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Background: Vati and gutika (pills and tablets) are among the most widely manufactured Ayurvedic dosage forms. Classical texts specify binders such as sugar, jaggery, guggulu and honey in defined proportions, while modern manufacturers increasingly use compression with conventional excipients. The effects of these choices on quality are rarely examined. Objective: To review classical binding principles, the use of modern excipients, and the quality parameters applied to vati and gutika. Methods: A critical narrative review of classical rules, pharmaceutical development and standardisation studies of Ayurvedic tablets, and relevant literature on natural binders and excipients. Results: Classical rules prescribe sugar at four times, jaggery at twice and guggulu or honey at equal the weight of powder, or liquids at twice the weight for wet massing, with no added binder when guggulu is already an ingredient. These binders are therapeutically active and contribute a large share of the dose. Directly compressed classical formulations without excipients have achieved acceptable properties; for example, Sulaharan Yoga tablets had hardness 4.0–4.7 kg/cm², friability 1.2–1.6% and disintegration 7–11 minutes. A ghanavati showed hardness of 6.0 kg/cm² and disintegration of 25 minutes. Natural gums such as Moringa gum can act as binders or release retardants. Disintegration and dissolution of traditional pills are poorly characterised, and excipient declarations are often incomplete. Conclusion: Binders in vati are part of the formulation, not inert additives. Excipient choice should be justified, declared and tested for its effect on disintegration, dissolution and stability.

KEYWORDS: Vati; Gutika; Binders; Excipients; Guda; Guggulu; Tablet quality; Disintegration