Ghanvati vs Tablet in Ayurveda
Ghanvati is a small pea sized medicinal preparation in Ayruveda. An Ayurvedic tablet on the other hand is akin to a tablet in allopathic medicine in shape and size.
Example of ghanvati is the tulsi ghanvati made into small pea sized preparations made from tulsi leaves. Tulsi is a well known Indian herb which is highly recommended in the treatment of several ailments including asthma and gastric distention and the like.
Ghanvati should be chewed and not swallowed with water. A tablet on the other hand should be swallowed with water. The method of preparation of ghanvati also differs from that of a tablet in Ayurveda.
Let us take for example the preparation of what is called kutaj ghanvati. Kutaja is a kind of medicinal plant that is said to have sprung from nectar that dripped from the bodies of monkeys that have rescued Sita the wife of Lord Rama and who were restored to life by Lord Indra. The plant is said to abound in digestive properties.
Make use of the root of the kutaja plant. Wash it off with fresh water and cook it in water around 16 times. Allow the solution to sieve through a cloth during the half stage. Cook the solution again till it becomes thick. Allow the preparation to dry out in sun light. Then finally prepare the ghanvatis. This is the way to prepare ghanvati in Ayurveda.
Ayurvedic tablet formulation is different altogether. First the raw plant material is soaked in water. The natural solvent dissolves the compound into a solution. This solution is put under heavy pressure in a 100,000-pound press. This separates the liquid from the material left in the press. This is the method of preparation of a tablet in Ayurveda. The physician prescribes both ghanvati and tablet.