Aśvagandhādi Leha

Aśvagandhādi Leha is a semisolid preparation made with the ingredients in the Formulation Composition given below.

Formulation composition

Śarkarā API	Sugar	–	1.356 kg
Aśvagandhā API	Withania somnifera	Rt.	192 g
Sārivā (śveta Sārivā API)	Hemidesmus indicus	Rt.	192 g
Jīraka (śveta Jīraka API)	Cuminum cyminum	Fr.	192 g
Madhusnuhī API	Smilax china Smilax glabra (Official Substitute)]	t. Tr.	192 g
Drākṣā API	Vitis vinifera	Dr. Fr.	192 g
Ghṛta (Goghṛta API)	Clarified butter from cow milk	–	226 g
Madhu API	Honey	–	452 g
Elā (Sūkṣmailā API)	Elettaria cardamomum	Sd.	24 g
Jala API	Potable Water	–	452 g

Method of preparation

• Take all ingredients of pharmacopoeial quality.
• Wash, clean, dry the ingredient number 2 to 5 and 9 of the Formulation Composition, powder separately and pass through 180 µm I. S. sieve (sieve number 85) to obtain fine powder.
• Wash, clean Drākṣā, soak in water till fully swollen and crush to make paste.
• Take Ghṛta in a stainless steel vessel and heat till it becomes free from moisture.
• Add soaked Drākṣā to the Ghṛta and fry it to make moisture free, then add powdered ingredients and fry till it turns to a soft bolus.
• Add sugar to water and heat, maintaining the temperature between 800 and 900 After the sugar dissolves, filter the hot syrup through muslin cloth.

Description

• A blackish brown, semisolid paste with a spicy pleasant odour and bitter astringent taste.

Storage

• Store in a cool place in tightly closed containers, protected from light and moisture.

Therapeutic uses

• Raktavikāra (Disorders of blood), Kṛśatva (Cachexia), Arśa (Piles), Unamāda (Psychosis), used as Balya (Tonic), Rasāyana (Rejuvenating agents), Vājīrkara(Aphrodisiasis).

Dose

• 6 to 12 g with milk.

Physico-chemical parameters

Total Ash	Not more than 2 per cent
Acid-insoluble ash	Not more than 1 per cent
Alcohol-soluble extractive	Not less than 19 per cent
Water-soluble extractive	Not less than 46 per cent
Loss on drying	Not more than 28 per cent
pH (1% aqueous solution)	4.7 to 5.0