World Peace - Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia

The proportionate presence of
the five proelements contributes
to the formation of Rasa (taste).
A Dravya may exhibit one
Rasa such as Madhura (sweet)
in the case of sugar or up to five
Rasas in the case of fruits such
as Haritaki, where all Rasa except
Lavana (saline) are present.
their nutritional or therapeutic effects. The therapeutic
effects are classified according to causative factors,
manifested conditions, or both.
Substances are generally classified based on the origin
of the substance, the specific therapeutic action, those
having more than one effect, and the treatment applications.
Authors belonging to different periods have
followed different methods of classification. Later
books provide a comprehensive compilation of drugs
under different categories. For the most part, groups of
drugs are named based on similar therapeutic actions,
effects, or after a representative substance.
Charaka Samhita, the most ancient Ayurvedic text,
describes 50 groups of 10 plants each classified according
to their therapeutic actions such as Jwaragna
(antipyretics) or Mutral (diuretics) and specific applications
such as Vamana (emesis) or Virecana (purgation).
Sushruta, author of another treatise, describes
38 groups of plants with similar properties such as
Ropan (wound healing), Shothagna (anti-inflammatory),
Stanyajanan (galactagogue), or Arshogna (antihemorrhoidal).
These texts indicate knowledge about
therapeutic actions or effects of different drugs or
substances similar to present-day pharmacology.
However, the terms Guna (properties), Rasa, Virya,
Vipaka, and Prashava, which describe different actions
or effects of a Aushadhi (drug), require proper
clinical interpretation.
Aushadhi Karan
(Pharmaceutics)
The knowledge about pharmaceutics is well developed.
Knowledge is available for the use of the juice
of the fresh plant to that of powder, pills, infusions,
34 | Bhavan Australia | August 2012
medicinal oils, medicinal wines, and so forth as well
as external application. Specific processes for detoxification
of toxic substances and enhancement of the
therapeutic actions are described in detail. In most
cases, multiple composition and variety of the pharmaceutical
process provides extensive flexibility to
allow for the selection of a specific type of medicine
or treatment.
In Ayurvedic literature, thousands of formulations are
described with details of composition, quantity,
process, general effect on humors, and specific clinical
indications. Although plants are more commonly
used as therapeutics, the use of metals such as gold,
zinc, or copper and minerals such as mica or iron ores
is not uncommon. Metals are processed specifically to
ensure safety and to enhance their therapeutic effects.
Quality and Administration of Drugs
Essentially, an ideal drug restores equilibrium or
functional harmony. Any procedure which induces a
therapeutic response is expected to not create any
untoward side-effects. Due to its natural origin, a
therapeutic should be available in abundance, rich in
specific properties, have multiple uses, and be able
to deliver the desired effect.
Safety and efficacy concepts are well defined. A drug
or medicine is required to be examined in terms of its
genesis, property, efficacy, seasonality, time of acquisition
or procurement, preservation, and modification
or process. Its application must be understood
in terms of administration, dosage, patient compliance,
and specific therapeutic effect. It is also necessary
to understand its use in combination with other
drugs and to compare it with other medicines with
similar properties.
A medicine is considered appropriate if it can be given
in small doses, has a rapid onset of action, and is easy
to assimilate. It should be curative of a specific disease
or increased morbidity and be safe even in complicated
disease conditions. It should not have a depressant
effect on metabolism, and it should be palatable,
pleasing, and have good taste, odor, and color.
The time of administration of medicines is well specified,
especially in relation to meals in the case of oral
medicines. There are 10 different timings prescribed
based on the clinical indications: empty stomach
(early morning), premeal, midmeal, postmeal, between
two major meals (midday), with meals, and
so on. The importance of time in relation to specific
therapeutic effects is also mentioned. For example,
medicines for anxiety disorders are