In ayurveda text the Virechan (purgative) medicine or drugs are defined as that category of drugs / medicines which passes out the waste products of Gastro Intestinal tract through anus. These are called adhakaya Sanshodhanam (lower part cleansers) or virechan drugs. These drugs are used for purgative and laxative purpose.

The virechan drugs generally are Ushna (hot), teekshna (acute/ fast acting), Sukshma (micro) Vavyayi (Airy) and Vikashi (acting without digesting) properties and have tendency to remove the stools from anus. The virechan drugs are herbal as well as organo-metallic preparations.

The authors of Charka Samhita, Susruta Samhita and Ashtaang samgraha have classified them as phalniya (Flowering), moolniya (root part), Samanyagana, and Sanshodhanam gana.

 Following are the major classification of virechan drugs –

• Mula Virechak (the virechan drugs that are derived form the root part): -Shyma, trivrata, snuhi, chitrak, apamarga and kusha.

• Twaka Virechak (the virechan drugs that are derived form Bark based): - patla and tilwak.

• Ksheer Virechak (the virechan drugs that are derived form milk or sap): - Snuhi arka and saptachada ksheer.

• Phala Virechak (the virechan drugs that are derived form Fruit based): - Paritiki, amalaki and Bhibhataki

• Patra Virechak (the virechan drugs that are derived form Leaf based): - Chatrangul and Putik.

• Phal rajavirechak (the virechan drugs that are derived form fruit content based): - Kampillaka.

In classical ayurvedic texts, the virechan drugs are classified under different names and categories. Generally they are called virechan drugs. Apart from this Charka Samhita named these drugs as Virechanopaga (those causing virechan), and Bhedniyagana (those breaking stools). The Susruta Samhita termed the virechan drugs as Adhokaya Sanshodhanam gana and Vagbhata called them as Virechangana. After compiling all the virechan drugs and medicines we can generally find following virechan drugs under different medicaments and single drugs.

• Virechanopaga: - Draksha, Gambhari, paritaki, amalki, Bhibhatiki, Badibadar, Chhoti mithi badar, Karkadhu and Pilar.

• Bhedniya Gana: -Nishotha, arand, arka, Kalihari, chitrak, karanj, shankhini, katuki, and swarnaksheeri.

There are oil based Virechan drugs/medicines known as taila(Oil based): - Of this category the most widely used castor oil is described as errand (castor), Jatiphala oil, dantibeej oil, jaitun (olive) oil. In Ashtaang samgraha, milk and urine are also taken into Virechan drugs.

According to modern sciences we can divide these all virechan drugs into two categories only as: -

• Acute (fast acting) and purgative
• Mild laxative.

But in ayurveda a very deep classification of this category drugs in mentioned these are based upon the season based virechan drugs body physique based, action based and on the basis of physiological actions on body.

Virechan is of three types: -

Mridu (mild), Madhya (normal), and teekshna (Acute / fast)

On this basis the virechan drugs are used and these are further more classified on the basis of physiological actions as: -

• Anulomana (laxatives).
• Sansarana (mild purgatives)
• Bhedana (purgative but acting slowly)
• Virechan (Fast acting purgative)

Ayurveda also defines the virechan drugs on the basis of season. There are different drugs used in the different season. These are classified into season-based medicines as: -

Gresham kalam virechan (The virechan that is done in summer)

Varsha Virechanam (The virechan that is done in rainy season).

It means that drugs that are used for the virechan process in Gresham (summer) and varsha (Rainy) season respectively.

From Bhaishajiya Kalpana point the medicaments and medicines can be better understood as follows: -

• Amuloman (Laxatives): -

Ayurveda describes the drugs that relieve the stools in a mild way as Anulomana. They are mridu (mild) virechan drugs. The virechanopaga drugs by charka and following listed drugs are laxative medicine.

• Apple, peach, tamarind, guava, banana, rose flowers, husk, patol patra, the oil based laxatives beside these milk, sugarcane, mulhati, phalsa, kushmanda swarasa.

Generally all laxatives are madhur Rasa and amla Rasa based. These drugs have tendency to loosen the feces by producing a lot of water a stimulating the peristaltic movement of intestine and removing out the excreta by loosing and softening it.

Sansaran (Mild – Purgatives): - This category drugs have tendency to remove out the excreta from G.I. tract even without getting it digested. Amaltas is one of these drugs. These drugs act in a fast manner. The composition of these drugs generally is of water and earth components.

The following single drugs are used as the sansran medicines: -

• Amaltas,
• Snaya,
• Aleo Vera,
• Kampillak,
• Gorochen,
• Revandchini,
• Amlika,
• Amlavetas,
• Suranjan,
• Shewata
• Nishotha,
• Bilbaphala,
• Gulkanda,
• Aprajita,
• Trifala,
• Kalmegha,
• Varun,
• Ghrita,
• Hot milk.

Draksharishtha and Abhyarishtha are the classical examples of fermentative preparations of asava and aristha that are used as virechan medicines.

The Leha (confectionary based preparation) medicament based preparations that are used, as virechan medicines are - Amaltas avalehika, Trivritavaleha.

Rasnadi Quath is the example of decoction based virechan medicine. Further more the jam like preparation is Gulkanda that is prepared by rose petals and sugar.

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