Shankhpushpi syrup for brain development of children

Shankhpushpi Syrup is a herbal Ayurvedic medicine containing Shankhapushpi and Brahmi as the major ingredients. Both the herbs are traditionally described to improve learning, concentration, grasping power and recall ability.

Shankhpushpi Syrup is a Medya Rasayana and used as a brain tonic. It improves mental powers and helps in various nervous diseases like insomnia, depression and high blood pressure.

Regular use of this medicine for 3 or more months helps to improve concentration, focus, memory power and alertness. This Ayurvedic syrup is very beneficial for school going children who are always at stress to perform better in their exams.

Here is given more about this medicine, such as benefits, indication/therapeutic uses, composition, and dosage.

Manufacturer: It is manufactured by many Ayurvedic Pharmacies
Synonyms: Shankha Pushpi Syrup
Availability: Online and at medical stores
Type of medicine: Herbal Ayurvedic Medicine
Main Indication: Improving brain function
Dhatu (tissue): Plasma, nerve, reproductive
Srotas (channel): Nervous, mental, excretory, reproductive
Safety Profile: Very safe, no known side-effects
Contraindications: Pregnancy, Diabetes

Shankhpushpi Syrup Composition

This medicine is manufactured by many pharmacies but the formulation may differ. The main ingredient of the medicine is Shankhpushpi and used for improving brain function and hence all have named it as Shankhpushpi Syrup.

Below is given composition of Baidyanath, Dabur and Unjha Shankhapushpi Syrup.

Baidyanath Shankhpushpi

Each 5 ml of contains

Shankhapushpi Convolvalus Pluricaulis 125 mg
Brahmi Bacopa monnieri 3 mg
Nimbu Satva Citric Acid 0.75 mg.
Sugar (Saccharum Officinarum) Q.S.
Flavour syrup base Q.S.
Preservatives: Methyl Paraben, Sodium I.P., Propyl Paraben Sodium I.P., Sod. Metabisulphite I.P.

Dabur Shankha Pushpi Syrup

Each 5ml prepared from

Shankhapushpi 106 mg
Brahmi 26 mg
Nimbu Satva 3 mg
Sharkara 4.237 g
Water Q.S.
Preservatives: Sodium Methyl Paraben I.P., Sodium Propyl Paraben I.P.

Unjha Shankhpushpi Syrup

Each 5 ml contains Aqueous Extract Derived From

Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis) 125 mg.
Brahmi (Centella Asiatica) 31.25 mg.
Nimbu Satva (Citric Acid) 3.9065 mg.
Sugar (Saccharum Officinarum) Q.S.
Sunset Yellow & Brillium Blue FCF Colour Q.S.
Approved Flavour Q.S.
Excipients Q.S.

Know the Ingredients of Shankhpushpi Syrup

Shankhpushpi / Convolvulus pluricaulis, bears conch shell-like flowers and hence it is named as Shankhpushpi (Shankha = Conch; Pushp = Flowers). It is boon for the brain. It is a powerful brain stimulant. Shankhpushpi is hypotensive, antithyroid and sedative. It improves mental functions and reduces stress due to traumatic, chemical or psychological reasons. Shankhpushpi is used in treatment of epilepsy, insanity, weakness of nerves and mental retardation.

Shankhpushpi is Katu (Pungent), Tikta (Bitter) and Kashaya (Astringent) in taste (Ras) and Laghu (light), Slimy and Oily in action (Guna). Its post-digestive effect (Vipak) is Madhura (Sweet). It is a Sheet Virya herbs. Sheet Virya or Cool potency herb, subdues Pitta (Bile) Vata (Wind) and increases Kapha (Mucus). Sheet Virya herb gives nourishment to the body and steadiness. It supports the building of the body fluids.

Rasa (taste on the tongue): Kashaya (Astringent), Katu (Pungent), Tikta (Bitter)
Guna (Pharmacological Action): Snigdha (Unctuous), Laghu (Light), Picchal (Slimy)
Virya (Action): Sita (Cooling)
Vipaka (transformed state after digestion): Madhura (Sweet)

Shankhpushpi is tridoshhar and balances Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.

Shankhpushpi reduces different types of stress, including psychological, chemical and traumatic. It has an anti-anxiety, hypotensive and mental function improving property. It is a brain tonic and used to treat mental weakness, mental disorders, insanity, to improve memory.

Brahmi / Bacopa monnieri (often confused with its close relative Gotu kola Centella asiatica) which is also called Brahmi in Northern India), is bitter (Tikta), astringent (Kashaya) in taste (Ras), light (Laghu), unctuous (Snigdha) in qualities (Guna). It is pungent (Katu) after digestion (Vipak) and Cool in potency. Brahmi balances Vata, Pitta, and Kapha Dosha. It works on seven Dhatu of the body. Brahmi is especially beneficial for the mind. It is a nervine Tonic, sedative, rejuvenative, anticonvulsant and anti-inflammatory. In Ayurveda, it is indicated in mental weakness, anxiety, skin disorders, and fever. It is a memory vitalizer and nervine tonic.

Read more: Herb detail Brahmi or Bacopa monnieri

Rasa (Taste on Tongue): Bitter/Titka, Astringent/Kashaya
Guna (Pharmacological Action): Light/Laghu, Unctuous/Snigdha
Virya (Action): Cooling/Sheeta
Vipaka (Transformed State After Digestion): Pungent/Katu
Dosha: Vata-Pitta and Kapha Balancing
Tissue/Dhatu: All Seven, Especially Plasma, Blood, Nerve

Brahmi is adaptogenic, astringent, diuretic, sedative, potent nervine Tonic, an anti-anxiety agent, and improves mental functions. It is used in insanity, epilepsy, bronchitis, asthma and diarrhea. Brahmi is chiefly used in mental disorders as a brain tonic.

Brahmi increases GABA (Gamma Aminobutyric Acid) level in the brain. GABA is an amino acid / brain chemical or neurotransmitter that sends signals from nerve cell to a specific target cell. Low level of this chemical or GABA deficiency causes stress, mood disorders, depression, insomnia, hypertension and anxiety.

Brahmi and Shankhpushpi possess properties similar to nootropic agents. They are cooling in nature and reduces excessive heat inside the body, stress, and anger.

Nimbu Satva / Citric acid is acidic and is often used to enhance the flavor of syrups.

Ayurvedic Action of Shankhpushpi Syrup

Chedana: Laxative
Majja dhatu Rasayana: Rejuvenative to the nervous tissue
Medhya: Promotes intellectual capacity
Nidrajanana Promotes sleep
Tridosahara: Alleviates all three Dosha
Unmadaghna: Alleviates insanity and emotional instability
Vrishya: Aphrodisiac

Biomedical Action of Shankhpushpi Syrup

Antispasmodic: Relieve spasm of involuntary muscle.
Astringent: Helps to stop bleeding form intestines, urinary and reproductive system.
Laxative: Tending to stimulate or facilitate the evacuation of the bowels.
Nervine sedative: Nerve Tonic, calms nerves.
Nervine: Tonifying effect on the nervous system.
Nootropic: Enhance memory or other cognitive functions.
Nutritive: Providing nourishment, nutritious.
Sedative: Promoting calm or inducing sleep
Tonic: Restore or improve health or well-being.

Shankhpushpi Syrup Health Benefits

It nourishes brain.
It improves concentration by steadying neuro transmitters.
It improves memory by increasing protein kinase activity.
It improves learning, grasping power and retention of memory.
It improves mental functions and mental quotient.
It is a mood stabilizer.
It reduces stress and distraction.
It controls the hyperexcitability of the nerves.
It gives alertness and sharpness to mind.
It gives relief in mental and physical fatigue.
It reduces mild hypertension.
It is useful in ADHD Attention deficit hyperactivity disorders.
It is excellent herbal remedy for children with low intelligence or learning problems.
It should be used as an adjuvant to many mental disorders.
It is time-tested and absolutely safe for everyone.
It has no side effect.

Shankhpushpi Syrup Therapeutic Uses

Anxiety, Stress, depression, mental fatigue, forgetfulness
As an adjuvant in mental retardation and mild hypertension, ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), alcoholism
Autism, anger, schizophrenia, Phobias
Bed wetting
Brain tonic
Concentration and learning problem
Mood disorders
Psychosis (mental disorder)
Sleeplessness / insomnia
Speech difficulties

Shankhpushpi Syrup Dosage

The recommended dosage of medicine 10 to 15 ml OR 2-3 teaspoons and children can take 5-10 ml OR 1-2 teaspoons.
It should be taken after mixing in one cup water.
It should be taken twice a day, in the morning and evening after meals.
Or take as directed by a doctor.

Suggestions, Contraindications, Interactions, Side-effects, and Warnings

It should not be taken during pregnancy.
It is completely safe to take this medicine in recommended doses.
There are no known side effects in taking this syrup.
Shankhapushpi Syrup is generally advertised for children but an adult person can also take it for improving brain function and reducing stress.
It should be taken continuously for three or more months for visible results.
Each spoon of syrup contains good amount of sugar.
As Shankhpushpi Syrup contains sugar, therefore it is not suitable for diabetics.
Shankhapushpi herb is contraindicated with modern anti-epilepttic drug Phenytoin. It reduces the antiepileptic activity of Phenytoin and lowers plasma phenyton levels.
Effectivity of herbal medicine depends on many factors. A medicine suitable for one person may not essentially give the same result in another person.
Exact dose depends on the age, strength, digestive power of the patient, the nature of the illness, the state of the viscera and humours, and the properties of individual drugs.
Keep away from the sight and reach of children.
Please maintain a gap of at least an hour between intake of any allopathic drug and Ayurvedic medicine to avoid drug interaction, if any.
Do not use many different medicines for the treatments of the same disease.

Pharmacies Making Shankhpushpi Syrup

You can buy this medicine online or from medical stores. Since it is a classical medicine, it is manufactured by many Ayurvedic pharmacies.

Name of some of the Ayurvedic Pharmacies manufacturing this medicine is given below:

Dabur Shankhpushpi Syrup

Unjha Shankhpushpi Syrup 200 ml @ INR 80

Vyas Pharmaceuticals Shankhpushpi Syrup

Baidyanath Shankha Pushpi Syrup Price/MRP:

450 ml @ INR 147.00
200 ml @ INR 76.00
100 ml @ INR 41.00

and many other Ayurvedic pharmacies.

Reference: Comparative pharmacognostical investigation on four ethanobotanicals traditionally used as Shankhpushpi in India