Astavarga (the 8 rejuvenation herbs)
Aṣṭavarga अष्टवर्ग
Sub-group of Kakolyadi — the prestigious 8 rejuvenation herbs, all now commercially extinct.
The prestigious 8 herbs of Ayurvedic rasayana — all commercially extinct in the modern trade.
| Original | Botanical identity (disputed) | Modern substitute |
|---|---|---|
| Kakoli | Lilium polyphyllum (?) | Shatavari |
| Kshira-Kakoli | Fritillaria roylei (?) | Shatavari |
| Jivaka | Malaxis acuminata (?) — orchid | Shatavari + Ashwagandha |
| Rishabhaka | Malaxis muscifera (?) — orchid | Shatavari + Ashwagandha |
| Meda | Polygonatum verticillatum (?) | Shatavari |
| Mahameda | Polygonatum cirrhifolium (?) | Shatavari |
| Riddhi | Habenaria intermedia (?) | Vidari |
| Vriddhi | Habenaria edgeworthii (?) | Vidari |
Most are orchids of the high Himalayan zones, over-collected to extinction in the wild and not commercially cultivated. The substitution table above is universally accepted in modern Ayurvedic manufacturing — every commercial Chyavanaprasha, Brahma Rasayana, Mahanarayana Tailam, and Kumkumadi Tailam uses these substitutions.
In cosmetic recipes
When you see “Kakolyadi gana” or “all eight Astavarga” in a classical face-ghee or face-oil recipe (like Sushruta’s Vyanga-hara Ghrita, Cikitsa 25.20), read it as Shatavari + Ashwagandha + Vidari + Yashtimadhu in approximately equal parts. This is the standard cosmetic substitution.
Constituent ingredients (8)
| Ingredient | Botanical | Functions |
|---|---|---|
| Kakoli (Astavarga) Kākolī | Lilium polyphyllum (?) — commercially extinct | rasayana, Astavarga member |
| Kshira-Kakoli (Astavarga) Kṣīra-kākolī | Fritillaria roylei (?) — commercially extinct | rasayana, Astavarga member |
| Jivaka (Astavarga) Jīvaka | Malaxis acuminata (?) — commercially extinct | rasayana |
| Rishabhaka (Astavarga) Ṛṣabhaka | Malaxis muscifera (?) — commercially extinct | rasayana |
| Meda (Astavarga) Medā | Polygonatum verticillatum (?) — commercially extinct | rasayana |
| Mahameda (Astavarga) Mahāmedā | Polygonatum cirrhifolium (?) — commercially extinct | rasayana |
| Riddhi (Astavarga) Ṛddhi | Habenaria intermedia (?) — commercially extinct | rasayana |
| Vriddhi (Astavarga) Vṛddhi | Habenaria edgeworthii (?) — commercially extinct | rasayana |