Ayurveda

Ayurveda is an Indian herbal tradition, and the Ayurvedic preparations in this category mainly consist of Himalaya tablets with extract from a single plant and shilajit in two forms. Alongside them are multi-herb formulations, where several raw materials are presented under one traditional name. Below we explain how to distinguish these groups and what to check on the label.

Ayurveda: what you will find in the category

The most numerous are Himalaya tablets with extract from a single plant: Amalaki from amla fruit, Arjuna from bark, Gokshura from fruit of the puncture vine, Guduchi from stem, Lasuna from garlic bulb, Shallaki from resin of boswellia, Shatavari from root, and Tulasi from holy basil. Each of these packages contains 60 tablets.

You will find shilajit as purified resin from Himalaya in a 20 g jar and as an extract in Shilajit Mumio capsules from Progress Labs. The multi-herb formulation is represented by Himalaya Septilin.

Single herb or formulation

This is the first distinction that organizes the choice. In a single-ingredient preparation, the entire active ingredient is one extract, so you immediately know how much is in the tablet. In a formulation, several raw materials are presented under one name, making it harder to assign a specific amount to a particular plant.

Septilin combines guggul, which is the resin of Commiphora wightii, licorice, and Tinospora cordifolia. The contents of individual ingredients are provided by the manufacturer on the package label, and the serving is two tablets twice a day. For beginners, it is easier to evaluate a preparation with one herb than a mixture.

Part of the plant and milligrams

Himalaya names the part of the plant for each extract: amla fruit, arjuna bark, guduchi stem, shatavari root, garlic bulb. This is important because the root, leaf, and fruit of the same plant have different compositions.

Most tablets contain 250 mg of extract, while Shallaki contains 125 mg. These milligrams refer to the extract, not the powdered raw material, so do not compare them directly with a capsule of ground herb.

Shilajit: resin or capsules

Himalaya Shilajit Resin is the raw material in its natural form: a thick, dark mass, purified by a method the manufacturer calls Agnitapi. The manufacturer declares it contains over 60% fulvic acid and more than eighty trace elements.

Shilajit Mumio from Progress Labs contains 400 mg of extract in a capsule, standardized to 20% fulvic acids, which is 80 mg. The serving is one capsule daily, and the Vcaps coating is made from HPMC.

Both numbers are read differently. Over 60% for the resin is a threshold value for the raw material, while 20% for the capsules is the standardization of the extract with the specified mass per serving.

What to check on the label

Check the Latin name of the plant, as Sanskrit names say less: gokshura is Tribulus terrestris, shallaki is Boswellia serrata, and tulasi is Ocimum sanctum. Then check the part of the plant and the amount of extract in the tablet or capsule.

Also pay attention to the declarations. Himalaya describes most single-ingredient tablets as 100% vegetarian, sugar-free, with no artificial colors or preservatives, and Shilajit Mumio is marked as vegan. More about reading the composition is discussed in the text how to read a dietary supplement label.

How to use and combine

Always take the serving from the package label, as it varies between preparations: Septilin is two tablets twice a day, while Shilajit Mumio is one capsule once a day. When combining several herbs, check for interactions, especially if you are taking medications.

One of the herbs from this tradition is discussed in detail in the text tulsi, or holy basil. Other herbs and supplements can be found in the category Supplements.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Tulasi and regular basil?

Tulasi is holy basil, Ocimum sanctum, a species related to common basil from the kitchen, but distinct, with a different aromatic profile. Himalaya encapsulates 250 mg of extract from its aerial parts in a tablet, and the package contains 60 tablets. The Latin name on the label allows you to distinguish it from regular basil, as Sanskrit names say less.

Is shilajit a plant?

No. It is a resinous substance collected from rock crevices, neither plant nor animal. In the category, it is available as purified resin in a 20 g jar, which is a thick, dark mass, and as an extract of 400 mg in a capsule. The extract from Shilajit Mumio capsules is standardized to 20% fulvic acids.

Are Ayurvedic preparations vegan?

Some are. Shilajit Mumio from Progress Labs has a vegan declaration and a Vcaps capsule made from HPMC, while Himalaya describes most single-ingredient tablets as 100% vegetarian, sugar-free, with no artificial colors or preservatives. Vegetarian does not have to mean vegan, so for the others, check the status on the package.

How much extract is in a Himalaya tablet?

In most Himalaya tablets with one herb, there is 250 mg of extract, while in Shallaki, from boswellia resin, there is 125 mg. The package contains 60 tablets, and the daily serving is indicated on the label. These milligrams refer to the extract, not the powdered raw material, so do not compare them directly with ground herb.

Where to start?

Start with a preparation with one herb, as it is easier to evaluate than a formulation: in a tablet with one extract, you immediately know how much there is, while in a mixture, it is difficult to assign a specific amount to a particular plant. Choose the plant by its Latin name and part of the raw material, and take the serving from the package label.