Making of Medicines

Some methods of making ayurvedic medicines are outlined below:

Arka

Arka are distilled essences. These contain the volatile constituents of the drugs used, in a medium of water. They are the equivalent to the ‘aquae’ or waters of Western Pharmacopoeia. Arka are prepared by a process of distillation of water soaked raw drugs.

Asava and Arishta

Asava and Arishta are fermented medicines - therefore mildly alcoholic in nature. They are prepared by mixing sugar to juices or decoctions of raw drugs and letting them ferment. They are sweetish in taste, with slight acidity and a nice aroma. They have upto (6% - 12%) by volume alcohol content.

Asavas and Arishtas are similar in nature. Asavas are made from juices while Arishtas are from the decoction of drugs.

Bhasma

In Siddha: Parpam
In Unani: Kushta

Bhasma are equivalent to Calx. These are prepared by a process of Calcination. The materials that are made into bhasma in ayurveda vary from minerals to animal and plant products. Chemically they are oxides or ash of the drug concerned. They are in the form of a fine powder with a certain proportion of the particles being in a colloidal state.

Churna

In Siddha: Chooranam
In Unani: Sufoof

Churna are fine dry powders of drugs. They may be from a single drug or a mixture of powders from different ayurvedic drugs. Ingredients are mixed in the granular form and compressed into tablets. This is done for easy consumption.

Ghrta

In Siddha: Nei

The Ghrta are medicated ghee preparations. Certain fat-soluble parts of drugs are used in the preparations. This is done by boiling pastes of drugs in a mixture of ghee and water. The mixture is then boiled till the water evaporates.

Gutika and Vati

In Siddha: Kuligai and Mathirai
In Unani: Habb and Qurs

Gutika and Vati are in the form of pills. They are prepared by grinding some drugs with the juices of others and rolling the paste into pills.

Ksara or Lavana

In Siddha: Kaarasaaram

Ksara are ashes of plant drugs or the derivatives of such ashes in the form of solution or crystals. Their basic quality is alkaline. According to their state they are called Dhrava Ksara (Liquid) or Churna Ksara (Amorphous). Ksara belongs to Agnibhuta (Fire) category of drugs. Like fire, these drugs have destructive properties. That simply means they are caustic.

They are used to get rid of keloid, warts etc. They are used both for external application as well as intake.

Kvatha Churna

In Siddha: Kudineer chooranam
In Unani: Joshanda

Kvatha Churnas is a concentrated powder from which decoction is prepared. This decoction cannot be stored for long and has to be consumed in a limited period of time. Kvatha Churnas are never consumed dry. They are only used as source for decoctions.

Lepa

In Siddha: Kalimbu, Vennai, Mezhugu
In Unani: Marham

Lepa are pastes or plasters that are used for external applications only. These can be equated with ointments of Allopathy. They should never be brought into contact with delicate tissues or consumed, as they can be poisonous or corrosive.

Nethraroga Oushada or Anjanam

In Siddha: Kannoi Marundhugal, Anchanam, Vaththi or Kanthuli Marundhu

These are medicines that are applied to the eyes and are in the form of sticks, thick liquids or thin liquids. The Anjana in these forms are called Varthi, Rasakriya and Drava or Netrabindu respectively.

Paanaka

In Siddha; Manappagu
In Unani: Sharbat

These are syrups made from drugs.

Parpati

Parpati is a Rasa preparation. Flakes of the drug are collected by a specified process and then powdered.

Rasa Yoga
Dhatu and Rasa Oushada

Rasa oushada are medicines which contain mercury. Mercury is first combined with sulphur to form a black sulphide and used as base material in these preparations.

Sindura

In Siddha: Chendooram

Sindura medicines contain mercury in its red sulphide form. Mercury is processed with a variety of drugs and heated to form sulphides. These are very potent medicines in the Indian system of medicine. They are prepared by the process of sublimation.

Sattva

In Siddha: Sattuvam

Sattva are sedimented extracts of drugs, which are starchy in nature.

Tailam

In Siddha: Thailam
In Unani: Raughan

Taila are medicated oils. They are similar to Ghrta, but here the base is oil, not ghee. Most preparations use sesame oil. Coconut, Castor or Neem oils are also used. Rare cases include Mustard or Chaul Moogra oil.

Taila are used mostly for external application. Medicated oils are powerful stimulants and counter irritants. They can also be cooling and sedative in nature. Oil massage should be in the direction of body hairs and for best effect, it should be followed by warm fomentation.