The ayurveda texts mainly define the therapy into four basic categories. From these four type of medicines Bhaishajiya Kalpana has direct correlation with only the first three categories i.e.

• Sanshodhanam category-drugs / medicine.
• Shanshamana category-drugs / medicines.
• Ahara category.

The major specific terms that are used in Bhaishajiya Kalpana context are either Sanshodhanam or shanshamana. The major surgical procedures involved in specific definitions are external and Sanshodhanam (removal) while as the medicines are both internal and external.

The specific terms widely used in context of Bhaishajiya Kalpana from various Samhita texts are described here in alphabetical order: -

• Aashukari (Accelerating agents) – some drugs, which are fast acting in assimilation and absorption as well as accelerates the process of pharmaco-kinetic action of any drug or medicine they are called “aashukari” in Bhaishajiya Kalpana.

• Abhishayandi: - Drugs acting on the Rasa vaha srotas (Abdomen and Gastro Intestinal tract) and makes the body feeling heaviness and increases kapha dosha are called abhisayandi.

• Aishan (probing): - Use of proper and instruments to know the exact path of wound or abscess are termed Aishan.

• Brimhaniya (Nutritious): - This category has that type of drugs, which are nutritious to the body. They use to make the body full of strength and stamina.

• Bhanjam (Avachurnam): - Crushing the foreign body is known as bhanjam or avachurnam. The modern science also uses crushing for removing oxalates category calculi from body.

• Bandhan (tying): - The process of tying up the body by rope or thread in called bandhan. The bandaging procedure of modern science is the same. There is various type of bandaging procedures and options are described in Susruta Samhita in the Bandha prakara section.

• Balya (Restoratives): - All the drugs, medicines that acts on the physiological system so as to provide stamina and maintains the state is “balya” category drugs. Bal means strength, thus strength providers are “balya”, the oil category (oil, ghee, fat, marrow) and Laghupanchmool (five roots) are two examples of balya drugs.

• Chalan: - Removing the foreign body or moving it from the place to another is termed as chalan.

• Chakshuyam (Eyesight Improvisers and ophthalmic tonics): -

All the drugs and medicines that are useful in maintaining ophthalmic health and eyesight are called chakshyum. Mhadhuka and triphala are taken in this category, Apart from this the process of Akshi tarpan, and other ophthalmic means are also Chakshyum.

• Dantya (Dentifrice): - All the drugs that are beneficial for dental health are termed as “dantya”. Til (Sesame), Gandoosh (Gargle) Manjan (tooth powder) are dantya

•  Daaranam: - Expirating the wound by applying a small paste of drugs, which drains the abscess by their action, is called daaranam.

• Deepan (Appetizers): - Sharangdhar states that all drugs that use to increase “Agni” (digestive juice secretion process) but does not perform “pachan” are called deepan dravya (drugs). It means they increase Appetite but don’t help in digestion.

• Hridyam (Cardiac tonics): -These entire drugs that are useful for heart in respect to maintain its healthy condition and free it from debility situations are “hridyam”. The literary meaning of this term is – which is suitable for heart. Amra (Mango), Dadim (pomegranate) Amlavetas and Arjuna are cardiac in nature

• Jeevaniya (Restoratives): - Those drugs that are helpful in maintaining longevity of the human body are jeevaniya. Some modern scientist correlates vitamins with this category. Charka stated 10 drugs in Jeevaniya gana they are used in making chavyanprasha. But these all are not in existence today. So the substitutes for these drugs are used.

• Kanthaya (Throat and speech improvisers): - Kanthaya category is that category of drugs. Which have their specific pharmacological action on throat and speech. Generally anti-tussative and antiseptic gargle type drugs are taken in this category. Sariva, Madhuk, Pippali and Draksha are kanthaya in action and nature.

• Keshyam (Hair vitalizes): -Drugs and medicines, which are useful for hair growth and their nourishments are called keshyam. Bhringraja is a keshyam herb.

• Langhanam: - All those drugs that make the body a bit lighter are called langhanam. This can be understood as they remove the dizziness after a very heavy food or quite long sleep.

• Medhyam (Intellect improver) :-Memory improvising herbs and drugs are called Medhyam in Ayurveda Literary meaning of this term is “Intellect improver”. There are a lot of brain tonics developed and formulated using this category drugs. Some examples of Medhya Category drugs are: - Mandukparni, yashtimadhu, gaduchi and Sankhpushpi.

References -

• Ashtaang Hridyam, Classical text book by Chaukhambha Surbharti Publication Vranasi India
• Ashtaang Samgrha Classical textbook by Chaukhambha Surbharti Publication Vranasi India
• Bhaishajya Ratnavali Classical textbook by Chaukhambha Surbharti Publication Vranasi India
• Charka samhita classical textbook vol-1-2 by Chaukhambha Surbharti Publication Vranasi India
• Chukra dutta text tika by Chaukhambha Surbharti Publication Vranasi India
• Sharangdhar Samhita Classical textbook by Chaukhambha Surbharti Publication Vranasi India
• Sushrut Samhita Classical textbook vol 1,2, & 3 by Chaukhambha Surbharti Publication Vranasi India

<< Back to Ayurvedic Terms and Definitions Main Page