Abstract

CRITICAL REVIEW ON PANCHASHARA RASA – A VAJIKARA YOGA

Akshaya Parvatikar*, Srinivas Yadav and Surekha Medikeri

ABSTRACT

Rasashastra is the branch of Ayurveda which deals with number of formulations for various diseases. Shukra dosha is one such condition where ample amount of Vajikara or Vrushya formulations are explained. Herbo-mineral preparations are unique in their own way as they are found to be effective even in a small dose and have prolonged shelf life. Also their method of preparation involves lot of specific procedures which makes them highly potent by increasing their therapeutic efficacy. Panchashara rasa is a herbo-mineral combination explained primarily in Bhaishajya Ratnavali, Vajeekaranadhikara. It contains Parada (mercury), Gandhaka (sulphur) and a herbal drug Shalmali (Bombax ceiba) – all of which are vrushya drugs. The current study deals with the complete literary review of Panchashara rasa, properties and pharmacological actions of drugs involved in it and its probable mode of action.

Keywords: shukra dosha, Vajikara.