shelf life or expiration date of Ayurvedic medicine

The general belief that Ayurvedic medicines do not have any expiration date and their shelf life is
infinite is not true. Ayurvedic medicines generally made of herbs, do tend to lose their herbal
medicinal qualities over a period of time. As a consumer of Ayurvedic medicine, it is very
important for you to know about the expiration date of Ayurvedic medicine.

Definition of expiration date of medicine: The time from the date of manufacturing of the
medicine to the time till which the medicine has sufficient potency to bring about the desired
therapeutic action can be termed as shelf life or expiration date.

When put in simpler words, the time till which the medicine has sufficient strength to bring about
the desired action is termed as expiration date or shelf life.
The expiration date of medicine (also known as expiry date) is largely dependant upon

1. The quality of herbs and ingredients used in the Ayruvedic medicine.

2. The nature of herbs used in a formulation wet or dry
3. The dosage form of the Ayurvedic medicine (Herbal powder, herbal jams, ghees, oils etc)
4. Usage of particular herbs that usually contribute to the anti oxidant / natural preservative
property to the Ayurvedic medicine.
For example, If Amla powder in a particular medicine (say Chyawanprash), it contributes to the
shelf life by its anti oxidant property.
In an Ayurvedic sugar syrup, if the quantity of sugar is about 66.6 %, then the sugar syrup itself
acts as natural preservative.

As a general rule, The expiry dates are explained in detail in Ancient Ayurvedic test books.
taking that into consideration, the Government of India has established the shelf life period of the
Ayurvedic medicines, which is found below. So, if you have any Ayurvedic medicine in your
shelf, which has exceeded the expiration period, then simply throw out the medicine.

1. Churna (Herbal powder mix) two years. (This applies if the Churna jar is kept airtight
closed. As a general rule, once opened, the Churna jar should be finished within 2 4 months)
Kwatha Churna (powders for preparing herbal teas) 2 years
Lepa churna powders to prepare external applicable ointments 2 years
Danta Manjana tooth powders 2 years

2. Ayurvedic tablets / Vati / Gutika / Kashayam tablets

tablets prepared with herbal and mineral ingredients 5 years from the date of manufacturing.
tablets prepared from herbal ingredients 3 years
tablets prepared from mineral ingredients 10 years

3. Tablets in which mineral ingredients are used, or Guggulu is used (guggulu tablets) 5 years
4. Avaleha / Leham / lehyams/ herbal jams/ Paka 3 years.
Khanda Paka (eg: Haridra Khanda) 3 years from the date of manufacturing
Guda jaggery based herbal jams 3 years from the date of manufacturing.

5. Louha (Iron containing Ayurvedic medicines) 10 years

6. Ghrita (Ayurvedic Herbal ghee) 2 years

7. Taila (Ayurvedic Herbal Oils) 3 years

8. Arka (Distilled herbal extracts) 1 year

9. Lavana, Dravaka, Kshara, (Salts and Alkalis) 5 years

10. Lepa Churna (Herbal powder for external paste application) 3 years

11. Herbal dental powder / Herbal dental paste 2 years

12. Herbal syrups 3 years

13. Kashayam (Herbal teas) 3 years (when added with preservatives)

14. Mineral preparations Quality increases with time.

15. Ayurvedic ear drops/ nasal drops Karna Bindu, Nasa Bindu 2 years

16. Ayurvedic Eye drops Netra bindu- 1 years

Anjana Kalpana prepared with herbal ingredients 1 year

Anjan prepared with herbal and mineral ingredients 2 years from the date of manufacturing.
Anjan prepared purely with mineral ingredients 3 years
Asava and Arishta liquid medicines containing self generated alcohol 10 years from the date
of manufacturing.
Dhupana Kalpana 2 years from the date of manufacturing
Kupi pakwa rasayana 10 years from the date of manufacturing.
Malahara kalpana ointment s- 2 years
Mandoora kalpana 10 years from the date of manufacturing
Naga Bhasma, Vanga Bhasma, Tamra Bhasma 5 years
Bhasmas (except Naga, Vanga and Tamra) 10 years
Parpati 10 years
Pishti 10 years
Pravahi Kwatha 3 years
Rasayoga excluding Naga, Vanga and Tamra 10 years
Rasayoga herbal and mineral ingredients or with guggulu 5 years
Satva 2 years
Sharkara, Panaka, Sharbat, juices 3 years
Shweta Parpati 2 years
Varti 2 years.

Note:
Above mentioned expiration date is for the medicines when brought in sealed condition.
However, if you have opened the jar of medicine and are using it, then you need to empty it a
little faster. Learn more about expiration date of ayurvedic medicine, once after opening the jar.

Shelf life explanation as per Sharangdhara Samhita:

Generally, Ausadhis (medical recipes) lose their Potency after one year of their Preparation,
churnas after two months, gutikas and lehyas after one year, ghruta and taila after 16 months
(according to some scholars 4 months), recipes laugh paka which will be digested easily and
quickly, become poor in action after one year.

While asavas and datus (metal and mineral recipes) become more potent as they become old. If
in a Prescription, drugs included are inappropriate for the diseases, the wise Physician should
omit them, and can include drugs suitable for the disease even though not mentioned in the
prescription.

Saviryata Avadhi of different preparations:

Texts of Ayurveda recommended for Ausadha and Ahara Kalpanas and their Saviryata Avadhi
(Diet and Medicinal formulae and their expiry dates, i.e., the period for which they can retain
potency). The following are intended to serve as guidelines for the purpose.
Swarasa Sadhyosevana (to be consumed
immediately)
Kalka Sadhyosevana
Basti Kalpana Is used immediately after
preparation
Manda Kalpana Sadhyosevana
Tandulodaka Sadhyosevana
Mamsa Rasa Sadhyosevana
Pramathya Sadhyosevana
Krsara Sadhyosevana
Peya Sadhyosevana
Kambalika Sadhyosevana
Raga Sadhyosevana
Shadava Sadhyosevana
Vatyodana Sadhyosevana
Sikta Sadhyosevana
Veshavara Sadhyosevana
Udasvita Sadhyosevana
Mathitha Sadhyosevana
Katvara Sadhyosevana
Sankadrava Sadhyosevana
Aschyotana Sadhyosevana
Tarpak Sadhyosevana
Putapaka Swarasa Sadhyosevana
Kavala Sadhyosevana
Gandusha Sadhyosevana
Upnaha Kalapna Till it is in hot state after the
preparation
Kwatha Kalpana With in 4 Yamas (12 hours)
Ksira Paka Kalpana 1 day (is used in sukoshna state
only)
Anna Kalpana (Bhakta Kalpana) 1 day (is used in sukoshna state
only)
Yavagu Kalpana 1 day (is used in sukoshna state
only)
Panaka Kalpana 1 day
Mantha Kalpana 1 day
Udaka Kalpana 1 day
Takra Kalpana 1 day
Peya Kalpana 1 day
Yusa Kalpana 1 day (is used in sukoshna state
only)
(Akruta Yusa, Kruta Yusa)
Vilepi Kalpana 1 day
Dadhi Kalpana 1 day
Dadhi Kurchika Kalpana 1 day
Lepa Kalpana Prepares lepa for 1 day
Laksa Rasa Kalpana 7 days
Saktu Kalpana 1 Month
Khanda kalpana 1-4 month
Choorna kalpana 2 month
Malahara kalpana 2-month
Paka Kalpana 2 4 months
Dhumrapana Kalpana 4 months
Sarkara Kalpana 4 months (If kept in good
condition, can stay upto 1 year)
Ksara Sutra 4 6 months
Sneha Kalpana (Ghrta & Taila) 4 months (According to some
scholars 16 months)
Dhupana Kalpana 6 months (can stay till the volatile
principles and smell is lost)
Amla sandhana
a. Arnala 6 months
b. Dhanyamla 6 months
c. Sukta 6 months
d. Kanjika 6 months
e. Tusodaka Dried Herbs 6 months
Arka Kalpana 1 year
Ghana Sattva Kalpana 1 year
Masi Kalpana 1 year
Rasakriya Kalpana 1 year
Lavana Kalpana 1 year
Varti Kalpana 1 year
Kasta Ausadi 1 year
Gugulu kalpana 1year
kshara kalpana 1-5 years
Vati kalpana 1 year
Kumbha Ghrta 100 years
(the ghrta kept in earthen pot and called Purana ghrta)
Ayaskrti Kalpana Older the better
Asava Arista Kalpana Older the better
Parpati Kalpana Older the better
Bhasma Kalpana Older the better
Pottali Kalpana Older the better
Madya Kalpana Older the better
Khanija sattva Older the better

Factors responsible for losing the potency:

Wind, sunshine, humidity, temperature, seasonal variation, dust, infection by microorganisms,
shelf degeneration, evaporation hygroscopic nature etc, causes changes in color and taste.

Precaution for better shelf life period:

There are different technique used for better preservation, storage of packing etc. of various
medical preparations in order to increase its shelf life period and we should take various
precautions while performing this procedure. Deterioration of Pharmaceutical products may be
due to chemical, physical, or biological effects.

Chemical:Chemical decomposition may be caused by oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapour
present in the atmosphere. It may be due to the contamination of non sterile containers or lids.
Physical:Physical decomposition may result from extremes of temperature causing volatilization
or precipitation or it may be caused by moisture in the case of substances which are hygroscopic
or deliquescent.
Biological:Biological effects may be due to enzymes or micro-organisms which include bacteria,
viruses, Yeasts and moulds.

This may be prevented by sterilization and storage in sealed containers or by the use of
preservatives. The commonly used preservatives for medicinal products are:
Benzoic acid and Benzoates: As preservative for food, drugs and cosmetics Concentration =
0.1 0.2% (for oral preparations).
Salicylic acid and salicylates: Concentration 0.1 0.2 % for oral preparations.
Parahydroxy benzoates The commonly used derivatives are methyl, ethyl, Propyl and butyl
esters.
These are effective at low concentration and cause low toxicities. They are used as single esters
or in combination.
The usual concentration used is 0.005 0.05%.
Phenyl mercuric acetate or nitrate: For cosmetic preparations. Concentration:Parenteral
preparations & Eye drops. 0.01%.
Benzalkonium Chloride: For eye drops 0.01 %
Phenols: Phenol (0.5%), cresol (0.3%), Chlorbutol (0.5%) and chlorocresol (0.1%) can be used
for parenteral as well as lotions and such other externally used preparations.

Storage of drugs:
The medicinal preparations are stored under conditions that prevent contamination and
deterioration as far as possible. Precaution is taken in relation to the effect of the atmosphere,
heat and light. As a general rule, high temperature is avoided when storing raw material and
medicinal products.

Medicinal agents should not be exposed to conditions of high temperature or humidity extreme
fluctuations of temperature are avoided. Suspension in particular is stored at as even temperature
as otherwise crystal growth may occur. Containers should not be exposed to direct sunlight even
when they are light resistant.

Storage Temperature:
Cold place: Any temperature not exceeding 80C A refrigerator is a cold place in which the
temperature is maintained thermostatically between O0 C 80 C. A freezer is a cool place in
which the temperature is maintained at 200C 100
Cool Place: Any temperature between 80C 150 C.
Room temperature: The temperature prevailing in a working area. Controlled room temperature
is a temperature maintained thermostatically between 150C 300C.
Warm Place: Any temperature between 300 C 400 C
Excessive Heat: Any temperature above 400 C.
Protection from freezing:Freezing leads to the risk of breakage of the destructive alteration in the
dosage form, hence the product is protected from freezing.

Packaging of Pharmaceuticals:
It is absolutely necessary to select the right package for a product; because the container or the
package forms an integral part of the product. Proper packaging protects the integrity, Purity,
Potency and quality of the product.

A package consists
The container in which the product is placed
The enclosure which seals the container to exclude oxygen, moisture, bacteria etc and prevents
loss of the product through evaporation
The carton or outer cover, which is made of a variety of materials such as card board, plastic or
polymer, which gives protection against mechanical and other environmental hazards.
The box in which multiples of the product is packed. The box usually contains suitable shock
absorbers or cushioning, in order protect the product from mechanical shock.

Discussion:
The Saviryataavadi is said to be an important part in pharmacognocy. The shelf life period of
each and every drug will differ according to many factors. It will depend upon the climate,
container humidity, packing etc. So the shelf life of the drug will depend upon these many
factors. After the shelf life period, the drug will lose its potency.

It can be prevented only by proper and careful preparation and packing. By proper and careful
preparation and packing then also each and every drug will only last for certain period. Texts of
ayurveda recommended for Aushada and Ahara Kalpanas and their Saviryatha avadhi. [Diet and
medical formulae and their expiry date is period for which they can retain potency. Many of
Ayurvedic texts has explained about Saviryatha avadhi. The modern texts has also explained
about the expiry period. Each and every drug will have its own expiry period. It will change
according to the drug.

Conclusion:
Thus by concluding this the saviryata avadi is very important. They are different product of
shelf life for different medicines. If a physician does not know about the shelf life period of drug,
he cannot prescribe the drug, because for example he wants to prescribe swarasa.

Its shelf life period is said to be sadyosevana. So if he is dont know about it, he cannot tell
about the dose of drug. The potency of drug will vary after that period. So it will not act. So it is
important to know about saviryata avadi.

Bibliography:
Sharangadhara samhita
Bhaishajya Kalpana Vijnana By Ramachandra Reddy
A Text Book Of Bhaishajya Kalpana By Dr. Shobha G Hiremath
Bhaishajya Kalpana Vijnana. By Siddhi Nandan Mishra