavy body, a sluggish liver — Punarnava, "the renewer", is Ayurveda's answer.

200 mL: ₹75 · 450 mL: ₹145

Punarnavasava is a classical Asava of twenty herbs in equal parts — Punarnava, Trikatu, Triphala, Daruharidra, Gokshura, Kantakari, Brihati, Vasaka, castor root, Kutki, Gajapippali, Neem, Giloy, Patola, dried radish and camel thorn — fermented with sugar, raisins, honey and Dhataki.

The Bhaishajya Ratnavali gives it for Shotha (swelling), Udara (abdominal enlargement), enlarged liver and spleen, Amlapitta and Gulma.

Used for

• Swelling & water retention (Shotha) — traditional use
• Sluggish liver & spleen
• Bloating & abdominal heaviness
• Acidity (Amlapitta)

Why the body holds water

Swelling of the feet and body can come from standing long, heat, hormones or medicines — but also from the heart, kidneys or liver, which is why persistent swelling needs a check-up.

Ayurveda calls swelling Shotha: Kapha and Vata, with weak Agni, block the channels so fluid collects. Diuretic, anti-inflammatory herbs such as Punarnava, with bitter liver herbs and digestives, are the classical response.

Punarnavasava works in 3 ways

• Diuretic & Anti-oedematous (Shothahara) — Punarnava and Gokshura are diuretic and anti-inflammatory in experimental studies.
• Liver Support (Yakrituttejaka) — Kutki, Daruharidra and Giloy are hepatoprotective in experimental studies, and Neem and Patola are classical bitter Pitta-clearing herbs.
• Digestion (Deepana) — Trikatu and Gajapippali kindle Agni, and Triphala keeps the bowels regular.

Key ingredients

• Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa, root) — 16 g. Its name means 'renews the body'. Ayurveda uses it for swelling (Shotha), the kidneys and the liver; its rotenoids and flavonoids are diuretic, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective in experimental studies.
• Gokhru (Gokshura) (Tribulus terrestris, fruit) — 16 g. Ayurveda's chief herb for the urinary tract (Mutrala) and a reproductive tonic. Its saponins (protodioscin) and flavonoids are diuretic and anti-urolithic in animal studies; human evidence is limited.
• Kutki (Katuki) (Picrorhiza kurroa, rhizome) — 16 g. A Himalayan bitter for the liver and Kamala (jaundice). Its iridoid glycosides (picroside I and II, kutkoside) are hepatoprotective, choleretic and anti-inflammatory in experimental studies.
• Daruharidra (Indian barberry) (Berberis aristata, stem) — 16 g. A bitter, yellow wood rich in the alkaloid berberine, which is antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective and improves glucose and lipid handling in studies. Ayurveda uses it for the liver, skin, eyes and wounds.
• Giloy (Guduchi) (Tinospora cordifolia, stem) — 16 g. A Rasayana for chronic fever and immunity. Its polysaccharides, alkaloids and diterpenoids are immunomodulatory, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory in experimental studies. Rare liver injury has been reported, possibly from mis-identified Tinospora species.
• Trikatu (three pungents). Dry ginger, black pepper and long pepper in equal parts. Ayurveda adds it to kindle Agni and clear Ama; research suggests piperine-rich Trikatu also raises the absorption of the other ingredients taken with it.
• Triphala. Amla, Harad and Bahera in equal parts — Ayurveda's best-known bowel regulator and Rasayana. Reviews describe laxative, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and gut-microbiome-modulating effects, mostly from experimental and small clinical studies.
• Vasaka (Arusa) (Adhatoda vasica, leaf) — 16 g. Ayurveda's foremost herb for cough. Its alkaloids vasicine and vasicinone thinned secretions, quietened coughing and relaxed constricted airways in animal studies, and vasicine is the natural template from which the mucolytic drugs bromhexine and ambroxol were developed.

Full ingredient list

Each 16 g

• Shunti (Zingiber officinale, rhizome) — 16 g
• Maricha (Piper nigrum, fruit) — 16 g
• Pippali (Piper longum, fruit) — 16 g
• Haritaki (Terminalia chebula, fruit) — 16 g
• Vibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica, fruit) — 16 g
• Amalaki (Emblica officinalis, fruit) — 16 g
• Darvi (Berberis aristata, stem) — 16 g
• Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris, fruit) — 16 g
• Kantakari (Solanum virginianum, whole plant) — 16 g
• Brihati (Solanum indicum, root) — 16 g
• Vasaka (Adhatoda vasica, leaf) — 16 g
• Eranda (Ricinus communis, root) — 16 g
• Katuki (Picrorhiza kurroa, rhizome) — 16 g
• Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa, root) — 16 g
• Gajapippali (Scindapsus officinalis, fruit) — 16 g
• Nimba (Azadirachta indica, stem bark) — 16 g
• Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia, stem) — 16 g
• Patola (Trichosanthes dioica, leaf) — 16 g
• Shushka mulaka (Raphanus sativus, root) — 16 g
• Duralabha (Alhagi pseudalhagi, whole plant) — 16 g

Fermented with

• Dhataki (Woodfordia fruticosa, flower) — 256 g
• Sharkara (sugar) — 1.6 kg
• Draksha (Vitis vinifera, dried fruit) — 320 g
• Madhu (honey) — 800 g
• Jal (water) — 8.19 L

Contains

• Self-generated alcohol (about 5–12 % v/v)

How to use

Dose: 12–24 mL once or twice a day after meals, mixed with an equal amount of water, or as directed by the physician.

• Measure the dose — Use the dose above, or the one your physician gives.
• Add equal water — Asavas and Arishtas are traditionally taken with an equal amount of water.
• After meals — Take it after meals, usually twice a day.

Safety & suitability

• Who it's for: Adults
• Pregnancy & nursing: Not advised — see the cautions
• Other medicines: Tell your physician what else you take
• Diabetic?: Contains sugar (from sugar and honey) — ask your physician
• Storage: Cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight
• Ingredients: See the full list below

Cautions

• Swelling that is new, one-sided, painful, or comes with breathlessness, chest pain or reduced urine needs a doctor — it can be a sign of heart, kidney or liver disease.
• Contains self-generated alcohol (about 5–12 % v/v): not for children, during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or for anyone who must avoid alcohol.
• Contains sugar (from sugar and honey) — people with diabetes should ask their physician first.

More information

• Net content: 200 mL · 450 mL
• Storage: Keep in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Close the cap tightly after use.
• Country of origin: India
• Manufacturer: Devendra Ayurved Ashram Pvt. Ltd., A-12, Industrial Estate, Sujroo, Muzaffarnagar (U.P.) – 251003. Mfg. Lic. No. A-50/77/94 · GMP-certified company.

References

• The Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I. Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of AYUSH.
• Mishra S, Aeri V, Gaur PK, et al. Phytochemical, therapeutic, and ethnopharmacological overview for a traditionally important herb: Boerhavia diffusa Linn. Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014:808302.
• Ștefănescu R, Tero-Vescan A, Negroiu A, et al. A Comprehensive Review of the Phytochemical, Pharmacological, and Toxicological Properties of Tribulus terrestris L. Biomolecules. 2020;10(5).
• Almeleebia TM, Alsayari A, Wahab S. Pharmacological and Clinical Efficacy of Picrorhiza kurroa and Its Secondary Metabolites: A Comprehensive Review. Molecules. 2022;27(23).
• Marchelak A, Gieleta M, Krasocka W, et al. Berberis aristata DC. (Indian barberry): Current insight into botanical, phytochemical, and pharmacological aspects, pharmacokinetics, safety of use and modern therapeutic applications. Fitoterapia. 2025;183:106539.
• Yates CR, Bruno EJ, Yates MED. Tinospora Cordifolia: A review of its immunomodulatory properties. J Diet Suppl. 2022;19(2):271-285.
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• Panneer Selvam K, Payyappallimana U, Ravikumar K, et al. Can Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), a well-known ayurvedic hepato-protectant cause liver damage?. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2023;14(1):100658.
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• Peterson CT, Denniston K, Chopra D. Therapeutic Uses of Triphala in Ayurvedic Medicine. J Altern Complement Med. 2017;23(8):607-614.
• Liu W, Wang Y, He DD, et al. Antitussive, expectorant, and bronchodilating effects of quinazoline alkaloids (±)-vasicine, deoxyvasicine, and (±)-vasicinone from aerial parts of Peganum harmala L. Phytomedicine. 2015;22(12):1088-95.
• Grange JM, Snell NJ. Activity of bromhexine and ambroxol, semi-synthetic derivatives of vasicine from the Indian shrub Adhatoda vasica, against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro. J Ethnopharmacol. 1996;50(1):49-53.
• Claeson UP, Malmfors T, Wikman G, et al. Adhatoda vasica: a critical review of ethnopharmacological and toxicological data. J Ethnopharmacol. 2000;72(1-2):1-20.