AAMJaamj.in/wp-content/uploads/Volume3/Issue4/AAMJ_1489_1492.pdf · the development of Rasashastra in the field of Ayurveda. The Śōdhana process has proved helpful in removing the

AAMJ / Vol. 3 / Issue 4 / July – August 2017

A A M J Anveshana Ayurveda Medical Journal

www.aamj.in ISSN: 2395-4159

Review Article

Concept Analysis on Importance of Śōdhana in Rasashastra

Parween Bano 1 K Shankar Rao 2

A b s t r a c t

In Ayurveda the process of purification is called Śōdhana. It is the process which is considered

highly necessary for converting the metals, sub-metals, minerals, Viṣa and Upviṣa etc. into the

suitable form for achieving their therapeutic values. The drugs of mineral origin and Viṣa could

not be used internally without subjecting to the Śōdhana and if used they are likely to produce

various harmful and toxic effects in the body. Its aims are to eliminate harmful matter from drug,

alteration of undesirable physical properties, and conversion of some characteristics and en-

hancement of the therapeutic action of drug. The concept of Śōdhana was in practice since the

times of Charaka samhita but its importance has enhanced further with the development of

Rasashastra in the field of Ayurveda. The Śōdhana process has proved helpful in removing the

dreadful or toxic effects of drugs.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Śōdhana, Purification, Rasashastra, Therapeutic values, Toxic effects.

1 PG Scholar, 2 Professor and H.O.D, Dept.of Rasashastra & Bhaishajya Kalpana, NIA, Jaipur.,

India.

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR

Dr. Parween Bano

PG Scholar,

Department of Rasashastra & Bhaishajya Kalpana,

National Institute of Ayurveda,

Jaipur, Rajasthan, (India).

Email: [email protected]

http://aamj.in/wp-content/uploads/Volume3/Issue4/AAMJ_1489_1492.pdf

Parween & Shankar : Concept Analysis on Importance of Śōdhana in Rasashastra

AAMJ / Vol. 3 / Issue 4 / July – August 2017 1490

INTRODUCTION

n Ayurveda the process of purification is called

Śōdhana. It is the process which is considered highly

necessary for converting the metals, sub-metals, miner-

als, Viṣa and Upviṣa etc. into the suitable form for achiev-

ing their therapeutic values. Without subjecting to the

Śōdhana the drugs of mineral origin could not be used

internally and if used they are likely to produce various

harmful and toxic effects in the body which could only be

avoided if they are properly purified. The concept of

Śōdhana was in practice since the times of Charaka

Samhita[i] but its importance has enhanced further with

the development of Rasashastra in the field of Ayurveda.

The Śōdhana process has proved helpful in removing the

dreadful or toxic effects of drugs.[ii]

Definition:

Śōdhana is the process in which different drugs are used

for removing the bad property of a substance by various

method viz. Swedana, Mardana, Nirvāpa, Ḍhālana

etc.[iii,iv]

Aim and Objective:

Chemical purification is different from Śōdhana. In chem-

ical purification it is only elimination of foreign matters

but the medicinal purification’s aims and objectives are

different-

Elimination of harmful matter from the drug.

Alteration of undesirable physical properties of the

drug.

Conversion of some of the characteristics of the drug.

Enhancement of the therapeutic action, there by po-

tentiating the drug.

Need of Śōdhana: Metals and minerals are used in

Rasashastra for pharmaceutical process collected from

mines and they have chances of natural impurities and

physical and chemical adulteration. For removal of these

physical and chemical impurities Śōdhana process is

mandatory. So each and every text of Rasashastra has

explained Śōdhana as the primary step for the prepara-

tion of pharmaceutics. Needs of Śōdhana can be sum-

marized as follows-

1. For removing the impurities.[v,vi]

2. For increase the brittleness which is useful for easy

incineration.

3. For removing toxic effects.[vii]

4. To facilitate assimilation by treating with Sendriya

dravyas.

5. For creation of desired qualities or Increase quality

of drug.[viii]

Types of Śōdhana: [ix]

As per Rasashastra Śōdhana processes can be divided

in two types.

1. Sāmānya Śōdhana

2. Viśēṣa Śōdhana

Sāmānya Śōdhana:

Sāmānya Śōdhana is that in which some common proce-

dures are applied for all drugs of a particular group. e.g.

metals are purified by heating to red hot state and

quenching them in Taila, Takra, Gōmūtra, Arnal and Ku-

lattha kwath respectively for seven times. [x]

Viśēṣa Śōdhana:

Viśēṣa Śōdhana is that which is done specifically for par-

ticular drugs by using specific drugs. E.g.-

Purification of Abharaka in Godhugdha.[xi]

Purification of Haratāla in kūṣmāṇḍa Swarasa.

Purification of gold through Panchmritika with

jambeera & Aarnala.[xii]

Purification of Vañga by Nirgundi mix with Haridra

Chūrṇa. [xiii]

Table No. 1 Procedures of Śōdhana

Procedure Method Examples

Abhiṣēka Sprinkling liquid on

drugs

Sassyaka,

Mākṣika

Absorption[xiv] Drug kept in Iṣṭika

Chūrṇa Bhallātaka

Ātapa / Ag-

niśōṣaṇa [xv]

Drug dissolve in liq-

uid and keeps un-

der sun light to re-

moval of upper

layer of drug

Śilājitu

Bharjana Frying with Ghrita

on fire Gairika

Mardana [xvi]

Trituration with Swa-

rasa, Kaṣāya,

Godugdha,

Gōmūtra

Pārada

Bhāvana[xvii] Levigation with liq-

uid media

Manaḥśilā,

Hiñgula

Ḍhālana [xviii]

Melting solid raw

drug and dipping in

cold liquid

Vañga

Nimajjana [xix]

Keeping raw drugs

in certain liquids for

certain times

Vatsanabha

Nirjali-

karana[xx]

To fry / to dehy-

drate Sphatika

I



Nirvāpa [xxi]

Heating solid drug

& dipping into cold

liquid

Lauha

Parisrāvan[xxii]

Solid dissolved in

liquid media & fil-

tered and get in

pure form after sub-

jected the filtrate to

evaporation

Navasādara

Pātana

By giving heat to

substances so that it

vaporizes & the ex-

tract is collected

Pārada

Prakśālan To clean or proper

washing Godanti

Pāchana

Shodhya Dravya Im-

mersed in Śōdhana

Dravya and and

keeping on fire.

Guggulu

Swedana

Vaporizations of

raw drugs in certain

liquid

Materials

Haratāla,

Sankhiya

DISCUSSION

The literary review on concept of Śōdhana reveals that

Śōdhana is a procedure of elimination of Dōṣas in a

drug. The term Dōṣa indicates not only impurities but also

all that which makes the drug unsuitable for further pro-

cess or therapeutic use. It can be deduced as – physico

chemical and therapeutic transformation of a substance

making it feasible for the next process (Marana) or di-

rectly for therapeutic use. Haratāla Shohana in

kūṣmāṇḍa juice by Swedana method possess many phys-

ico-chemical changes like physical impurities will be re-

moved, making the dravya more bright, clean, clear and

fragile. Dravya releases certain undesired chemical con-

stituents in the liquid, taking certain required chemical

constituents of the liquid. Manaḥśilā Śōdhana with

Adraka juice by lavigation method makes the particles

finer by ‘Sanghatha bhedana’ and also produce phyto-

chelation. Adraka contains two important sulphur based

amino acids called Cysteine and Methionine which can

act as phytochelatins, and can render arsenic nontoxic

in the Manaḥśilā.[xxiii] Some biological changes also oc-

curs, such as Aśuddha Vatsnabha is cardiac depressant

but after Śōdhana it is cardiac stimulant, colchicine pre-

sent in Langali is reported as cardiotoxic which is re-

duced after Śōdhana in Gōmūtra.[xxiv] In Astha Saṁskāras

of mercury like Swedana, Mardana, Mūrchchhana, Ut-

thāpana, Pāana Saṁskāras are prescribed mainly for

Śōdhana[xxv]. After these, rest three Saṁskāras is done

and this gives mercury as consumable form.

CONCLUSION

In Ayurveda, Śōdhana is in practice since the times of

Charaka Saṃhita, but its use expanded with the devel-

opment of Rasashastra. Śōdhana process is specially de-

signed for the drugs from mineral origin; however, it is

recommended for all kinds of drugs to remove their

dōṣas. It is cited in the treatises of Ayurveda that by the

used of proper method of processing, Viṣa can be con-

verted into Amṛita (nectar) and on other hand on adop-

tion of inappropriate methods, nontoxic materials be-

come a toxic. The concept of Śōdhana in Ayurveda not

only covers the process of purification/detoxification of

physical as well as chemical impurities but also covers

the minimization of side effects and improving the po-

tency/therapeutic efficacy of the purified drugs.

ΛΛΛΛ

REFERENCES

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1/37-71, Chaukhamba Bharati Academy, Varanasi, edi-

tion 4th, 1994.

Source of Support: Nil.

Conflict of Interest: None declared

ΛΛΛΛ

How to cite this article: Parween & Shankar : Concept

Analysis on Importance of Śōdhana in Rasashastra. AAMJ

2017; 4:1489 – 1492.

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