In this concept the word Bhaishajya
means medicine and kalpana means forms hence the branch which deals with the
various forms of medicine such as syrups, juice, tablet, powder etc. is
named as Bhaisajya Kalpana.
Bhaisjya Kalpana importance
- It increases the potency of medicine by sanskar i.e. vishesh
gunantardhana (adding or generating special property)
- It makes the medicine durable
- It makes the medicine palatable.
- It removes the toxic effect of medicine by shodhana karm.
- As per the severity of the disease it helps the adjustment of dosha
- It makes the medicine as per need of patient and disease.
Panchavidha Kashaya Kalpana
Under Pancha vidha Kashaya Kalpana branch accoridng to ayurveda five basic
forms of medicine have been described. The word Kashaya denotes two meaning:
- Distortion of the original shape of dravya during different medical
preparations
- It is used to remove disease
- Thereby in ayurveda dainty medicinal preparations are considered as
Kashaya Kalpana.
Yoni (sources) of Kashaya Kalpana
The five rasas (tastes) are the five yoni (source) of kashaya kalpana i.e.
Madhur, Amla, Katu, Tikta, Kashaya with the exception of Lavana Rasa (salt
taste) as its swarasa (juice) etc cannot be extracted from it. There are
five Kashaya Kalpana that are more efficient in potency than the other ones:
- Swaras Kashaya Kalpana (juice)
- Kalka Kashaya Kalpana (jelly like)
- Kwatha Kashaya Kalpana (decoction)
- Shita Kashaya Kalpana (cold infusion)
- Phanta Kashaya Kalpana (infusion)
Swarasa Kalpana
Swarasa is the juice of it self and means the juice of the dravya hence is
said to be its swarasa.
Preparation
Crush the dravya properly and filter juice with the help of clean cotton
cloth.
When the plants give less quantity of swarasa by these methods then its
swarasa (juice) is extracted or prepared by putapaka method, which is as
follows:
In this process dravya is collected and its bunch is formed that is covered
by wet wheat dove. A layer of clay is formed over it and this thing is kept
in the fire. After it becomes red the shell or muda and wheat flour is
removed and swarasa (juice) is extracted either by crushing or filtering.
If the case is of powdered dravya then it is thoroughly mixed with water
and then filtered to get juice. In this process the proportion of water to
be added is double from that of powder. Mixed preparation is kept for 24hrs
before getting filtered. Dosage - General dose of swarasa is 2 tola (20gm
approx).
Kalka
It is the crushed paste form of dravya.
Preparation
· Crush the dravya properly to make its paste. Dry powder or dry
things are mixed with water and then crushed to paste or Kalka Dosage i.e. 1
tola (10gms approx)
Kwatha
When dravya are boiled in water and filtered.
Preparation
Crush the dravya thoroughly and mix it in appropriate water as per
requirement and then boiled in slow flame till reduce to half or one fourth
and then filter properly.
The quantity of water used is determined by the following rules
Four times more must be the water than the medicine for mridu (soft) dravya
Eight times more must be the water than the medicine for madhya dravya
Sixteen times more must be the water than the medicine for Kathina (hard)
dravya
According the quantity of medicine
If the medicine is less than four tola (40gms approx) then add to 16 times
the water.
If the quantity of medicine is 5 to 16 tola (50 to 160gms approx) then add
eight times water.
If the quantity of medicine is above 16 tola (160gms approx) then add to 4
times water. Dosage - 4 tola (40gms approx)
Shita Kalpana
In this process hot water is added to the medicine and then it is kept
outside for 12 hours at night. The whole process is called Shita Kalpana.
Preparation
To the powdered form of medicine six times water is added. The choice of
hot and cold water is up to the user. The mixer is now kept for 12hrs at
night in open place. In the morning medicine is ready for use.
Dosage - 4 tola (40gms approx.)
Phanta
This process involves the mixing of medicine in boiled water, then covering
it and keeping it to cool.
Preparation
Boil 16 tola (160gms approx) water, then add four tola (40gms approx)
powder form (not fine) of medicine in it. Keep the container for cooling and
use it in lukewarm (koshna) condition.
Dosage: 4 tola to 8 tola (40gms to 80gms approx)