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Traditional Herbal Medicine Making Ayurveda

Ayurvedic Herbal Medicine Making Techniques

The Art and Evolution of Ayurvedic Herbal Medicine Making

The Ayurvedic pharmacy of medicinal preparations is a profound blend of ancient wisdom and practical innovation, a testament to a tradition that has carefully honed its healing practices over millennia. Ayurvedic practitioners have long understood that the way herbs are prepared can dramatically enhance their therapeutic power, whether to preserve potency, increase efficacy, or unlock specific healing benefits. This understanding is at the heart of Ayurvedic herbal medicine making techniques, where the methods of preparation are as crucial as the herbs themselves.

Our recent two-week clinical intensive at Dr. Amruta Athale’s Pancha Karma Clinic in Pune, India, brought students directly into the lineage of this remarkable practice.

Immersed in the birthplace of Ayurveda, students gained firsthand insights into traditional Ayurvedic herbal medicine making techniques, experiencing how they connect with nature’s rhythms and the body’s needs.

 

The program exceeded the educational, journeying into the heart of Ayurveda. Where we could marvel at the mystery and wisdom of the early Ayurvedic pioneers who uncovered the energetics of the natural world with such remarkable depth and insight.

The methods studied highlight Ayurveda’s intentional and nuanced approach to herbal medicine, where each preparation serves a distinct therapeutic purpose. These foundational techniques allow practitioners to draw out and harness the unique properties of an herb, while adjusting for individual doshic needs and conditions.

 

The Five Essential Ayurvedic Herbal Medicine Making Techniques

1. Fresh Juice (Svarasa)

Fresh juice, or svarasa, is one of the simplest ways to capture the immediate healing properties of juicy or leafy plants like aloe vera, tulsi, ginger, cilantro, or neem. The concentrated high water content makes it the heaviest of the 5 traditional techniques to digest, but this very quality enables fast-acting and potent benefits, especially when using fresh herbs. Dried herbs may also be used after reconstituting with water; however their strength may have faded.

In warmer climates, fresh juice serves as both a refreshing remedy and a potent delivery method, allowing the plant’s qualities to be easily absorbed by the body. Dosage is typically small—½ to 1 oz twice daily—making it a simple, powerful addition to home healing especially for those with balanced digestion.

2. Herbal Paste (Kalka)

The simplicity of making a kalka makes it an adaptable and practical technique within Ayurvedic herbal medicine, suitable even for home use. Traditionally, kalka is prepared by either mashing fresh herbs or mixing powders with a small amount of water—often in a stone mortar—to create a smooth, therapeutic paste. The versatility of kalka using powdered herbs, which can be mixed with water, ghee, or milk to create a paste with similar therapeutic effects is often used by practitioners.

Herbal pastes are commonly recommended externally as poultices or plasters, making them perfect for soothing skin issues, treating burns, and addressing minor injuries. Classic examples include turmeric paste for brightening skin and reducing inflammation, and sandalwood paste for its cooling, calming effects on irritated skin.

For internal use, pastes offer a grounding, nurturing approach to internal imbalances due to the heavy and moist qualities of the paste. Whether made with fresh herbs or powders, kalka continues to be a foundational method for applying the therapeutic properties of Ayurveda in everyday wellness.

3. Decoctions (Kvatha)

Decoctions are a cornerstone of Ayurvedic herbal medicine making, offering one of the strongest and most effective methods to extract potent, water-soluble compounds from plants—especially from parts that are harder to access, like roots, barks, and tougher plant materials. The typical approach for creating a decoction involves using one part herb to 16 parts water, then simmering the mixture until it reduces to a quarter of its original volume. Once strained, the decoction is ready for use and is best consumed fresh, ideally within 48 minutes, to retain maximum potency.

Another interesting extension of this concept involves milk-based decoctions known as ksirapaka. In Ayurvedic rejuvenation (rasayana) therapies, these milk-based decoctions can enhance the nourishing and kapha-building properties of herbs while balancing any pitta-provoking or vata-aggravating qualities.

Made by simmering one part herb with four parts milk and 16 parts water until only the milk remains, ksirapaka extracts both water- and lipid-soluble compounds, creating a powerful, harmonized tonic.

An example from class involved using pippali (long pepper) in a milk decoction. While milk is nourishing, it can be hard to digest for those with low agni. Adding pippali stimulates agni, making the milk easier to process while enhancing its therapeutic effects. The milk’s cooling properties, in turn, balance pippali’s heat, creating a gentle yet effective tonic without aggravating pitta. This approach shows how ksirapaka can harmonize the qualities inherent in the ingredients to create balanced and effective Ayurvedic remedies. (*consult with an Ayurvedic Practitioner before trying at home*)

4. Cold Infusions (Hima)

Cold infusions (hima) are ideal for extracting the properties of delicate and often fragrant plant leaves, flowers or seeds. This gentle, no-heat method helps preserve the subtle, volatile compounds of herbs that might otherwise be diminished by heat. Making a hima is particularly well-suited for balancing pitta dosha, which is prone to excess heat and inflammation. Herbs like coriander seed, sandalwood powder or fennel seed are left to steep in cool water for 20 minutes and consumed throughout the day. This allows for a slow and gentle extraction. Sometimes they are made by sitting in the moonlight overnight to harness the lunar energy, amplifying the herbs’ naturally cooling and soothing qualities. However most common is the traditional method of 20 minutes to a maximum of 2 hours if making during daylight.

To prepare a hima, use one part herb to four parts cool water. Once strained, the infusion is ready to drink, offering a refreshing and calming remedy for pitta imbalances, particularly during warmer seasons or times of heightened heat in the body.

5. Hot Infusion (Phanta)

A hot infusion, known as phanta, is ideal for robust herbs like tulsi and ginger, which have heat-stable compounds that can withstand boiling water. This method is particularly beneficial for treating vata and kapha imbalances and is easy to make. The warmth extracted can help calm vata’s dryness and mobility, while providing stimulation to offset kaphic heaviness or stagnation.

To prepare a phanta, use one part herb to eight parts boiling water, allowing it to steep until it is warm but cool enough to consume. The steeping time ensures that the active compounds are fully released, making the infusion potent and effective.

These five methods represent the roots of Ayurvedic herbal medicine preparation, carrying the wisdom of millennia, each designed to deliver unique therapeutic benefits.

Receiving these teachings firsthand from Dr. Athale in India brought us into the heart of Ayurveda, where we experienced the profound interconnectedness between plants, practice understanding , and healing within this ancient medicinal tradition in ways that written study alone could never capture.

Reflecting on the early Ayurvedic pioneers—physicians who intimately understood the vibrational qualities of nature—it’s awe-inspiring to consider how they discovered and documented these remedies with such remarkable precision. Their legacy is a system of medicine that harmonizes seamlessly with the rhythms of the Earth and can be used worldwide.

From these essential practices, more complex and advanced formulations evolved, shaping the rich and diverse landscape of Ayurvedic herbal medicine today. We’re inspired to share these timeless methods, guiding others to integrate them into their daily lives—starting with the basics and expanding as they deepen their journey into Ayurvedic healing.

*Before using or sharing herbal medicinals be sure to consult with your Primary Care Physician or Ayurvedic Practitioner*

Feeling inspired by these Ayurvedic techniques?

Imagine diving even deeper with our 600-hour Ayurvedic course led by Dr. Amruta Athale—it’s hands-on, immersive, and packed with classical Ayurvedic wisdom. Plus, don’t miss our newest Ayurvedic Samhitas course, where you’ll explore the ancient teachings at Ayurveda’s core. Join us to bring these powerful practices into your life and work!