Ayurveda and its Formulations


It is ironic that Ayurveda, the majestic science is often mocked and quackered to be low profile, inefficient and futile. Very often,Vaidyas or Ayurvedic physicians are confronted with a very common question " Is Ayurveda all about Churna and Kaadha...?" But first,let me extend my sincere gratitude towards the Covid-19 pandemic as it was the sole reason every Indian household is admirably acquainted with the term ' Kaadha' which precisely means a herbal decoction! Anyways, heading towards the answer to the former, it is an extremely irrational belief that the vast medicinal science is merely limited to the above mentioned formulations. The renonwed Ayurvedic compendiums such as The Charak Samhita,The Sushruta Samhita and several others present mammoth formulations apart from Churna and Kaadha. It is a Herculean task to put forward the interminable list of all the formulations in a single article. Therefore, let us take a look at the classic Ayurvedic formulations along with their concise description!
1) Swaras - When a herbal drug is nicely grinded and strained, its extract is obtained in the form of expressed juice aka Swaras. 
2) Kalka - The product obtained after a herbal drug is coarsely gnashed with water,honey,oil, clarified butter (ghrit) or milk is called as Kalka or paste. It is also known as Prakshep or Aavap. 
3) Kwaatha - Yes! The Kaadha,Kashaya or decoction is prepared by boiling a medicinal herb either in milk,water or other liquid until it remains half of the prepared amount.
4) Sheeta - Ayurveda has a miraculous formulation in the form of cold infusion named as Sheeta. The desired herb is crushed and soaked in cold water overnight. The next morning, the preparation is grinded and strained.
5) Faanta - If there's cold infusion,then certainly the existence of hot infusion can't be overlooked.
In Ayurveda,it is reckoned as Faanta. In this,the herb is pulverized with hot water till the latter takes up the qualities of the former.
6) Arka - Surprisingly,it is nothing but fresh distilled herbs. The herbs are first boiled in water and thereafter, the steam is collected, cooled and liquefied. 
7) Aasava - Fresh herbal juices are extracted and then fermented to yield Aasava. Although, the fermentation process produces alcohol ; these medications are not harmful to consume.
8) Arishta - Herbal medicines are boiled in water and fermented later by adding sugar. This process gives rise to Arishta. 
9) Avaleha - It is a semi-solid consistency medicinal herbal formulation prepared by grating the herbs and cooking them with sugar, jaggery or other suitable ingredient.
10) Bhasma - It is medicinal powder derived from minerals or metals immersed in a specific decoction and exposed to heat for a particular time.
11) Churna - The most popular one and the easiest as well! The powdered form of herbs and minerals is called Churna.
12) Medicated Ghrita - The preparation in which clarified butter is incorporated with medicinal qualities by infusing it with decoctions or pastes.
13) Vati - Incredible yet true. Ayurveda has tablets as well which are regarded as Vati !
14) Rasayana - Rasayana is useful for rejuvenation therapy, meant to provide the required nourishment to the body for both physical and mental well-being. In this preparation,metals and minerals both are used, for preventive and curative means.
15) Taila - The popularly used, medicated oils are prepared by cooking oil with herbal decoctions or herbs for a long period of time until the oil takes up the properties of the individual or collective herbs.
16) Parpati - It is a formulation prepared using herbal and mineral ingredients available in powder form.

17) Rasa Aushadhi - Formulations prepared from mercury,carbonised metals and minerals are named as Rasa Aushadhis.
18) Kshara - The herbs are burnt to ashes and then turned into an alkaline medium through an elaborate procedure.
19) Guggulu - Ayurvedic medicines prepared by the exudates, and obtained from the plant Commiphara 
mukul, are known as Guggulu. 
20) Pishti - The formulation which deals with detoxification and purification of herbo-mineral  drug by grinding it with liquid medicines like rose water or other is called Pishti.

The above formulations were just to name a few. As stated earlier, Ayurveda is a humongous science and one needs to dive deeper and deeper to explore further. 


SOURCES CITED - 

• Sanap AD, Nimkar OD, Patil A (2015) A Unique Ayurvedic Preparation, Kupipakva rasayana: A Review. J Homeop Ayurv Med 4:177. doi: 10.4172/2167-1206.1000177

• S. Sharma
Hindi commentary by Pt. Kashinath Shastri on Rasatarangini; Taranga 10, verse 21-22
(11th ed.), Motilal Banarasidas Publications, Varanasi (1979), pp. 225-226
Google Scholar

• Indian J Pharm Sci. 2009 Nov-Dec; 71(6): 656–662.
doi: 10.4103/0250-474X.59548

• J Adv Pharm Technol Res. 2014 Jan-Mar; 5(1): 4–12.
doi: 10.4103/2231-4040.126980

• https://www.planetayurveda.com/classical-ayurvedic-formulations/

• https://www.ayurtimes.com/pishti/

• https://www.planetayurveda.com/library/rasa-parpati/

• https://ayurvedpravin.com/2018/05/09/ayurved-medicated-ghee-help-to-correct-cholesterol-level-in-blood/

• पञ्चविधं कषायकल्पनमिति तद्यथा-स्वरसः, कल्कः, शृतः, शीतः, फाण्टः, कषाय इति। (चरक. सू. 4)



IMAGE CREDITS - 

• https://m.netmeds.com/health-library/post/praval-pishti-benefits-uses-ingredients-dosage-and-side-effects

• https://www.easyayurveda.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Commiphora-Mukul1.jpg

• https://www.journayu.in/articles/2020/14/4/images/JAyurveda_2020_14_4_119_304908_f6.jpg

• https://3.imimg.com/data3/DK/FL/MY-120593/parpati-500x500.jpg?hl=en_IN

• https://cdn2.stylecraze.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/15-Best-Ayurvedic-Oils-For-Long-And-Healthy-Hair.jpg?hl=en_IN

• https://assets.seniority.in/media/ktpl_blog/shutterstock_479101036_1_.jpg?hl=en_IN

• https://st3.depositphotos.com/4940251/33297/i/600/depositphotos_332975750-stock-photo-natural-hair-remedy-healthy-hair.jpg?hl=en_IN

• https://img1.exportersindia.com/product_images/bc-full/2020/4/6553092/giloy-tablets-1588231208-5400750.jpeg

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• https://www.keralatourism.org/images/ayurveda/static-banner/large/Churnas-18022020062731.jpg?hl=en_IN

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• https://images.news18.com/ibnkhabar/uploads/2021/02/rose.jpg?im=FitAndFill,width=1200,height=1200&hl=en_IN

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• http://brahmioilforhair.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/brahmi-hair-oil.jpg?hl=en_IN

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