Bhāvaprakāśa (Āyurveda book)

Bhāvaprakāśa—The plants and herbs used in Āyurvedic medicine have been described in Bhāvaprakāśa. Bhāvaprakāśa, Mādhavanidāna, Śāraṅgadhara Saṃhitā are the three books which together are called Laghutrayī. Nighaṇṭu is a part of Bhāvaprakāśa. The Nighaṇṭu chapter is described separately in the Pūrvārdhakhaṇḍa. Where the multiplicative action of all kinds of plants, animals and earthly matter has been extensively considered. The author, Bhāvamiśra wrote this treatise in sixteenth century A.D. This was one of the best compilations of medical knowledge prevalent in the medieval period on the use of medicinal plants and treatment of various diseases. Pūrva khaṇḍa or first section has seven chapters and deals with the origin of Āyurveda chief gods and sages propagating it–Pañcabhūta triguṇa-Ātmā; Indriya-manas; garbhotpatti-Śarīra-aṅga-avayava-doṣādi vijñāna; Dina-caryā, Ṛtu-caryā, Sadācāra; Auṣadha-dravyas, āhāra-dravyas, measurements, purification and oxidation of metals, oleation, pañcakarma, the examination of patient etc. are explained and several new drugs are introduced.

Description of different groups of drugs and articles of diet is dealt is twenty-four groups which farm part of chapter sixth is considered the specialty of Bhāvaprakāśa the author furnishes names, synonyms, names in different regions, properties and actions, tests etc., of drugs of all categories (vegetable animal and mineral origin). Apart from the drugs which have been in use since long, many new ones which have come to India through western countries and those used in the 'Unani' system of medicine have also been incorporated in this text. Hence Bhāvamiśra is given the Materia medica of Āyurveda with the addition of new drugs. This portion of the text is known popularly as Bhāvaprakāśa Nighaṇṭu and has been published separately with detailed notes by many present-day scholars.

Madhyakhaṇḍa or middle/second section has seventy-one chapters dealing with the Nidāna or aetiology, Lakṣaṇa or symptomatology, Samprāpti of pathogenesis and cikitsā or treatment of all diseases, with greater emphasis on Kāyacikitsā or inner medicine. Both kaṣṭauṣadha (formulae from vegetable drugs) and rasauṣadha (formulae from mercury and minerals) are mentioned in the treatment. Uttara Khaṇḍa-third and last section has only two chapters, one dealing with Vājīkaraṇa cikitsā (vilification therapy) and the other with rasāyana cikitsā (rejuvenation therapy)^[1].