Single herb or herbal formulation: what is the difference?
Ayurveda uses both single herbs and multi-herb formulations. Here is how they differ and how to compare them.
Written by
Girivana Editorial Team
Walk down any Ayurveda aisle and you will see two kinds of product: single herbs, such as ashwagandha or shatavari capsules, and formulations that combine several herbs in one capsule.
Single-herb products
A single-herb product contains one botanical only. It is simple to understand and easy to compare between brands: check the plant part, the amount per capsule and whether anything else has been added.
Herbal formulations
Classical Ayurveda often combines herbs that are traditionally used together. A formulation can contain anything from three to more than twenty ingredients.
How to compare
For both types, look for full disclosure: botanical names, parts used and quantities. For formulations especially, a list of key ingredients without amounts makes comparison difficult.
Girivana’s Reserve collection is single-herb; the Formulations collection lists every ingredient and its quantity per capsule.
- single herb
- formulations
- buying guide
Girivana Editorial Team
Quality & product education
The team that sources, tests and documents every Girivana product, and explains what goes into each jar.
