Chandraprabha Vati – Preparation, Uses and Properties

Chandraprabha Vati, colloquially termed Chandraprabha Gulika, is an Ayurvedic remedy with potent anti-inflammatory properties. It finds use in treating various diseases affecting the urinary tract, kidney, pancreas, thyroid gland, bones, and joints. “Chandra” signifying “moon” and “Prabha” denoting “glow”, Chandraprabhavati brings a glow to your body and promotes strength and immunity. Sharangadhar Samhita, an ayurvedic text strongly advocates the use of this potent formulation for the mitigation of Prameha (i.e. urinary tract infection). It also extremely useful for Ashmari (i.e. urinary calculi), Vibandha (i.e. constipation), Shoola (i.e. abdominal colic), Mutrakrichra (i.e. dysuria), Anaha (i.e. bloating), Mutraghata (i.e. urinary obstruction), Pandu (i.e. anemia), Haleemaka i.e. (Liver cirrhosis), Antravruddhi (i.e. Hernia), Arsha (i.e. hemorrhoids) and several other ailments.

Preparation Method of Chandraprabha Vati

• The process involves sun-drying and powdering the herbal ingredients, then storing them in a separate airtight vessel.
• The swedana process utilizing gomutra purifies Shilajit, while triphala kwath purifies Guggulu.
• The herbal powders undergo the bhavana process, combining them with a separate Triphala decoction and infusing the powder with fluid for 3-4 hours.
• The mardana process is used separately on Sarkara (sugar) and the three types of lavana (salt) to obtain a fine powder.
• The mixture combines powdered lavana and sugar with the herbal powders based on specific taste requirements.
• The mixture is then air-dried at a temperature of 60°C.
• The metallic ash of loha is purified through swedana process and is subjected to the mardana process.
• The homogenous mixing of purified Shilajit, purified iron ashes, and herbal powders occurs in a mixer vessel.
• They add the binding agent gum guggulu to unite the powder particles together.
• Roll the powder onto your palm or use a tablet-making machine in case of a huge amount of powder to prepare spherical tablets or vatis.

Reference – Bhaishajya Ratnavali – Prameha Chikitsa

Therapeutic benefits of the Ingredients

1. Guggulu – The gum resin obtained from the bark extract of the mukul tree is extremely essential in the treatment of cardiovascular problems, hypertension, arthritis, obesity and atherosclerosis.
2. Shilajatu – Shilajatu is the thick sticky exudate obtained from layers of rocks. It has a high mineral content and is effective for treating kidney stones, phthisis, dysuria, anaemia, epilepsy etc.
3. Sarkara – Also known as sugar, this ingredient imparts a sweet flavour to the herbal formulation.
4. Karpoor – A potent antioxidant, it reduces pain and swelling and also alleviates cough and cold symptoms from the body and is beneficial for the skin.
5. Ativisha – It holds high significance in treating several health conditions like fever, malaria, bronchitis, asthma, diarrhoea, glycosuria etc.
6. Haridra – Being anti-inflammatory in nature, turmeric reduces inflammation within the body. It also acts as a natural detoxifier and purifies the blood and is helpful in treating liver and cholesterol problems.
7. Vacha – A potent herb to alleviate cough, cold, and sinus symptoms. It alleviates asthma, removes urinary stones, enhances cognitive memory, and demonstrates effectiveness in skin and hair care.
8. Mustak – The anti-microbial property of Mustak treats various bacterial and fungal infections. Being an incredible herb, it lowers blood glucose levels, promotes digestion, and improves liver functions.
9. Triphala – The herbal concoction is potent against several ailments including obesity, dental problems, constipation and fever.
10. Chavya – A powerful digestive herb, it promotes digestion, and alleviates constipation, bloating, abdominal pain and distension.
11. Bhunimba – The decoction of this magic herb is extremely beneficial in the treatment of liver problems, jaundice, fever, malaria and it also purifies the blood and cures skin diseases.
12. Devdaru – The essential found in the plant extract holds high significance in treating asthma, fever, pruritis, skin disease, constipation, arthritis and paralysis.
13. Dhania – Dhania or coriander being high in vitamins is extremely beneficial in promoting digestion, regulating blood cholesterol levels, enhancing heart functions, treating arthritis, conjunctivitis etc.
14. Guduchi – This herb strongly advocates the treatment of rheumatic disorders, gout, arthritis, psoriasis, eczema, jaundice, hepatitis, etc.
15. Chitrak – Chitrak is effectively used for boosting metabolism. It aids in digestion, promotes weight loss and also useful for relieving joint pains.
16. Shunthi – Shunthi or dried ginger is not only famous for its culinary uses but also for treating a host of ailments like obesity, headache, chest pain, cough, cold, urinary infections, flatulence, indigestion etc.
17. Darvi – The herb serves as a potent remedy for treating hemorrhoids, syphilis, ulcer, anal fistula, menorrhagia, diabetes, dysentery etc.
18. Maricha – Loaded with anti-oxidants, maricha or pepper lowers blood cholesterol levels, manages diabetes, enhances gut health and also relieves pain and inflammation.
19. Pippali – Pippali or Indian long pepper extensively treats indigestion, heartburn, diarrhoea, cholera, asthma, and other conditions.
20. Kshaar – In this formulation, sodium carbonate (Sarjikshaar) functions as a potent antacid, treating stomach problems and heartburn, and promoting digestion. Meanwhile, potassium carbonate (Yavkshaar) serves as an additive to buffer the formulation.
21. Lavana – The addition of salts in the formulation deals with electrolyte imbalance, keeps the body hydrated by meeting the ion needs, prevent muscle cramps and maintains overall vascular health.
22. Swarnamakshika Bhasma – Being a concoction of copper and iron, the herbal ash is highly beneficial for the treatment of jaundice, anemia, insomnia, vomiting, headache, nausea, bleeding piles, itching etc.
23. Trivrit – This herb utilizes its purgative property to prevent and treat constipation, flatulence, hemorrhoids, edema, indigestion, and other related conditions.
24. Dantimool – Danti functions as a natural blood purifier and treats conditions such as edema, jaundice, asthma, bronchitis, hemorrhoids, abdominal tumors, and splenomegaly.
25. Vankshalochana – The extract of the young bamboo tree is extremely useful in promoting bone, teeth and oral health. It also used for treating problems pertaining to skin, hair and nails.
26. Dalchini – Dalchini, a potent herb also known as cinnamon, repairs damaged tissues and treats a variety of ailments, including heart problems, diabetes, neural disorders, skin infections, cough, and cold.
27. Tejpatta – Bay leaf prevents and manages diabetes, dandruff, joint pain, boils, and fungal infections.

Effect on Tridosha

Mentioned in Ayurveda as Sarvaroga Pranashini (i.e. useful in all disorders), Balances tridosha i.e. Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

Uses of Chandraprabha Vati

• In Ayurvedic treatment, it utilizes remedies for urinary tract infection, easing urination difficulties, and addressing urinary calculi.
• It helps to relieve constipation, bloating, abdominal colic pain, low back pain.
• It is useful in treating cold, cough, rhinitis, bronchitis, asthma and such other respiratory diseases.
• It treats eczema, dermatitis, pruritus, and allergic skin conditions.
• It is useful to treat piles, liver, spleen diseases, anaemia and fistula.
• It helps to relieve teeth problems like caries, eye infections.
• It treats semen defects and gynaecological problems.
• It helps to relieve indigestion, improves strength, it is a natural aphrodisiac and anti aging Ayurvedic medicine.

Traditional Indications

Diabetes – Prameha; Difficulty to pass urine – Mutrakrichra ; Urinary obstruction – Mutraghata ; Urinary calculi – Ashmari ; Constipation – Vibandha ; Bloating, gaseous distension of abdomen – Anaha ; Abdominal colic – Shoola ; Urinary tract disorders, diabetes – Meha ; Tumor, fibroid – Granthi ; Cancer – Arbuda ; Orchitis – Andavruddhi ; Anemia, initial stages of liver disorders – Pandu ; Jaundice – Kamala ; Liver cirrhosis – Haleemaka ; Hernia – Antravruddhi ; Low back ache – Kati shoola ; Asthma, respiratory disorders involving difficulty in breathing – Shwasa ; Cold, cough – Kasa ; Eczema – Vicharchika ; Skin diseases – Kushta ; Hemorrhoids – Arsha ; Itching – Kandu ; Splenomegaly, enlarged spleen – Pleehodara ; Fistula in ano – Bhagandhara ; Teeth disorders – Dantaroga ; Eye disorders – Netraroga ; Painful periods, menorrhagia – Artavaruja ; Semen, sperm anomalies – ShukraDosha ; Low digestion strength – Mandagni ; Anorexia, lack of interest in food – Aruchi ; Balances Vata, Pitta and Kapha dosha

Medicinal Properties

• Antacid (mild effects)
• Anti-inflammatory (potent anti-inflammatory for soft tissues and muscles)
• Anti-arthritic (especially for spine and effects are visible in low backache)
• Digestive Stimulant (mild effects – its effects are visible in patient with anorexia nervosa or mental stress due to over work load)
• Emmenagogue (mild effects – but it harmonizes the menstrual flow by strengthening female reproductive system)
• Haematinic (increases hemoglobin levels – due to presence of Lohabhasma (iron Calx)
• Hematogenic (helps in formation of red blood cells)
• Reduces bilirubin levels, requiring other liver medicines as well.
• Fat Burner (due to shilajit and Lohabhasma)
• Anti-gout (it increases urinary excretion of uric acid)
• Analgesic (in gout and osteoarthritis)
• Muscle relaxant (its effects appears on uterine muscles during painful periods)
• Anthelmintic (due to Vidanga)
• Mild anti-hypertensive

Medicinal Uses and Benefits of Chandraprabha Vati

However, there is a long list of therapeutic indication of ChandraprabhaVati. Here, we will discuss a few main medicinal uses and health benefits of ChandraprabhaVati.

1. GENERAL DEBILITY & FATIGUE – Chandraprabha Vati acts as a comprehensive health tonic and supplement to decrease general debility and enhance physical strength. The effects are due to shilajit and lohabhasma. It reduces fatigue and revitalizes the body with a refreshing feeling. Its effects usually appear when it is taken with Cow’s milk.
2. MENTAL FATIGUE & STRESS – ChandraprabhaVati is beneficial for reducing mental fatigue and mental stress. The effects are due to its main ingredient SHILAJIT. (1, 2) It also helps students to decrease study-related stress and improves memory.
3. HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE & TACHYCARDIA – ChandraprabhaVati has mild anti-hypertensive effects. Its main effects appear in people with excessive alcohol intake. Alcohol may increase blood pressure and result in headaches etc. ChandraprabhaVati effectively helps in this case for lowering the blood pressure and providing strength to the heart. It also reduces heart palpitation and normalizes the heart rate. So, it is also beneficial in the management of tachycardia. Its effects on these health conditions might be due to Shilajit and Lohabhasma.
4. GOUT & RAISED URIC ACID LEVEL – ChandraprabhaVati increases the excretion of harmful toxins like creatinine, urea, and uric acid from the body. It corrects the natural functions of the kidney and helps to eliminate excess uric acid. However, it may not have an effect on uric acid production, but it can reduce uric acid levels by stimulating the excretion of uric acid through the kidneys. It is generally recommended to use Gokshuradi guggul/Vati, Guduchi Satva, and Punarnava powder or Punarnavarishta for improving the excretion of uric acid.
5. ARTHRITIS – ChandraprabhaVati is also useful in low backache, spinal arthritis, and knee osteoarthritis. It has potent anti-inflammatory and mild analgesic characteristics. It reduces pain and inflammation in joint disorders.
6. AMENORRHEA, OLIGOMENORRHEA& DYSMENORRHEA – However, ChandraprabhaVati has mild Emmenagogue effects, but it can correct the hormonal balance in the women, which ultimately corrects the problems like absent periods, light menstruation, and painful periods. It also has mild anti-spasmodic action due to the presence of ingredients such as ginger, pepper, long pepper, lohabhasma, etc. It reduces menstrual cramps and lowers abdominal pain during the menstrual period.
7. EXCESSIVE UTERINE BLEEDING & UTERINE POLYP – Excessive uterine bleeding has many causes, but the most common cause is a uterine polyp. ChandraprabhaVati works with Kanchnaarguggul to reduce the size of polyps. However, if bleeding is the main concern, then other medications are also required to stop the bleeding. This medicine includes PravalPishti, MuktaPishti, Mochras, Daruharidra, etc.
8. HABITUAL MISCARRIAGE – ChandraprabhaVati is a great uterine tonic. According to ayurvedic beliefs, habitual miscarriage occurs due to a weak uterus. Therefore, ChandraprabhaVati is used for strengthening the uterine muscles along with ashwagandha extract.
9. PROSTATE ENLARGEMENT – ChandraprabhaVati works well in reducing urinary discomfort due to prostate hypertrophy. It also decreases the size of the enlarged prostate gland. It is more effective when used with Varuna (crataevanurvala).
10. OLIGOSPERMIA, ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION – ChandraprabhaVati works on all male reproductive organs and rectifies their natural functions. In oligospermia, It increases count, strength and helps in physical weakness. It is generally used with ashwagandha extract and Konchpak.
11. FREQUENT URINATION & URINARY INCONTINENCE – ChandraprabhaVati reduces the urinary frequency and urinary incontinence. However, it has no direct influence on frequent urination, but it corrects the underlying cause of these problems and helps to combat these problems.
12. ALBUMINURIA (PROTEINURIA) – In diabetic patients, microalbuminuria is the earliest sign of diabetic kidney damage. The other causes of albuminuria are exposure to heat or cold, emotional stress, fever, and strenuous exercise, etc. You also need to rule out the underlying cause and treatment should also be done accordingly. In most of these causes, Chandraprabha Vati along with KamdudhaRas works well to reduce and treat protein loss in the urine. If you are diabetic, then you should check the blood glucose level regularly and keep it under good control. Chandraprabha Vati– 500 mg (Children); 1000 mg (adults); KamdudhaRas– 250 mg (Children); 500 mg (adults). It should be taken twice a day after a meal.
13. GLYCOSURIA – Chandraprabha Vati is an excellent remedy for glycosuria (presence of sugar in the urine). Along with anti-diabetic medicines or following herbal combination, it shows good results for reducing the presence of abnormal glucose in the urine. The following combination also reduces blood glucose levels significantly –
    1. ChandraprabhaVati– 1 gram, EmblicaOfficinalis – Amla (Amalaki)– 1 gram, Curcuma Longa – Haldi (Turmeric)- 1gram, Azadirachta Indica – Neem inner bark- 1gram, SwertiaChirata – Chirayata (Kiratatikta) -500mgm
14. CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE – As we have discussed in case of gout, Chandraprabha Vati reduces the serum level of creatinine, blood urea and uric acid. 1-gram dosage twice a day of it helps stopping increase in creatinine levels in the blood.
15. KIDNEY STONES – ChandraprabhaVati has antilithiatic and lithotriptic effects, so it reduces formation of kidney stones and helps inhibiting formation of stones in the kidneys.
16. POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE (PKD) – Chandraprabha Vati with Kachnaarguggul helps in polycystic kidney disease. The effects become visible after a few days with this combination.

Dosage

The dosage of Chandraprabha Vati written in classical texts of Ayurveda is 1000 mg to 2000 mg twice or thrice a day.

Safest Dosage– 1 grams or 2 tablets twice a day
Supplemental Dosage– 1 tablet to 2 tablets twice a day with milk
Therapeutic Dosage – 1 grams or 2 tablets twice a day
Maximum Daily Doses – 6 grams

Caution and Side Effects

Chandraprabha Vati is LIKELY SAFE for most people in supplemental as well as therapeutic dosage. No reported side effects accompany the use of Chandraprabha Vati.

PREGNANCY & BREAST FEEDING – Chandraprabha Vati is POSSIBLY SAFE in supplemental dosage, but there are no scientific evaluations available for the safety of therapeutic dosage.