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INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENTIFIC HERITAGE www.iish.org
Cumin in Sanskrit known as jeeraka, ajajee, etc has volatile oil containing
aldehydes, cymine, etc. This is an excellent digestive stimulant, anti-vomiting
agent, cures and eye infections.
Himalayan silver fur known in Sanskrit as thaleesapatra and thaleesam has
siyadopithicin as an important constituent in the leaves. It reduces cough and
lungs based abnormalities.
Himalayan cedar known in Sanskrit as devadaru, suradaru, etc. It contains an
oleoresin in the trunk. It has turpentine and cholestyrin.
THE SCIENCE OF SELECTION AND
PREPARATION OF RAW DRUGS IN AYURVEDA
Unlike any other medical system, the Ayurveda has many specialities, which
once upon a time was thought as superstition. However when the modern
phytochemical information and knowledge are getting piled up from a series of
studies and systematic research, many of the indications and guidance given in
the collection and processing of the raw drugs, in the ayurvedic texts, can be
easily proved as scientific. They can be easily analysed based on the upto date
knowledge on phytochemistry. Many of the guidance lines given in the
literature can be justified as the requirement of the probable and possible
chemical modification for the final drug formulations. Here an attempt is made
to analyze those indications given in the ancient ayurvedic texts.
COLLECTION OF THE RAW DRUGS
Many paramenters are monitored while collecting, raw drugs for the ayurvedic
preparations. Those guidance may directly be based most probably on the first
hand experience of those scientists. In the Charaka samhita, the most
authentic <strong>book</strong> on Ayurveda written in Sanskrit, it is mentioned that
Saakshaath anubhavair drushto na strutho na guru darsitha, lokaanaam
upakaraaya ethath sarvam pradarsitham.
The message of the above lines : All the parameters for the collection of the raw
drugs, what ever is mentioned in the ancient texts might have been arrived at
through the experience of the ancient scientists. Not presented merely from the
teachers or not presented as though it is told by someone. They are described
for the benefit of the common people. From these lines it is clear that the
directions are given based on their own experience and experiments.
There are variety of plant tissues used as raw drugs. They are roots, rhizomes,
stems, barks, leaves, buds, flowers, raw fruits, ripened fruits, seeds, seed
coats, etc. In some cases the latex or exudates are also used as raw drugs.
Instructions are given to monitor the maturity while collecting the drugs for the
formulation preparation. The other parameters include the thickness, the age,
possible content of the skin/carp, the direction of the growth of the root, the
soil in which the plant is growing, etc. Similarly direction given for the
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