A Brief review of medicinal properties of Vacha (Acorus calamus Linn.) from...

[Full title: A Brief review of medicinal properties of Vacha (Acorus calamus Linn.) from Nighantus]

[Find the meaning and references behind the names: Guna, June, Brown, Rekha]

ISSN: 2456-3110 REVIEW ARTICLE May-June 2017 Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences | May - June 2017 | Vol. 2 | Issue 3 263 A Brief review of medicinal properties of Vacha ( Acorus calamus Linn . ) from Nighantus Yogita Tilavat, 1 Rekha Parmar. 2 1 Post Graduate Scholar, 2 Associate Professor, Department of Dravya Guna, Parul Institute of Ayurveda, Vadodara, Gujarat, India. I NTRODUCTION Herbal medicine, sometimes referred to as herbalism or Botanical medicine, is the use of herbs for their therapeutic or medicinal value. An herb is a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, aromatic or savory qualities. Herb plants produce and contain a variety of chemical substance that act upon the body. It was the period of Nighantus the botanical description of the medicinal herbs came into description. It was Nighantukara’s who gave the Ayurvedic concept of botany including its classification. At a glance the classification seems to be based hit her of the modern classification. But it far too surpasses in the superiority and scientific platform. It is based on the Address for correspondence: Dr. Yogita Tilavat Post Graduate Scholar, Department of Dravya Guna, Parul Institute of Ayurveda, Vadodara, Gujarat, India. E-mail: yogitilavat 1987@gmail.com Submission Date : 14/06/2017 Accepted Date: 28/06/2017 Access this article online Quick Response Code Website: www.jaims.in DOI: 10.21760/jaims.v 2 i 3.8241 identical Karma’s of plants. It differs in respect to the modern taxonomy which is totally on basis of anatomical morphology of the plant. Acorus calamus Linn. belongs to Araceae family. Acorus calamus Linn , is Semi-aquatic herb. The rhizome is reddish brown, the lower surface having hairy roots which is like the hairs of cow’s tail. It is having strong smell with many nodes. It improves the capacity to speak clearly and it reduces the body weight. It relieves colic pain and a reputed drug for epilepsy [1] Earlier Nighantus were limited to explain the synonyms only. After some time the description of properties, action and indications are also included in the Nighantu along with synonyms. The Nighantu literature is one of the important aspects in the study of Ayurveda and especially in the subject of Dravyaguna Vijnana. The Nighantu literature is also as ancient as Ayurveda. Much importance has not been given to the study of Nighantu . The ancient Nighantus were actually like Kosa , containing the synonyms of Dravya . Later on, the drugs were given the description of properties, actions and their uses. In true sense the Nighantu means collection of words, synonyms and the names of the medicinal substances. The Nighantu may be defined as a glossary containing synonymous A B S T R A C T Herbs and herbal drugs have created interest among the people by the clinical proven effect like antiinflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, immunomodulations and adaptogenic. Also the overuse of synthetic drug, which results in higher incidence of adverse drug reaction, has motivated humans to return to nature for safer remedies. In this review we have taken Vacha ( Acorus calamus Linn.) The present work aims to discuss Vacha in various Nighantus as manuscripts or just as evidence - in a chronological order. It is important herbal drug in various aspect like, Acorus calamus Linn. has also been used successfully by some Ayurvedic practitioners for Krimi , Sthaulya , Vibandha , Unmada , Apasmara etc. Key words: Herb, Vacha, Acorus calamus Linn., Nighantus.

[Find the meaning and references behind the names: Raja, Sharma, Priya, Pandit, Rasa, Kala, Good]

Yogita Tilavat et.al. A Brief review of medicinal properties of Vacha (Acorus calamus Linn.) ISSN: 2456-3110 REVIEW ARTICLE May-June 2017 Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences | May - June 2017 | Vol. 2 | Issue 3 264 groups, the names of the drugs, plants, animals, minerals or anything that is administered either as food or medicine to the human body. Vacha ( Acorus calamus Linn ) is explained in almost all the important Nighantus with a variety of synonyms and Guna Karmas . Dhanvantari Nighantu (10 th - 13 th Cent. A.D.) In the beginning of Nighantu , author prays homage to lord Dhanvantari and again he mentions its name as Dravyavali . At the end of Dravyavali author desires to describe the drugs of Dravyavali with their synonyms and after that he has described their properties and actions along with synonyms. In this Nighantu , Vacha has been described under Satpuspadi Varga . Following synonyms are mentioned here i.e. Dirghapatra , Golomi , Jatila , Lomasa , Sadgrantha . Vacha has properties like Kanthya , Medhya . It is useful to treat various disorders like Adhamana , Krimi , Sula , Vibandha [2] Madanpala Nighantu (14 th Cent. A.D.) Vacha has been mentioned in Sunthyadi Varga . Madanpala has included following synonyms of Vacha – Golomi , Jatila , Sadagrantha etc. and it is having Kaphavataghna property so, it is useful in the treatment of Apasmara , Unmada , Sula etc [3] Kaiyadeva Nighantu ( Pathyapathya Vibodhaka ) (15 th Cent. A.D.) In this Nighantu , Vacha is described under Aushadhi Varga with following synonyms i.e. Jatila , Karsini , Lomasa , Sadgrantha , Satparva . Regarding its properties it has been said as Ushna in Virya , Tikta and Katu Rasa, here Vacha has been mentioned for various disorders like Apasmara , Unmada , Krimi , Sthaulya [4] Bhavaprakasa Nighantu (16 th Cent. A.D.) This book is written by Bhavamisra who is an important landmark in the history of Indian Medicine. He stands at the junction of the medieval and modern period which is the turning point for its future course and also because of the fact that he revived, the style of Samhitas and contributed a good deal to various aspects of Ayurveda by adding new ideas and drugs. Vacha has been mentioned in Haritakyadi Varga and following synonyms are found in this Nighantu – Golomi , Jatila , Karsini , Mangalya , Lomasa etc. and is included under 99 different Yoga . It is useful in the treatment of Apasmara , Unmada , Sula , Vibandha etc [5] Raja Nighantu ( Abhidhana Chudamani ) (17 th Cent. A.D.) This book is written by Narhari Pandit , who has given first place to Dravyaguna in Astanga Ayurveda. This book is particularly based on Dhanvantari Nighantu. The subject matter has been devided into 23 chapters. Vacha is included in Pippalyadi Varga . Synonyms of Vacha mentioned in Raja Nighantu is Bhardra , Dirghaparta , Golomi , Ugragandha , Ugra etc. It is having properties like Deepana , Jantughna , Pachana , Medhya etc [6] Nighantu Adarsa (20 th Cent. A.D.) The book was published in Gujarat, its author is Vaidya Bapalalji who is the authoritative person of 20 th century for identification of Ayurvedic plants. He has undertaken a separate Vachadi Varga of its description [7] Priya Nighantu (20 th Cent. A.D.) Acharya Priyavata Sharma in his book Priya Nighantu has described Vacha in Satpuspadi Varga [8] DISCUSSION In rural India, 70 percent of the population is dependent on the traditional system of medicine, it is essential to intensify the study of medicinal plants. History of drug can be studied under Vaidic Kala, Upanishad Kala , Purana Kala , Samhita Kala , Nighantu Kala and Adhunika Kala . Acorus calamus Linn . is a popular, which is used by traditional practitioner to cure various ailments. Present study revealed that by the help of literature i.e., Kosha and Nighantus we will reach to medicine very easily and take the benefit by the traditional medicines. The Nighantus generally were coined using a therapeutic text. Authors used the prevailing and popular texts of their time and

[Find the meaning and references behind the names: Sri, Lucas, Krishnadas, Nil, Med, Prakashan, Mishra]

Yogita Tilavat et.al. A Brief review of medicinal properties of Vacha (Acorus calamus Linn.) ISSN: 2456-3110 REVIEW ARTICLE May-June 2017 Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences | May - June 2017 | Vol. 2 | Issue 3 265 region as basis to write Nighantus . This explains the emergence of more than one Nighantu during one period. Further, two different Nighantus are seen having groups with same name but have kept different substances under them. This has happened due to the different rationale used in grouping of the substances. This offers a tremendous scope for research in order to explore the therapeutic application of a substance in different regions and era, in the same manner Vacha was also a popular drug at that time. It has tremendous effect on different diseases viz. Sthaulya , Krimi , Apasmara , Unmada etc. CONCLUSION The present review on Vacha of different Nighantus can be useful to know about the different formulations of Vacha in which different parts of this plant is used. By this way we can use Vacha in the treatment of different diseases. Most of the Nighantus have mentioned Vacha is a good Krimighna , Jantughna , Medhya drug. A detailed clinical study is required to understand the mode of action of this drugs and their efficacy. REFERENCES 1 Lucas DS, Dravyaguna Vigyan, Vol – 2, Chukhambha Vishvabharati, Varanasi. p.436 2 Sharma PV, Sharma GP, Dhanvantari Nighantu, Satpuspadi Varga, Chaukhambha Orientalia, Varanasi. p.71 3 Tripathi H, Madanpal Nighantu, Sunthyadi Varga, Chaukhambha Krishnadas Academy, Varanasi. p.83 4 Sharma PV, Sharma GP, Kaiyadeva Nighantu, Aushadhi Varga, Chaukhambha Orientalia, Varanasi. p.224 5 Chunekar KC, Bhavprakash Nighantu of Sri Bhav Misra, Vol-1, Haritakyadi Varga, Chaukhambha Orientalia, Varanasi. p. 150 6 Tripathi ID, Raja Nighantu of Pandit Narahari, Pippalyadi Varga, Chowkhamba krishnadas Academy, Varanasi. p.144 7 Vaidya B, Nighantu Aadarsh, Vol – 2, Vachadi Varga, Chaukhambha Bharati Academy, Varanasi. p.689 8 Sharma PV, Priya Nighantu, Satpuspadi Varga, Chaukhambha Surbharati Prakashan, Varanasi. p.83 ******************************** How to cite this article: Yogita Tilavat, Rekha Parmar. A Brief review of medicinal properties of Vacha (Acorus calamus Linn.) from Nighantus. J Ayurveda Integr Med Sci 2017;3:263-265. http://dx.doi.org/10.21760/jaims.v 2 i 3.8241 Source of Support: Nil, Conflict of Interest: None declared.

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