Abstract

A CRITICAL REVIEW ARTICLE ON DIFFERENT PROCEDURES OF PURIFICATION OF TOXIC DRUGS IN AYURVEDA

Garima, Tiwari R. C., Singh Anoop Kumar and Dikshit Manisha*

ABSTRACT

Ayurveda, the divine science of healing is always for the well-being of the people and society. Agadtantra is the branch of the Astanga Ayurveda which deals with toxic drugs of metallic and herbal origin. These toxic drugs are rarely administered in their crude form, often combined with a number of substances through various purification processes, which transform these to a convenient dosage form that can be administered. Agadtantra advocates uses of metallic and herbal drugs and various formulations for therapeutic application after different purification procedures, like Shodhana, Marana etc. These procedures help either in the disintegration of molecule or particle to ma ke it into finest form and thus to make these more acceptable by the body tissues and organs. These procedure also help to remove washable, soluble and volatile impurities from the drugs. Some organic and inorganic materials are dissolved in mercury or added to the drugs which either help in detoxification, increased their properties and absorbing capacity to the tissues. Main procedure of purification is svedana (heating in boiling acidic or alkaline liquids through dolayantra), Bhavna (grinding /trituration with vegetable extractive liquids), Tapana and Nirvapana (heating to red hot and quenching into liquids), Agni tapana(roasting on direct heat to remove water of crystallistion or moisture content and make these light and puffed), ksalana(washing with hot water or kanjika), Bharjana (frying in ghee) etc. After purification it increases their therapeutic values and cures many diseases like Navajeevan ras is a ayurvedic medicine, with herbal and metallic ingredient, used in rejuvenation.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Shodhana, Agadtantra, Detoxification, Impurities, Mardana, Purification, Marana, Toxicity.