Āsavam is an Āyur-vedic medical Preparation

They then decorated her with very excellent and valuable jewels, which shone brightly. Next they offered her food containing all good qualities, and a sweet, inebriating drink called āsavam.

Āsavam is an Āyur-vedic medical preparation; it is not a liquor. It is especially made from drugs and is meant to improve metabolism for the healthy condition of the body.

The Bhaktivedanta purport of the Third Canto, Twenty-third Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,entitled “Devahūti’s Lamentation.” Text 29

In the medical science of the ancient sages, known as the Āyur-veda as of today more than 1,200 species of plants, nearly 100 minerals and over 100 animal products comprise the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia. ASAVA and Arishta are unique dosage form discovered by Ayurveda having indefinite shelf life and it was said that the “older the better it is”

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267241679_Asava_and_Aristha_An_Ayurvedic_Medicine_-_An_Overview

It is fascinating to see that all kind of herbs and minerals have a certain potency and when combined can do wonders. The lowly weed in the garden than becomes a therapeutic tea or subji and earth in the form of “Medicinal Clay” purifies the body of accumulated metabolic or other poisonous substances. According to Scripture mountains and stones are the bones and plants and trees are the hairs on the body of the Lord. If looked at it this way it is of course not surprising that they have these potencies as the Supreme Lord is the Supreme Powerful in as much as that our material bodies are also made up of these same ingredients. The interest the medical industry has in these natural, powerful substances is not surprising as they want to exploit these God given gifts and put a patent on them.

some examples of ingredients for Asava

1/ Cumin – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23035918/

2/ Woodfordia fruticosa

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodfordia_fruticosa

and

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17276634/

3/ Long pepper (Piper longum)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_pepper

and

cyminum L., Santalum album L. and
Zingiber officinale Roscoe. Woodfordia
fruticosa(L.) Kurz as fermentation initiator
cyminum L., Santalum album L. and
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36256521/

It is not the matter of IF one has to give up the body but WHEN and HOW. The IF we cannot influence but the WHEN and HOW. Leaving the body in a relatively clean body and a clear mind is a great boon and these simple things like fresh herbs, spices and clean earth are so easily available, almost free and so full of potency why not use them.

This I discovered lately “Medicinal Clay” in German “Heil Erde”

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicinal_clay

and

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luvos

and

https://drsircus.com/detox/eating-clay-everyday-the-most-basic-detox/

Here in Germany you can buy the Original LUVOS HEILERDE at Rossmann or DM for 5€ for 400 Gramm. If one has to describe Taste as “clean” this would describe it perfectly. The funny thing is that almost all these discoveries were made in the 19th century by German Chemists and even more surprising is to me that they are available here everywhere for little money, just that not many know about it.

asava and arishta not only contributing to the flavour of the medicine but having their own pharmacological action too. The fermentation initiator provides inoculum for the fermentation to start. The medium of sugars is required for fermentation. In Asokarishta, the main herb is asoka (Saraca asoca De Wilde) [11]. Other components which contribute for flavours are Cuminum
cyminum L., Santalum album L. and Zingiber officinale Roscoe. Woodfordia fruticosa(L.) Kurz as fermentation initiator and jaggery as a source of sugar are also present. Similarly in Kanakasava, Kanaka (Datura metel L.) is the main herb while Piper longum L. and Zingiber officinale Roscoe contribute for flavor [12]. Woodfordia fruticosa are mostly used in asava and aishta. Although all parts of this plant possess valuable medicinal sugars is required for fermentation. In Asokarishta, the main herb is asoka (Saraca asoca De Wilde) [11]. Other components which contribute for flavours are Cuminum cyminum L., Santalum album L. and
Zingiber officinale Roscoe. Woodfordia fruticosa(L.) Kurz as fermentation initiator and jaggery as a source of sugar are also present. Similarly in Kanakasava, Kanaka (Datura metel L.) is the main herb while Piper longum L. and Zingiber officinale Roscoe contribute for flavor [12].
Woodfordia fruticosa are mostly used in asava and aishta. Although all parts of this plant possess valuable medicinal properties, there is a heavy demand for the flowers, both in domestic and international markets specialized in the preparation of herbal medicines.

(by Mohini devi dasi)

Related: Yogic Way To Cure Diseases
(https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.462032)