K. Nishteswar

• M.D (Ayu), Ph.D.
• Professor at Gujarat Ayurved University

During medieval period, Cakradatta has become more popular along with Mādhavanidāna, Vṛndamādhava, Vañgasena, Gadanigraha, Śārañgadhara Saṃhitā and Bhāvaprakāśa Saṃhitā. Cakrapāṇidatta has composed a text book on medicine entitled ‘Cikitsāsañgraha’ commonly known as Cakradatta presumably on the authors name as Ṛgviniścaya of Mādhavakara become popu...

Background: Sleep disorders have a comparatively high prevalence worldwide and create a burden on the health system. Pharmacological agents used for insomnia are associated with considerable side effects. Therefore, searching for safe and effective agents from plant-based natural sources is a worthy effort. Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi DC.) r...

Bijapura (Citrus medica L., family: Rutaceae) leaves powder when used along with honey is documented in ancient text to induce sleep and is useful in patients with insomnia. The purpose of the present research work was to investigate the sedative and hypnotic effects of C. medica leaves powder along with honey as anupana (adjuvant) in experimental...

History of Ayurveda written according to CCIM Syllabus and which covers all the topics useful for UG and PG studies. It was published in the year 2004 for the first time. Reprinted in 2005, 2006, 2007 and revised in the year 2008.Again reprinted in the year 2009. Became popular throughout the country. Student community and teachers are following...

Basic principles of Ayurveda

The subject of Padardha Vignan deals with the methods to understand the basic concepts of Ayurveda and their practical application in therapeutics. It serves as a preamble to understand Ayurveda in true perceptive. The present book entitled “Illustrated Padardha Vignan Evam Ayurveda Ithihas” has been written according to latest CCIM Syllabus and wh...

Envenomation is one of the significant public health issues in several tropical and subtropical countries due to high morbimortality. In developing countries like India their management is basically inadequate due to poor transportation and subsequent delay in antivenom administration. So improvement in the therapeutic approaches to envenomation is...

Ayurveda (science of life) consists of three principles, viz., etiology (hetu), symptomatology (linga), and therapeutics (oushadhajnana). The state of equilibrium of tridoshas (three biohumors, namely, vata, pitta, and kapha), dhatus (tissues), and malas (metabolic debris and impurities) contribute for state of health. The very object of the scienc...

Objective: Acharya Charaka had classified Asthapanabastidravya (corrective enema) based on Rasa (taste), called as Rasaskandha (a group of drugs having similar taste). He ascertained some criteria to include drugs in the group such as drug having either similar Rasa (taste) or Vipaka (biotransformation) or Prabhava (principle responsible for a spec...

Background: Bulbophyllum neilgherrense Wight. is an epiphytic orchid used extensively by the tribes of Karnataka in various diseases such as heart disease, leukoderma, skin allergy and rheumatism. It is used both internally and as an external application. In rheumatism, pseudobulbs chopped and boiled in coconut oil are applied externally. Aim: T...

Background: Leonotis nepetifolia (L.)R.Br. (LN) belonging to Lamiaceae family is a tall erect annual weed native to Southern India and tropical Africa used by tribals and folklore traditions in India for cough, fever, stomach ache, skin ailments, kidney diseases, rheumatism and dysmenorrhoea. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the anti-arthrit...

Patha is one of the widely used medicinal plants since Vedic period. In classical texts, the plant is also cited as an edible leafy vegetable apart from its medicinal properties. Patha is indicated in the treatment of various disease conditions as a single drug and as an ingredient of many compound formulations. In the present review, comprehensive...

Sidhasarasamhita is one of the important texts of Indian traditional medical literature. The exact period of the work is unknown, but according to the available evidence the work may be placed in the 8th century AD. Ravigupta’s distinctive contribution to Ayurvedic literature seems to have been the arrangement of the traditional knowledge into 31 c...

Sidhasarasamhita is one of the important texts of Indian traditional medical literature. The exact period of the work is unknown, but according to the available evidence the work may be placed in the 8 th century AD. Ravigupta's distinctive contribution to Ayurvedic literature seems to have been the arrangement of the traditional knowledge into 31...

Patha, botanically known as Cissampelos pareira Linn. (Family: Menispermaceae) is a perennial climbing herb/shrub profoundly used for treating different disease conditions since Vedic periods. The plant is highlighted for its use as a single drug in the treatment of disease conditions like Jwara (Fever), Kasa (Cough), Shwasa (Bronchitis), etc. The...

Background Tectaria coadunata (Wall. Ex Hook and Grev.) C. Chr (Kukkutnakhi) is a pteridophyte fern which is found in Western Ghats, Kerala Ghats, and Mahendragiri forest region. It is used by many Vaidyas in hyperlipidemic conditions and obesity. Aim This study aimed to evaluate the acute toxicity and antihyperlipidemic activity of T. coadunata i...

Context: The knowledge of basic fundamentals of Dravyaguna such as Rasa, Guna, Veerya, Vipaka, and Prabhava helps in the proper selection of the drugs for the treatment of the diseases. Acharyas had given simple characteristics to identify the Rasas. These characters can be useful to determine the Rasa of the unknown drugs by designing a special pr...

Background: Quality, safety and efficacy of medicines used form the back­bone of every health care system. Shelf‑life is the length of time, after which all substances start to degrade in their qualities and become unsuit­able for consumption or sale. The saviryatavadhi of churna is considered to be 2 months according to ayurvedic classics. The use...

Pippalimula (root of Piper longum Linn.) is the spice of Indian cuisine having immense therapeutic properties. The study was conducted to evaluate Physicochemical, phytochemical analysis and HPTLC analysis using specific solvent system for Pippalimula. Material and Methods: Fine powder of Grade I Pippalimula (root of Piper longum Linn.) and alchoho...

Introduction Mahanimba (Melia azedarach Linn.) is a deciduous tree of family Meliaceae and its root is mainly used in painful condition such as Gridhrasi (sciatica) in Ayurveda. Ethnomedicinal claims indicate that its leaves are used to treat fever, but its medicinal activities have not been proven by research. Aim This study was aimed to evaluate...

Medicinal plants are the most important source of life saving drugs for the majority of the world's population. The world health organisation gives the estimate that up to 80% of the world's population relies on medicinal plants. The demand for medicinal plants is rising in the industrialized world. Heavy demand of such plants has threatened some s...

Objective: Acharya Charaka had classified Asthapana bastidravya (corrective enema) based on Rasa (Taste), called as Rasaskandha (a group of drugs having similar taste). He ascertained some criteria to include drugs in the group such as drug having either similar Rasa (taste) or Vipaka (biotransformation) or Prabhava (principle responsible for a spe...

Cardioprotection includes all mechanisms and means that contribute to the protection of the heart by reducing or even preventing myocardial damage. Antiplatelet drugs reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events by about 20-25% in people with established cardiovascular diseases or at high risk of cardiovascular diseases. In the present experiment,...

The thematic classification of the drugs is required for a better understanding of the things. Acharya Charaka had implemented Rasa as criterion for the classification of the Asthapana bastidravyas. He included drugs having same Rasa and Rasa oriented Vipaka or Prabhava. Based on the modern pharmaceutical science, validation of the Skandha (groupin...

Introduction: Suśruta, Caraka and other ācāryas advocate the collection of medicinal plants keeping in view the part used, season, soil in which the herb grows and the desired pharmacological actions or therapeutic benefits. The logic behind such recommendations is being validated by modern scientific research. Aim: To assess the effect of seasonal...

Withania somnifera Dunal member of Solanaceae family popularly known as Ashwagandha, Indian ginseng, or winter cherry has been used in Ayurveda, Indian system of traditional medicine. It is classified as a Rasayana (rejuvenation) and accepted to increase longevity and vitality. It is a reputed health food and herbal tonic and used for cardiovascula...

The human body is the product of food (Ahara) and it is considered as the sustainer of life. The Ayurvedic approach to food and dietetics is very different from the conventional Western approach. One should regularly take such articles which are conducive to the maintenance of good health and are capable of preventing the attacks of diseases. Most...

Mahanimba, botanically known as Melia azedarach L. is an important medicinal plant of Ayurveda. Different parts of Mahanimba are widely used to treat many ailments. Its root is used in Gridhrasi (sciatica) and also used as an ingredient of many Ayurvedic formulations. Present study was carried out to evaluate physicochemical, phyto-chemical and HPT...

Background: Cissampelos pareira Linn. is considered as an established source of Patha, whereas Cyclea peltata (Lam.) Hook. F. & Thomas is used as a source plant of Patha in the southern part of India. In classical texts, two different varieties of Patha, i.e. Rajpatha (C. peltata) and Laghupatha (C. pareira), are mentioned which possess almost simi...

Background: Rasa (taste) determination is one of the directly perceivable parameter for the identication of drugs, while Veerya (potency) and Vipaka (bio-transformation) are inferable. These principles help to predict the action of the drug in Ayurveda. Taste threshold method evolved by C Dwarakanath helps to determine the dominant Rasa in the dru...

Ayurvedic samhitas provided the knowledge of pathogenic organisms and their role in certain diseases. Many plants and formulations mentioned in classical Ayurvedic texts have been found to be effective against pathogenic organisms including microbes. In the present study a hridya (cardioprotective) yoga of Bhavaprakasha samhita was taken up to asse...

Background: Basavarajeeyam is an important handbook for the Ayurvedic physician of Andhra region. It is a bilingual work with content presented in Sanskrit and Telugu languages. Aim: The herbs that have been described in Telugu verses of Basavarajeeyam are considered to be signicant contribution to the Indian system of medicine. Keeping this in mi...

Background: Pippalimula (root of Piper longum Linn.) is a well-known herb used as single drug or in compound formulations for various disorders. Aim: The study was planned to carry out the Physicochemical and HPTLC analysis of Pippalimula. Material and Methods: Fine powder of Pippalimula and alcoholic extract were obtained and subjected to phytoche...

Acharya Charaka has classified drugs based upon the Rasa; as Rasaskandha in the context of Asthapana Bastidravyas. The drugs included in the Skandha are not only based upon their Rasa Punarnava. These drugs were evaluated by Pharmacognostical, Physicochemical and Phytochemical studies. The microscopical study of the powder showed the presence of st...

Medieval period is known as Madhya Kala (8th to 15th century) of Ayurveda. This period is also known as Sangraha Kala. In this period a number of commentaries on Brihat Trayi and Laghu Trayi were written. The commentators also expressed their own concepts while writing their treaties. Some important compendia on Ayurveda like Siddhayoga Vrindamadha...

With rapid economic development and increasing westernization of lifestyle in the past few decades prevalence of lifestyle diseases has reached alarming proportions among Indians in the recent years. Ayurveda the science of life, describes the management of lifestyle diseases in the forms of proper dietary and behavioral management (dinacharya and...

Indian Community is obsessed to have at least one male child since ancient time. Pumsavana karma is a procedure performed in ancient India for achieving a progeny of desired sex. In the Samhitas herbs like Lakshmana, Vatasringa, Gouradanda apamarga, Jeevaka, Rshabhaka, Sairyeyaka are mentioned in various modalities for performing Pumsavana karma. R...

Introduction: Ayurvedic classics have advocated to collect the medicinal plants according to part used and seasons in order to get desired pharmacological action and therapeutic benefits. The logic behind this principle is being validated by recent researches. Aim: To analyze the influence of lunar cycles on growth of Ashwagandha in Shishira and...

The cardinal signs of Prameha are Prabhuta and Avilamutrata (excessive and turbid urination). When Pramehi suffers from boils and had severe complications can be called as Madhumehi. Uncomplicated diabetes mellitus may be referred as Kshudrameha. WHO estimated 1.5 million deaths in 2012 making it the 8thleading cause of mortality. It is a life styl...

Medieval period is known as Madhya Kala (8th to 15th century) of Ayurveda. This period is also known as Sangraha Kala. In this period a number of commentaries on Brihat Trayi and Laghu Trayi were written. The commentators also expressed their own concepts while writing their treaties. Some important compendia on Ayurveda like Siddhayoga Vrindamadha...

Medieval period is known as Madhya Kala (8th to 15th century) of Ayurveda. This period is also known as Sangraha Kala. In this period a number of commentaries on Brihat Trayi and Laghu Trayi were written. The commentators also expressed their own concepts while writing their treaties. Some important compendia on Ayurveda like Siddhayoga Vrindamadha...

Gadanigraha is a work of Acharya Sodhala, written during 12th century with the content of Ashtanga ayurveda chikitsa. Sodhala was a scholar and structured Gadanigraha in 2 khandas (volumes). A first Khanda deals with “Prayogakhanda” and includes various formulations and second Khanda deals with “Ashtanga Ayurveda Chikitsa”. In the Rasayana chikitsa...

Acharya Rasayana Vajikarana Rasayana Ojasa Rasayana Rasayanachikitsa Rasayana Acharya Rasayana Vrishya, Chakshushya, Brihmana, Deepana, Pachana, Keshya, Swarya, Hridya, Balya, Medhya- Smritida Jeevaniya. Vrishya, Hridya, Medhya, Deepana Pachana Chakshushya, Keshya, Swarya Rasayana Rasayana Angas Ashtanga Acharya Rasayanachikitsa Swasthasya Swasthya...

Introduction: In Ayurvedic classics, the symptom fever is considered as a separate disease called Jwara. Acharya Sushruta has mentioned Amalakyadi Gana for treatment of all types of Jwara, which contains four drugs namely Amalaki (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula Retz.), Pippali (Piper longum L.), and Chitraka (Plumbago z...

Clitoria ternatea Linn., known as Aparajita in ayurvedic literature, is a herbaceous medicinal plant used to treat several kind of ailments by tribal groups all over India. Many pharmacological studies have been carried out to investigate the properties of C. ternatea Linn. Ethnomedicinally, this plant can be mentioned as an important herb, because...

Charakasamhita (1000 BC) categorized the major bodily pathogenic factors under three varieties i.e., Vayu, Pitta and Kapha and Rajas and Tamas as the causative factors of mental diseases. Sushruta includes Rakta (blood) as the fourth variety of pathogenic factor. He has introduced grouping of drugs according Dosha (vitiators) known as Vata, Pitta a...

Charakasamhita is a redacted edition of Agniveshatantra (1000BC) acclaimed to be most important classic of Ayurvedic medicine. Charakasamhita contains information about evidence as well as experienced based medicine with many poly-herbal formulations along with mineral and animal substances. The subject material was dealt under 8 sections and 120 c...

The sustainers of the body, Saptadhatu and their respective agnis undergo metabolic transformation in two ways, viz. Kitta-paka and Prasada-paka. Therefore, last dhatu Shukra does not have Kitta-paka at all after transformation. It nourishes the foetus. When Shukra gets vitiated due to some etiological factors, it leads to diseases like infertility...

Rasa refers to the total subjective experience arising on placing any substance in the mouth. Rasa concept described is a pharmacodynamic principle and serves as a tool to explain panchabhoutic constitution of the drug. A reputed formulation of Bhavaprakasha mentioned in hridroga adhikara is taken up to assess the rasa based on the lakshanas mentio...

The quality assessment of herbal formulation is of vital importance in order to justify their acceptability in the modern circumstances. Standardization and quality control strategies are more required to provide effective and safe drugs. A classical formulation of Bhavaprakasha hridroga adhikara was evaluated by Pharmacognostical, Preliminary Phys...

Rasa (a concept corresponding to taste) is the only perceivable parameter for drug identification in Ayurveda. The Ayurvedic pharmacological principles such as guṇa (quality), vīrya (potency) and vipāka (effect of biotransformation) are inferred based on the identified Rasa of a drug. All these principles together predict the probable spectrum of d...

PREFACE Vedas are considered as the most ancient scriptures, which contains the concepts of health and disease and their management with herbs and other magico-religious procedures. Vedic materia medica recorded therapeutic application of various medicinal plants. Acharya Priyavrata Sharmaji enumerated the number of herbs mentioned in Vedic litera...

Background: Jyotishmati (Celastrus paniculatus Willd.) is a woody climber belongs to the family Celastraceae; a well known herbal nootropic, distributed through the tropical and subtropical regions of India. Its leaves are used in eye disease and headache. Very low qualitative and quantitative information about leaves have been documented to establ...

Ano-rectal complaints are usually benign in origin. Most of the patients suffering with these disorders do not seek medical advice at an early stage due to embarrassment. It results in advancement of the disease and significant disturbance in the quality of life. Among the available treatment modalities of ano-rectal disorders (ARDs), Kṣārasūtra (m...

Herbal analgesic and anti-inflammatory remedies are preferred much because of lesser side effects and also a lower tendency for habit formation. Pentatropis capensis is such an analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug which is popular among folklore remedies for various injuries and inflammatory problems. It is called by the name of Kākanāsikā in Ayurv...

Plants occupy an important place in folk medicine all over the world for centuries and indigenous communities have developed their own specific knowledge on plant resources, uses, management, and conservation. Research interest and activities in the area of ethno medicine have increased tremendously in the last decade. Currently, scientists are evi...

Ageing is a natural phenomenon and decline of physiological and structural changes are incurable in advancing years of human life. When such degenerative changes occur in the brain they may lead to dementia and other memory related conditions. The Ayurvedic classics identified the importance of higher faculties dealing with memory and introduced a...

Background: Ethno-medical claims indicate that leaf of Holoptelea integrifolia (Roxb.) Planch is being used in pain, inflammatory conditions by the Koya tribes. Aim: To evaluate and compare the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of leaves of H. integrifolia in powder and decoction forms. Materials and methods: The leaves of H. integrifol...

Patha is a very well known classical drug for its therapeutic and food purposes since Vedic periods. Cissampelos pareira belongs to Menispermaceae family which is an established source of classical Patha. Cyclea peltata is used as a source plant of Patha in southern part of India, which also belongs to the Menispermaceae family. Both the plant are...

Plants have been used for health and medical purposes for several thousands of years. Clinical experience built over many centuries provides a substantial basis for the safe and effective use of herbal medicines, not just as a main form of therapy, but as a complement to the main stream of western medical treatment in certain diseases. Till today,...

Majority of the diseases occurs due to decreased level of the endogenous antioxidants like SOD (Super oxide dismutase), GPX (Glutathione per oxidase) and CAT (catalyse). Therefore exogenous anti-oxidants like vitamin C and E, zinc, beta carotene etc. need to be incorporated. These anti-oxidants protect the cell from damage caused by free radicals a...

Medicinal plants form the major natural resources base of the Indian indigenous health care tradition. Approximately 10% of the organic constituents of plants are reported to be known and remaining 90% are yet to be explored. Due to global popularity of Ayurveda there is constant increase in demand of herbal drugs in last few decades thus exerting...

Mahanimba(MeliaazadarachLinn) belonging to Meliaceae family, is a prominent herb in Ayurveda indicated in the management of sciatica and skin disease. Traditionally, different parts such as leaf, flower, seed, fruit, and young branches are being used for the treatment of malaria, diabetes, cough, skin disease. Till date this plant has been evaluate...

Dronpushpi is a classical medicinal plant attributed with certain specific indications like Vishamjwara, Kamalahara. Two different plant species of Leucas are taken in use in the name of Dronpushpi. Among them Leucas cephalotes (Roth) Spreng has been accepted as an official equivalent to Dronpushpi by the Central Council for Research in Ayurveda in...

The plant Andrographis paniculata is a drug identified as a source plant of Bhunimba often referred as Kalamegha or Yavatikta mentioned in Ayurvedic literature. Bhunimba is indicated in Kushta (skin diseases), Kandu (itching), Shopha (swelling), Yakratroga (liver diseases), Krimi (worm's infestation), Kushta (skin diseases), Jwara (fever). This dru...

Patha is a widely used drug in Ayurveda. Botanical source of the Laghupatha and Rajpatha are Cissampelos pareira and Cyclea peltata respectively, which belongs to the Menispermaceae family. They contain many alkaloids like hayatine, hayatinine, hayatidine and other bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids, berberines etc. which are found to be responsible f...

Ageing is a process of unfavorable progressive changes associated with decline in vigor and ending in death.In Ayurveda, decade wise Ageing Process is described under two types- Kalaja (Timely Ageing) & Akalaja (Premature Ageing). Ayurvedic texts suggests that Kala, Swabhava, Vayu and Virodhaka Bhava play a major role while Desha, Ahara Sausthavam...

Ipomoea sepiaria Koenig Ex. Roxb is considered to be one of the source plants of the classical herb Lakshmana. In folklore, the herb is well known for its laxative activity. This plant belongs to Convolvulaceae family. It is observed that the plants of this family especially the species of Ipomoea are rich in purgative resins. The present experimen...

Chirabilva is one of the important medicinal plants described in Ayurvedic classics. Most of the scholars of modern India identified Holoptelea integrifolia Planch as the source for Chirabilva. Bhavaprakasha samhita, a famous book written during 16th century AD described three varieties of Karanja and included Chirabilva in it. Acharya Sushruta des...

Bharngi is one of the drugs of Ayurvedic meteria medica which is mainly indicated in the respiratory disorders. One the botanical sources of Bharngi is Clerodendrum serratum Linn. another species Pygmaeopremna herbacea is being in use for Bharngi. Clerodendrum serratum Linn. (Family: Verbenaceae) is very widely distributed in tropical and subtropic...

Curcuma neilgherrensis Wight is an unexplored drug in the current scientific world. Leaves of the plant are claimed to be effective in the management of diabetes mellitus. Pharmacodynamics and pharmacology of medicinal herbs used in Ayurveda can be identified in terms of Rasa (taste), Guna (inherent property), Veerya (Potency), Vipaka (post digesti...