Abstract

A UNIQUE PROCESS: CONCEPT OF SHODHANA

Dr. Murulidhar N.* and Dr. Mohan Kumar B. N.

ABSTRACT

Rasashastra deals with Parada that is Mercury and other Rasaadi dravya, which are classified under Dhatu, Ratna, Uparatna, etc. These drugs have high therapeutic value over the herbal drugs. All these drugs which come under Parthiva Varga have to be purified and converted into suitable dosage forms for the therapeutic use. If these drugs are not purified and the active principles are not modified, they may have deleterious effect over the body. So purification is an important step towards their safe and effective administration. Each of these drugs needs to be purified by various methods. To overcome these adverse effects and to make the drugs suitable for administration the drugs are subjected initially to a process known as Shodhana. Shodhana can be broadly classified into Samanya & Vishesha Shodhana and also Saagni & Niragni methods. The Shodhita Rasoushadhis are either administered directly or may be subjected to further process like Marana, Satwapatana, Amrutikarana, Lohitikarana etc. There are specifications regarding duration of the process, specific drugs are to be used, etc. We can understand that our ancient seers mentioned different purification processes based on Physical & Chemical impurities & toxins. The changes in the raw material after purification are established scientifically by modern analytical parameters. So, the effort has been made to highlight the importance of Drug purification (Shodhana) on administration.

Keywords: Purification, Impurities, Toxins, etc.