28 Ayurveda Formulations You Need To Know Now.

Ayurveda is regarded as ancient science of life and is based on principle of "maintaining the health of a healthy person and relieving the patient from the diseased condition".

Ayurveda is the science of health and healing practised by ancient Aryans which is based on Atharvaveda, one of the oldest scriptures of Hindus, about 3000 years old. The object of Ayurveda is counteract the imbalance of three essential elements, vata, pitta and kapha (air, bile and phlegm respectively), which constitute the Tridosh from which the body originates. It is the Tridosh which regularises the normal working of the human body.

Ayurvedic Formulations Different solvents (menstrum) used in preparations of ayurvedic formulations are water, oils, milk, ghee, cow's urine, etc. The use of sweetening agents, binding agents, colourants, flavouring principles and other adjuvents is also very common in ayurvedic preparations. With an objective of obtaining maximum therapeutic benefit and making the formulation palatable, different pharmaceutical processes are prescribed in ayurveda.

The important ones are as follows :

1.Arka : It is the liquid preparation obtained by distillation of certain crude drugs soaked in water using the distillation unit (Arkayantra). The coarsely powdered crude drug is soaked in adequate quantity of water and kept overnight, which softens the drug and releases the volatile principles during distillation.

Arka is a suspension of the distillate in water with slight turbidity and colour, depending upon the nature of crude drug undergoing the distillation. It has characteristic aromatic odour.

Examples : Ajmodarka, Karpurady arka, Jatamansyarka.

2. Asava and Arishta :  Asavas and Aristas are the medicinal preparations processed by soaking the drugs in the powdered forms or in the form of their decoction (known as 'Kasaya in ayurveda), in a solution of sugar or jaggery (Guri, for a specified period of time. During soaking, it undergoes fermentation generating alcohol and in process facilitating extraction of active constituents contained in the drugs. Alcohol so generated also serves as a preservative in the product.

It has characteristic, aromatic and alcoholic odour.

Examples : Kumariasava, Madhukasava, Punarnavasava, Arvindasava, Chandanasava, Kanakasava, Lohasava, Kutarista, Draksharista, Dashmularista, Vidangarista, Ashokarista, khadirarista.

It has characteristic, aromatic and alcoholic odour.

3. Avaleha or Leha and Paka : Aveleha or Leha is a semisolid preparation of drugs prepared by addition of sugar, jaggery (gur) or sugar candy and boiled with prescribed drug-juice or decoction. Jaggery/gur or sugar candy is dissolved in liquid, boiled and strained. The powdered drugs in small quantities are added and stirred continuously to form the homogeneous mass. Ghee or oil is added while preparation is hot.

Examples : Kutajavaleha, Draksavaleha, Vasavaleha, Bilvadileha, and Surnava leha.

4. Bhasma : The powdered form of the substance, obtained by calcination of metals, minerals or animal products by a special process in closed crucibles or in pits covered with cow dung cakes (puta), is known as Bhasma.

The method of preparation of Bhasma consists of two steps, the first being sodhana and the second marana. Both the processess are time consuming and need special attention all the while.

Bhasmas are grey, whitish, yellowish or black coloured powders. They are stored in glass containers. Bhasmas are quite stable products and maintain their potency for a long time.

Examples : Tamra-bhasma, Godanti bhasma, Pravala bhasma, Mukta bhasma, Lauha bhasma, suvarna bhasma and shankha bhasma...

5. Churna (Churna) : Fine powder of drug or drugs is known as churna. Drugs mentioned in patha, are cleaned properly, dried thoroughly, pulverised and then sieved. The churna is free flowing and retains potency for one year, if preserved in air-tight cotainers.

Examples: Triphala churna, Trikatu churna, Drakshadi churna, and Sudarshan churna.

6. Dravaka : The liquid preparations obtained from lavanas or ksharas are known as Dravakas. These are prepared by distillation process with or without additions of any fluids. These should be  stored in glass bottles and are quite stable products.

Example : Sankha-dravaka

7. Fant (fanta) : These are prepared by pouring hot water over the dry crude-drugs. Normally crude drugs are leaves but roots and fruits may also be used at times. The pulverised crude-drugs are placed in the clean and dry metal vessels and the hot water (just to boil) is poured and the lid is placed. The drug is strained through fine muslin cloth and the filtrate is used as fanta.

8. Ghana-saar : The decoction obtained in preparation of Kadha or Nikadha is further evaporated to semi-solid mass is known as Ghana saar. (Ghan means solid).

9. Ghrita (Snehkalpa) : Ghritas are the preparations in which ghee is boiled with the prescribed quantity of the decoction (Kasaya) and fine paste (Kalka) of the drug as specified in the formula. 

The process of preparation of ghrita ensures the absorption of the therapeutically active constituents(API) of the drugs used for the preparation, Ghrita solidifies when cooled. It has colour, odour and taste of the ingredients used in the preparation. Ghritas are the preparations for internal consumption and are stable for about sixteen months. Normally they are taken along with warm vehicle (water or milk).

Examples : Asoka ghrita, Nirgundi ghrita, Brahmi ghrita, Sukumara ghrita and Pippalyadi ghrita.

10. Kalka : When fresh or dry crude-drug is powdered and pounded with water hot or cold to give a very fine paste then it is termed Kalka.

11. Kajjali : An amalgum used in Ayurvedic system of medicine as a vehicle for other medicines is prepared by mixing equal quantity of mercury and sulphur. Before the sulphur and mercury are mixed together every care is taken to see that both the ingredients are of highest purity. Stone mortar and pestal are used for uniform rubbing and converting them into very fine blackish grey powder,

12.ksharas : Alkaline (basic) substances obtained from the ash of drugs are known as ksharas. The crude drug is cut into pieces and burnt to ash. The ash is dissolved in water, strained and again evaporated to remove water while salty solid obtained is known as kshar.
Kshar becomes moist, if exposed to atmospheric conditions. It is quite stable for years together. The taste of kshar is salty.

Examples : Apamarga ksara, Palasa ksara, Vasa ksara, and Yava ksara.

13. Kvatha (Decoction) : This is prepared by boiling the powdered crude drugs in water. According to the hardness of crude drug, either four, eight or sixteen times quantity of water is added to the drug and boiled to one fourth volume. The decoction is filtered and used. Sometimes butter, honey, sugar, jaggary or oils are added before intake.

14. Kupipakva Rasayana : The minerals and drugs of metallic origin in the powdered form are mixed together and placed in a glass flask (Kachkupi i.e. glass vessel), occupying about 1/3rd of volume. The glass flask is closed with clay smeared pieces of cloth around the bottle in seven consecutive layers. 

The flask is dried and burried in sand (Valuka yantra) upto the neck. The flask in valukas yantra is then heated gradually in three stages i.e. Mridu-agni, Mandagni and Tiksnagni for a specified period of time as mentioned in process. Then a red hot iron rod about 5 cm in diameter is inserted into glass flask (kach kupi) through the opening and stirred properly, so that opening of the flask is not choked due to the coating formed by sublimed sulphur. When the process is over, the glass-flask is cooled and broken to collect the contents carefully without the contamination of any glass pieces therein. 

Kupipaka-rasayana has different physical characteristics depending upon the contents of formula. Generally these are yellow, red or dark coloured, Kupipakva-rasayana are quite stable-products and can be preserved idefinitely.

Examples : Rasa karpura, Rasa sindura, Makaradhvaja, Swarna sindura, Samir pannag rasa, and Vatagni kumar rasa.

15. Lepa : The preparation in the form of paste meant for external application on the body is known as lepa. The crude-drugs in the powdered form are mixed with cow’s urine, water, oil or ghee and made into paste.

Lepas prepared from vegetable powders are stable only for one month, while lepas containing minerals or metals long last.

Examples : Sinduradi lepa, Pathyadi lepa, Dasanga lepa and Dosaghna lepa.

16. Matras :  Highly potent, stick like preparations are known as Matras. They are rubbed over the sand- stone in a vehicle like honey or milk. The rubbing on the sand stone is termed as turn. Turns decide the dose of the medicament. The outcome of turns is collected on the finger tips and is applied to the tongue wherefrom the drug gets absorbed and offers its therapeutic activity.

17. Nassayas : These are the nasal preparations and may be very fine powder, aqueous or oily preparation. They are either directly blown into the nostrils or applied by dropper if in the liquid-form.

18. Netrabindu and Anjana :  Netrabindu is processed by dissolving the specified crude drugs in water or kasaya or honey and used as eye drops. Anjanas are very fine powders of medicaments to be applied with netrasalaka. Their potency depends upon the drugs used in their preparation. Normally, they are used within one year.

Examples : Muktadi mahanjana, Chandroday varti,

19. Nikadha : The residue obtained in Kadha or Kashaya is treated with boiling water and strained. The filtrate thus obtained is known as Nikatha.

20. Parpati Kalpas : The mineral or herbal drugs are processed by special techniques of roasting and are converted into flattened scales or thin layers. Parpati-Kalpas are claimed to have a long shelf life.

21. Pisti : Pisti is obtained by triturating the drug with the specified liquids and exposing the same to sun moon light. Pisties are as fine as bhasma, and retain their potency indefinitely. They are stored in bottles.

Examples : Praval pisti, Mukta pisti, Manikya pisti

22. Praash : They are semi-solid preparations like jams. These are highly palatable preparations used for refreshing or rejuvination of the body., i.e. chyavanpraash.

23. Rasa-Yoga : The medicinal preparations containing mineral drugs as their main ingredients, in the form of powder or pills are known as Rasa-yoga. The physical properties of Rasa-yoga vary to a great extent, depending upon their contents. They are stored in glass bottles and can be preserved indefinitely.

 

Examples : Karpura-rasa, Icchabhedi-rasa, Tribhuvana kirti-rasa, Prabhakara-rasa and Laghu malini vasant-rasa.

24. Sattva : Water extractable solid substance obtained from a drug is known as sattva. Crude drug is cut into pieces, soaked in water, kept overnight and strained. It is allowed to settle. The supernalant liquid is decanted and sattva (extract) is dried and powdered

Example : Guduchi (Gulvel) Sattva,

25. Siddha-milks : The drops obtained by burning medicinal substances like roots or fruits (marking nut) or wicks impregnated with medicinal extracts (sulphur preparation) are allowed to fall in the boiling milk and are thoroughly mixed by stirring. The drops getting mixed with milk is enriched with medicinal activity are further used for treatment. Siddha milk are especially useful for invalids as correctives or tonics.

26. Swarasa : When the Kalka is pressed in between the palms of the hand or is expressed through the layers of cloth to produce a thick juice then it is called as swaras. (swa-rasa). Swarasa is general prepared from crushed leaves or the roots of the herbs.

27. Taila (Medicated oils) : They are called sneha kalpa/paka and prepared by cooking oil with the juice or the decoction and paste of drugs. Unless otherwise specified, paste of drug should be one fourth part of the oil and the liquid (drava) should be four times of oil. If no liquid is specified in recipi, water should be used.

Examples : Bhringaraja taila, Maha Narayan taila, Laghu Visagarbha taila, Anu-laila, and Jyotismati taila.

28. Vatika and Gutika :  Medicaments in the form of tablets or pills are known vatika and gutika respectively. These ire made by using single or combinations of vegetable, mineral or animal drugs. These preparations can be used upto two years, Pills with mineral ingredients can be used indefinitely. These formulations should not loose their original colour, odour, taste, and lorm on standing. They should be kept away from moisture, if they contain salt, ksara or sugal.

Examples : Gandhaka vati, Lasunadi gutika, Marma gutika, Sankha vati, Sanjivani vati and panda gutika.

Cheers,

The Amazing Things😀