Kashayam / Kashaya

Kashaya, a decoction, is prepared by boiling sliced or powdered herbal materials like bark, roots, leaves, fruits and flowers. The powder must be coarse. One part of the powder is boiled in four, eight or sixteen parts of water and reduced to a quarter. Earthen or chemically inactive vessels like stainless steel must be used.

Some of the popular kashayas are Balajeerakadi Kashaya, Ashtavargam Kashaya, Indukantham Kashaya and Garbharaksha Kashaya. Kashayams are useful in the treatment of all types of fevers, cough and asthma, rheumatic disorders,