Someone at home must have said, “This is Ayurvedic, you can take it daily. It won’t harm you.” And to be honest, I used to believe the same thing before. Because Ayurveda is our own tradition, a very old system, and many people actually benefit from it. There is one thing to consider.
The term “Ayurvedic” does not guarantee safety by itself. In most cases, things remain fine with the right medicine, right dosage, right source, and right advice. However, wrong products, adulteration, heavy metals, or hidden allopathic medicines (such as steroids) can gradually cause significant harm when taken daily. Sometimes, you may not even realize what you are actually consuming.
The answer to the question is straightforward.
Yes, some Ayurvedic medicines can be taken daily. But not every Ayurvedic medicine. And “daily” also does not mean without breaks, without tests, without monitoring.
This guide is for that purpose. So that you can benefit and avoid risks.
First understand this: Why are there risks associated with Ayurvedic medicines?
Ayurvedic medicine is a traditional system of medicine from the Indian subcontinent, considered to be very ancient (many sources link it to the 2nd century BC). It is commonly believed that it is natural and therefore safe.
However, in modern times, “adverse events” have been observed for various reasons:
- Adulteration
- Some products contain hidden steroids, pain medications, or other allopathic drugs mixed in to give a faster effect. Then the patient thinks that Ayurveda has done wonders.
- Heavy metals and some toxic compounds
- Some chemical and bhasma preparations have been found to contain higher levels of heavy metals than WHO limits, and cases of heavy metal poisoning have also been reported. (It’s not fair to blame the entire industry, but the risk is real.)
- Alkaloids and herb-drug toxicity
- Some herbs may contain compounds that can harm the liver or kidneys, especially when the dosage is uncontrolled or there is a pre-existing condition.
- Labeling and dosing issues
- Many products do not have exact quantities, standardization, batch testing, or clear warnings. It may say “twice a day,” but it doesn’t specify the strength, how much of which compound is present. This information is not available.
What should the real meaning of “can be taken daily” be?
If a medicine needs to be taken daily, four things should be clear:
- For what purpose (to suppress symptoms or to address the root cause of the disease?)
- For how long (2 weeks, 3 months, or long term?)
- Which monitoring tests (liver, kidney, BP, sugar, etc.)
- Under whose supervision (qualified practitioner, and if needed, also a physician)
The term “taking daily” does not mean “keep taking it always.” Many Ayurvedic protocols also involve aspects such as time, anupan (adjunct), pathya (wholesome), and follow-up. However, this part often gets missing in practice.
Three real cases that will alert you (very important)
I am summarizing three published clinical cases here (J Tradit Complement Med. 2017;7(1):50–3). The purpose is not to scare, but to show the reality that adverse events can occur, especially when the composition is unclear.
Case 1: Started with jaundice, progressed to liver and kidney involvement
A 35-year-old woman had jaundice. In hopes of cultural beliefs and alternative treatment, she took Ayurvedic powder medicines along with gold salt (preparations like gold/bhasma). Later, her condition worsened. She experienced vomiting, low-grade fever, and severe jaundice.
In the hospital, she was diagnosed with fulminant hepatic failure. Additionally, she also had nephrotic range proteinuria, which means that a lot of protein was leaking from the kidneys. Later, she recovered with supportive treatment. But the point is, the decision made thinking it was “natural” caused harm. The report mentions the risks of kidney injury associated with toxic alkaloids and gold preparations as potential causes.
The lesson here is very straightforward:
If you already have a liver problem or symptoms of jaundice, taking any herbal or bhashma type medicine on your own daily can be risky.
Case 2: Ayurvedic medicine for high BP, reserpine found inside
A 57-year-old man was taking an Ayurvedic medicine for hypertension. Reserpine was found in it. Reserpine is a well-known antihypertensive agent, but its range of side effects is large, and it is only used in very limited situations in modern practice.
The problem was also that the product (which refers to formulations like Tensarin) did not have the exact reserpine amount clearly labeled on it. Then the doctor switched him to amlodipine.
Lesson:
It is common to take medication “daily” for conditions like high blood pressure. However, if your product contains a potent pharmacologic drug and the dose is unknown, there is a risk of adverse events along with control. You may also not be able to identify which thing is causing the side effects.
Case 3: The “Ayurvedic” Pain Relief Tablet Actually Contained Steroids
A 47-year-old woman had been suffering from joint pain for a long time. She took an unlabeled tablet from a local practitioner. She reported that the tablet provided relief from pain and made her feel “strong,” and she also gained weight.
Later, he started experiencing sore muscles, bruising, joint pain, etc. Upon investigation, it was found that the tablet was actually prednisolone (exogenous steroid). In other words, a steroid was being given in the name of Ayurveda.
When he stopped taking the pill, the pain and swelling increased significantly, and symptoms of steroid withdrawal appeared. Later, he was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (CRP 25 mg/L, Rheumatoid factor 30 IU/mL). Then he received proper treatment with DMARDs like methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine, and short-term tapered prednisolone.
Lesson:
If you suddenly experience very fast relief, heaviness in the body, weight gain, swelling on the face, acne, bruising, mood changes, or frequent infections after taking any “Ayurvedic” medicine, you should suspect adulteration. This has been reported especially in conditions like arthritis, asthma, and skin diseases.
So what can be taken daily?
Here I am providing some practical categories. Because many people take something daily for general wellness as well.
1) Ayurvedic Options for Food and Lifestyle
These are often safer because they are not as potent as “medicine” and the dosing is relatively mild.
- Kitchen herbs like cumin, coriander, and fennel (in normal amounts)
- Turmeric in food (high dose supplements are a different thing)
- Triphala occasionally, not daily, and only in the context of constipation and based on tolerance
- Some people may experience loose stools and dehydration.
The same thing applies here. Look at the body’s response.
2) Products from standardized, reputed companies, and clear labeling
If you have to take it daily, it should be at least the minimum:
- Ingredients and quantity should be clearly stated on the label
- Manufacturing license, batch number, expiry should be present
- Third-party testing or quality claims should be meaningful
- Follow-up by a doctor or vaidya
But still, no blind trust. The risk is not eliminated just by looking at the brand. It is only reduced.
3) Extra caution before taking medicine daily for long-term chronic diseases
Arthritis, fatty liver, thyroid issues, infertility, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, psoriasis, asthma. People often take something “daily” for all of these.
And this is where the most monitoring is needed.
- Liver risk: Some herbs and alkaloids can cause adverse events associated with liver injury, as highlighted in a [study](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3456879/).
- Kidney risk: There is a concern about kidney injury from heavy metals or some bhasma preparations.
- BP and sugar: Some hidden steroids or other adulterants can increase BP and sugar levels.
A simple safety checklist (before taking daily)
This list can save you in a very practical way.
A) Identification of the product
- Is it a sealed, labeled product or loose powder?
- Are the ingredients readable?
- Is the dose and duration mentioned?
- Which company, which batch?
If the answer is no, drop the idea of taking it daily. Seriously.
B) Baseline condition of your body
If you have any of the following, exercise extra caution:
- Liver disease, history of hepatitis, jaundice
- Kidney disease, proteinuria, swelling
- Hypertension, heart disease
- Diabetes
- Pregnancy / breastfeeding
- Blood thinners (warfarin, etc.), anti-epileptics, psychiatric meds
- Autoimmune diseases
C) Informing the Doctor (This step is often skipped by people)
If you are taking allopathic medicine, inform the physician about which Ayurvedic product you are taking daily. The most interactions are hidden in this.
D) Red Flags
If you experience these signs after taking it daily, stop immediately and seek medical help:
- Yellowing of eyes/skin, dark urine
- Persistent vomiting, loss of appetite, severe fatigue
- Swelling in legs or face, foamy urine
- Unexplained bruising, muscle weakness
- Rapid weight gain, puffiness of face
- Sudden increase or very low blood pressure
- Mood changes, insomnia, irritability
- Frequent infections
All of these can be seen in steroid adulteration, liver injury, kidney injury, or drug-related adverse events.
The “right way” to take it daily if you really want to
I am keeping it very grounded:
- Do not start 4 to 6 things at once
- Otherwise, if an adverse event occurs, you won’t know who the culprit is.
- Small trial, then review
- 2 to 4 weeks. Then symptom review. Labs if needed.
- Do not consider lab tests as enemies
- Basic monitoring is wise when taking long-term, such as:
- LFT (liver function tests)
- KFT (kidney function tests)
- CBC
- fasting sugar / HbA1c (if weight gain, fatigue, or steroid suspicion)
- BP monitoring
- Avoid loose powders and unlabeled pills
- Especially those given by local practitioners without a name. You are essentially conducting a blind experiment.
- Extra strict with children and during pregnancy
- No self-medication here.
An awkward but necessary point: “Works” does not mean “safe”
The function of steroids is to provide quick relief. That’s why adulterated pills seem miraculous in conditions like arthritis, asthma, and skin diseases. But after months, they can lead to weak bones, high sugar levels, infections, facial swelling, and mood swings. And when you stop taking them, you experience withdrawal.
That’s why you shouldn’t consider just symptom relief as proof that something is safe. If you need to take it daily, you need safety proof.
Conclusion (a little straightforward, a little blunt)
In light of the potential long-term effects and withdrawal symptoms associated with steroid use, it’s essential to understand that these medications are not a one-size-fits-all solution. As discussed in this [study](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6790910/), while steroids can provide immediate relief, their prolonged use can lead to serious health complications. Therefore, it’s crucial to prioritize safety and consider alternative treatments that do not carry such risks.
Ayurvedic medicines can be taken daily. But only when you know what you are taking, why you are taking it, for how long you are taking it, and who is monitoring it.
The biggest risk is not Ayurveda. The biggest risks are unknown composition, adulteration, and long-term use without monitoring.
If you want to stay on the safe side, just remember these three rules:
- No unlabeled or loose medicine
- No daily use without follow-up in chronic diseases
- No stubbornness on red flags
FAQ
1) Is it safe to take Ayurvedic medicine daily?
Some medicines and supportive formulations can be taken daily, but it is not safe to take “every Ayurvedic medicine” daily. It depends on the safety source, composition, dose, duration, and your health condition.
2) Can Ayurvedic medicines cause liver damage?
Yes, in some cases, liver injury has been reported due to herbal compounds or toxic alkaloids, and sometimes due to adulteration. Immediate evaluation is necessary for signs like jaundice, dark urine, and fatigue.
3) Should Ayurvedic Bhasma or metallic preparations be taken daily?
Taking them daily without the supervision of a qualified Vaidya and proper quality assurance can be risky. There are reports in medical literature of heavy metals exceeding safe limits and kidney-related adverse events.
4) How can I know if my “Ayurvedic” medicine contains steroids?
If you experience very severe pain relief, weight gain, facial swelling, acne, bruising, muscle weakness, mood changes, frequent infections after taking the medicine, or if you have withdrawal and severe flare-ups after stopping it, you should suspect adulteration. Consult lab testing and a doctor.
5) Can Ayurvedic medicine be taken with BP or diabetes medication?
It is sometimes taken together, but there is a risk of interactions and hidden pharmacologic drugs. The safest way is to inform both your physician and vaidya about the complete list.
6) What tests are advisable to do before taking it daily?
In long-term use, tests like LFT, KFT, CBC, BP monitoring, and sugar tests (fasting/HbA1c) as needed are often helpful. Especially if you are taking it daily for a chronic disease.
7) Can there be an overdose of “natural” things as well?
Yes. Natural does not mean harmless. Many compounds are pharmacologically active. Dose and duration matter.
8) Is it okay to take loose powder or unlabeled pills?
Not at all on a daily basis. Because the composition is unknown, there is a risk of adulteration, and tracking becomes impossible in case of an adverse event.
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