Bhaishajya Kalpanaa is the science of Ayurvedic pharmacy; this sophisticated art encompasses basic, straightforward preparations and highly complex herbal formulas.
The pharmaceutical procedures for any drug involve various steps, including identifying and collecting authentic raw materials, applying standardized processing techniques, producing high-quality drugs, and packaging and storing the finished product. Ayurvedic pharmaceutics is not an exception to this. A quote from Caraka Samhitaa (Caraka Samhitaa Vimana Sthaana 8/87, 1984) says raw material of a specified type, having specific characteristics and therapeutic action, grown on a specific soil in a specific geographical area in specific atmospheric conditions, should be collected in a specific season. Only such raw material will produce the expected therapeutic effect when used judiciously at appropriate doses.
Today, I want to give you an overview of the preparations involved in understanding the basics of Bhashajya Kalpana, along with an example of how to make an external oil.
Basic preparations
These are the basics of the preparations; all other mix formulas will be prepared here.
It can be seen as follows.
- – Swara ( Juice)
- – Kalpa ( paste)
- – Swatha ( decoctions)
- – Hema (cold infusions)
- – Phanta ( Hot infusions)
Second preparations
In this stage, we use the essential preparations to combine with other herbs or substances.
We can see it in the following way:
- – Ghees and oils ( Sneha kalpana)
- – Medicated Powder ( Churnas)
- – Fermented ( Sandhana Kalpana)
- – Semi-solid preparations ( Avalana Kalpanas -Gulams
- – External applications paste and powders. ( Lepa Kalpana
- – Eye Elixirs ( Rasa kriya)
Radios and facets of the formulations.
Let’s look more closely at the radios and the different stages of preparing the medicines.
1.- Medicated oils and ghee.
Oils and ghee are ideally cooked in a wide-mouth copper pot. In this way, you can easily check the sediments and the cooking stage.
To prepare ghee or oils, you need the following recipe:
Herbs: 1 part (dry herbs)
Oil or ghee:4 parts
Water: 16 parts
I want to introduce you to the term “Paka,” which refers to the stage at which cooking must be stopped to achieve a desirable outcome. Many oil preparations can spoil if we don’t pay attention to Paka.- To check the stage of PaKa, you look at the sediments at the bottom of the copper pot.
The 3 stages of Paka:
- – Soft stage: or Mrudu Paka
Here, the paste can be rolled between the fingers; if you take the residue from the bottom and put it on the fire, it will splatter, indicating a little water. In this stage, the oil can be used to make nasya oils ( Anuthaila) - – Medium stage: Madhayana Paka
You can check this stage when the residue can be turned into a cone or wick; if you put it on the fire, there are no sparks. At this stage, the oil is used internally (enemas and eye drops). - – Hard Stage: Khara Paka
At this stage, the residue is hard and sandy, and the oils are used externally. ( Abdyangas). If the Paka is black and burns, the oil is spoiled and loses all medicinal properties.
Recipe for Pinda Thalia
This oil works miracles for rheumatism, gout, and inflammation-related pain, including tendonitis, and generally removes toxins from the joints. It is used externally.
Ingredients
- – Majista rubia cordifolia – 15 grams.
- – Sarjarasa Vataria Indica – 15 grams
- – Sariba hemidesmus Indicus 15 grams
- – Beeswax
- – Sesame oil 240 ml
- – Water 960 ml.
Preparation
- – Make a powder and paste of Majista
- – Powder sarjarasa.
- – Slide the beeswax into small pieces and set aside in another pot. You will be pouring the hot oil into this vessel, so it needs to be big enough.
- – In a thick base vessel, take pastes # 1 and # 2, add water and oil and cook until it stains the hard stage ( Khara Paka).
Turn on the flame and immediately filter into a vessel containing the beeswax; mix well before cooling.
Once it is cooled, store it in a clean jar. The shelf life is two years; after opening, the medicinal effects last 2 to 3 months.
Unprocessed dried plant material: One year
Powder Two months
Tablet, Pills, Syrups, One year
Medicated oil and ghee, Sixteen months
Low potency drugs One year
Alcoholic preparations, Mineral and Metallic drug,s More than a year
This is one example of how to make oils; Ayurveda has hundreds of traditional formulations based on Indian herbology. However, proper knowledge of herbs in your region can provide and preserve effective medicines for your home pharmacy.
References