Herbo-mineral preparation of Panchavaktra Ras.

Glossary definitions and references:

Scientific and Ayurvedic Glossary list for “Herbo-mineral preparation of Panchavaktra Ras.”. This list explains important keywords that occur in this article and links it to the glossary for a better understanding of that concept in the context of Ayurveda and other topics.

1) Drug:
A drug refers to any substance used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of diseases. In the context of the text, the pharmaceutical preparation of herbo-mineral drugs like Panchavaktra ras involves multiple drugs subjected to processes like Shodhana and Bhavana to ensure efficacy, safety, and purity.

2) Kajjali:
Kajjali is a specific preparation used in Ayurvedic medicine that combines purified Parada (mercury) and Gandhaka (sulphur) through a process of slow trituration to achieve a black, lustreless compound. It serves as a base in many mercurial formulations.

3) Gandhaka (Gamdhaka):
Gandhaka refers to sulphur, one of the key ingredients in many Ayurvedic herbo-mineral formulations. It undergoes a thorough purification process called Shodhana to remove impurities and enhance its medicinal properties before being used in preparations like Kajjali and Panchavaktra ras.

4) Parada:
Parada refers to mercury, a crucial component in Ayurvedic medicine. It is purified through various processes to remove toxic elements and is often used to form Kajjali when combined with Gandhaka. Shodhana is a critical step in its preparation to ensure its safety and efficacy. [see also: Shodhana]

5) Tankana (Tamkana):
Tankana refers to borax, used in Ayurvedic preparations. It undergoes purification (Shodhana) to make it suitable for medicinal use. In the process, raw Tankana is heated, transforming it into a white, light substance free from impurities, which is then used in formulations like Panchavaktra ras.

6) Bhavana (Bha-vana):
Bhavana is a process in Ayurvedic pharmaceutics where powders of drugs are mixed with liquid substances and triturated. This method infuses the powders with the liquid's properties, enhancing the drugs' efficacy. It is used in preparing compounds like Panchavaktra ras.

7) Shodhana (Sodhana):
Shodhana is an Ayurvedic purification process used to detoxify and purify raw materials such as metals and herbs. It makes substances homogeneous, reduces toxicity, enhances drug properties, and prepares materials like Parada, Gandhaka, and Tankana for medicinal use.

8) Powder:
Powder in the context of Ayurvedic pharmaceutics refers to the fine particulate form of ingredients used in drug preparation. Ingredients like Pippali and Maricha are transformed into a fine powder before being mixed with other substances during processes like Bhavana.

9) Purification:
Purification, or Shodhana, is essential for preparing safe and effective Ayurvedic medicines. It involves removing impurities from raw materials such as Parada, Gandhaka, and Tankana through various methods to enhance their medicinal properties and detoxify them. [see also: Shodhana]

10) Pippali (Pippalin):
Pippali is a medicinal herb used in Ayurvedic formulations. The fruit is dried and powdered to be used in medicines like Panchavaktra ras. It is known for its pungent taste and its properties to enhance bioavailability and efficacy of the formulations it is part of.

11) Mineral:
Minerals in Ayurvedic medicine refer to various elements like Parada (mercury), Gandhaka (sulphur), and Tankana (borax) used after purification via Shodhana. These minerals are integral to herbo-mineral formulations, ensuring safety and efficacy by undergoing thorough processing.

12) Mardana:
Mardana is the rigorous trituration process in Ayurvedic medicine, used to triturate substances like Parada and Gandhaka until they achieve desired traits such as smoothness. It helps convert macro elements to micro levels, enhancing the bioavailability and therapeutic action of the drugs.

13) Medicine:
Medicine in this context refers to Ayurvedic herbo-mineral formulations like Panchavaktra ras prepared through rigorous processes ensuring their safety, efficacy, and purity. The pharmaceutical preparation involves steps like purification (Shodhana), trituration (Mardana), and Bhavana.

14) Sharava (Sarava):
Sharava refers to an earthen vessel used in Ayurvedic pharmaceutical practices, particularly during the heating and purification processes of substances like Gandhaka. It plays a pivotal role in methods requiring controlled heating and containment of materials.

15) Vati:
Vati kalpana refers to the preparation of pills in Ayurveda, where powdered herbs and minerals are mixed with binding agents, shaped, and dried. This method ensures accurate dosage, stability, and ease of administration, forming part of many Ayurvedic treatment regimens.

16) Rasayana (Rasa-ayana):
Rasayana is a special category of Ayurvedic medicine aimed at rejuvenation and longevity. Preparations like Khalviya Rasayanas involve meticulous processes to enhance the medicinal properties of the ingredients, resulting in effective rejuvenative formulations.

17) Krishna (Krsna):
Krishna in the context of the text refers to Krishna Dattura, a plant whose leaves' juice is used in the Bhavana process of Panchavaktra ras. It imparts specific therapeutic properties to the formulation, enhancing its efficacy in treating diseases.

18) Khalvayantra (Khalva-yantra):
Khalvayantra is a traditional Ayurvedic device, combining a mortar and pestle used for triturating ingredients. It is utilized in the Mardana process to ensure substances like Kajjali achieve the desired smoothness and homogeneity. [see also: Yantra]

19) Yantra (Yamtra):
Yantra within Ayurvedic medicine refers to a device or apparatus used in various pharmaceutical processes. For example, the Khalva yantra is used for trituration of substances during the preparation of herbal and herbo-mineral medicines like Panchavaktra ras.

20) Substance:
A substance in Ayurvedic pharmaceutics refers to any material used in the preparation of medicinal formulations. This includes herbs, minerals, and processed compounds like Kajjali, prepared from purified Parada and Gandhaka following extensive processes like Shodhana and Mardana.

21) Dhattura:
Dhattura refers to the plant Datura, whose leaf juice is used in Ayurvedic preparations like Panchavaktra ras. The juice is extracted and used in the Bhavana process, conferring specific medicinal properties to the formulation.

22) Kalpana:
Kalpana in Ayurveda refers to the various preparation methods of medicinal formulations, such as Vati kalpana (tablet preparation) and Bhavana kalpana (trituration with liquids). These processes enhance the properties and efficacy of the medicinal compounds.

23) Bandari (Bamdari):
Bandari refers to Dr. Srinivasulu Bandari, the author of the research article on Pharmaceutical Preparation of Herbo-mineral Preparations with Specific Reference to Panchavaktra Ras, as published in the AYUSHDHARA journal.

24) Tankan:
Tankan is another name for borax. In Ayurvedic medicine, it undergoes a purification process to remove impurities, making it suitable for use in formulations like Panchavaktra ras. The process typically involves heating and cooling the compound to eliminate contaminants. [see also: Tankana]

25) Upala:
Upala refers to cow-dung cakes used as a fuel source in Ayurvedic pharmaceutical practices, particularly during the purification process of materials like Gandhaka (sulphur). The heat from burning Upalas facilitates the melting and refining of the substances.

26) Patra:
Patra in the context of the text is related to materials like Tamra-patra, which are plates or utensils used during the preparation and testing of Ayurvedic formulations. For example, Kajjali preparation involves tests using Tamra-patra to check for the presence of free mercury. [see also: Tamra-patra]

27) Lakshana (Laksana):
Lakshana refers to the characteristic features or symptoms in Ayurveda. During the preparation of medicines like Kajjali, various Lakshanas such as Nischandratva (lack of lustre) indicate the completion of the process and the suitability of the preparation for therapeutic use.

28) Amavata (Ama-vata):
Amavata refers to a rheumatic condition treated using Ayurvedic preparations. The text mentions Panchavaktra ras as one of the formulations used in the treatment of Amavata, illustrating the compound's therapeutic application as detailed in classical texts.

29) Kshara (Ksara):
Kshara refers to alkaline substances used in the purification of ingredients like Parada. Different types of Kshara such as Yava Kshara are used in various Shodhana processes to cleanse and enhance the properties of the raw materials.

30) Rupee:
Rupee is the currency used to quantify the expenditure involved in the purification and preparation processes in the study. The text mentions the cost of materials and processes in rupees, offering an economic perspective on Ayurvedic pharmaceutics.

31) Cow dung:
Cow dung is used in the form of Upalas (cow-dung cakes) in the Ayurvedic pharmaceutical process. It is a traditional source of fuel for heating during the purification and preparation of ingredients like Gandhaka, aiding in the transformation of these substances.

32) Nagavalli (Naga-valli):
Nagavalli refers to a type of leaf juice (Betel leaf juice) used in the purification of mercury (Parada). During the Shodhana process, Nagavalli Swarasa helps in detoxifying and enhancing the properties of Parada, making it suitable for medicinal formulations.

33) Samskara:
Samskara refers to the transformative processes that enhance the therapeutic properties of substances. In Ayurvedic pharmaceutics, procedures like Mardana, Bhavana, and Shodhana are considered Samskaras, integral to converting crude drugs into potent medicinal compounds.

34) Bharjana:
Bharjana refers to the roasting process used in Ayurveda to prepare ingredients like Pippali and Maricha. This method helps to dry and enhance the medicinal properties of the herbs before they are ground into a fine powder for use in formulations like Panchavaktra ras.

35) Gokshira (Goksira, Go-kshira):
Gokshira, or cow's milk, is used in the purification process of substances like Gandhaka (sulphur). During the Shodhana process, Sulphur is melted and filtered through Gokshira to remove impurities and enhance its quality for use in Ayurvedic formulations.

36) Goghrita (Goghrta, Go-ghrita):
Goghrita or cow's ghee is used in the purification of Gandhaka (sulphur). In the process, Gandhaka is melted and passed through Goghrita mixed with Gokshira (cow's milk) to detoxify and purify it, making it suitable for therapeutic use.

37) Kashaya (Kasaya):
Kashaya refers to astringent decoctions used in Ayurveda for various purposes, including purification of raw materials. For instance, certain herbs may be steeped in Kashaya to aid in Shodhana, enhancing their medicinal properties before being used in formulations.

38) Disease:
Disease refers to medical conditions treatable by Ayurvedic formulations. The text mentions conditions like Amavata that are targeted by specific preparations such as Panchavaktra ras, demonstrating the therapeutic applications of these carefully crafted medical compounds.

39) Bandha (Bamdha):
Bandha in Ayurveda refers to the bonding process in formulations like Kajjali, where purified mercury (Parada) is intimately mixed with sulphur (Gandhaka). The binding process results in a stable compound that is integral to many mercurial preparations.

40) Nidana:
Nidana refers to the diagnosis or determination of the causes of a disease in Ayurvedic medicine. For instance, in treating Vataroga, the Ayurvedic practitioner identifies the causes and uses formulations like Panchavaktra ras to address specific etiological factors.

41) Aureus:
[see source text or glossary: Aureus]

42) Silver:
According to Yadavji, when Kajjali is rubbed over Tamra-patra with lemon juice, the appearance of a silver-like coating indicates free mercury's presence. Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) revealed 1.5% elemental silver in Kajjali, though further studies are needed to explain this presence.

43) India:
India is the country where the research and practical experiments on the pharmaceutical preparation of Panchavaktra ras were conducted. The study took place at Kunwar Shekhar Vijendra Ayurved Medical College and Research Centre in Uttar Pradesh.

44) Fire:
In Ayurvedic pharmaceutics, controlled fire is crucial for processes like the purification of Gandhaka, where cow-dung cakes (Upalas) are burnt to melt sulphur, facilitating its detoxification and preparation for medicinal use. [see also: Upala, Gandhaka]

45) Ghi (Ghee):
Ghee or clarified butter (Goghrita) is used in Ayurvedic medicine for purification processes like that of Gandhaka (sulphur). During Shodhana, ghee helps in detoxifying and enhancing the medicinal properties of substances.

46) Milk:
Milk, or Gokshira, is used in the purification process of Gandhaka in Ayurveda. It detoxifies and refines Gandhaka, making it suitable for medicinal formulations. The text describes immersing Gandhaka in milk and ghee in an earthen vessel, heated by cow dung cakes. [see also: Gokshira]

47) Soil:
Soil is mentioned in the context of the purification process of Gandhaka, where the vessel containing the substance is buried partially beneath the soil level. This controlled environment ensures uniform heating and effective purification run using Upalas (cow-dung cakes).

48) Tankanakshara (Tankanaksara, Tankana-kshara):
Tankana-kshara is a type of alkaline substance used in the purification of materials like mercury (Parada). During the Shodhana process, it plays a crucial role in detoxifying and enhancing the therapeutic properties of the raw materials.

49) Gunantaradhana:
Gunantaradhana is a term explained by Charaka, indicating the enhancement of properties through purification (Shodhana). This process transforms the physical and chemical properties of substances to make them suitable for medicinal use.

50) Tastelessness:
Tastelessness is one of the qualities of well-prepared Kajjali. As part of its testing, Kajjali should exhibit certain characteristics, including being black, smooth, fine, and tasteless, indicating the preparation's successful completion.

51) Rasashastra (Rasa-shastra, Rasasastra):
Rasashastra is the Ayurvedic science dealing with the preparation of medicinal formulations using minerals and metals. The text refers to the expertise of Rasashastra professionals in verifying the quality and genuineness of raw drugs used in Panchavaktra ras.

52) Prakshalana (Praksalana):
Prakshalana is one of the processes involved in Shodhana, or purification. It typically involves washing and rinsing substances multiple times to remove impurities, ensuring the raw materials are clean and suitable for medicinal use.

53) Tamrapatra (Tamra-patra):
Tamra-patra refers to copper plates used in Ayurveda to test for the presence of free mercury in Kajjali. When rubbed with Kajjali and lemon juice, a silver-like coating indicates incomplete Kajjali preparation, revealing unbound mercury.

54) Yavakshara (Yava-kshara, Yavaksara):
Yava-kshara is an alkaline substance derived from barley, used in the purification processes of substances like Parada (mercury). It plays a vital role in detoxifying and preparing these materials for use in Ayurvedic formulations.

55) Vijayawada (Vijayavada, Vijaya-vada):
Vijayawada is the location where the raw drugs were collected from the local market for the study on Panchavaktra ras. Experts from Dr. N.R.S. Government Ayurvedic College screened these drugs to ensure authenticity and suitability.

56) Discussion:
Discussion in the context of the text refers to the section that analyzes the pharmaceutical preparation and standardization of Panchavaktra ras. It reviews various processes, observations, and analytical studies for ensuring the formulation's quality, safety, and efficacy.

57) Vanaspati:
Vanaspati refers to plant materials used in Ayurvedic medicine. Plant juices like Krishna Dattura swarasa are used in the Bhavana process to impart specific therapeutic properties to formulations like Panchavaktra ras.

58) Samprapti:
Samprapti refers to the pathogenesis of a disease in Ayurvedic medicine. In the context of Amavata, Panchavaktra ras and other formulations aim to interrupt or modify the Samprapti, addressing the root causes and progression of the disease.

59) Snigdhata:
Snigdhata refers to the greasy or oily quality observed in substances like Gandhaka after being processed with ghee. Snigdhata is removed by washing with hot water, ensuring the purified material is ready for therapeutic use.

60) Vataroga (Vata-roga):
Vataroga refers to disorders associated with Vata dosha imbalance. Panchavaktra Ras is cited in the Basavarajeeyam text as a treatment for Vataroga Nidana Lakshana Chikitsadhaya, illustrating its application in managing Vata-related conditions. [see also: Vata-roga]

61) Knowledge:
Knowledge in the pharmaceutical context involves understanding processes like the collection, testing, and purification of raw drugs. It is crucial for ensuring the quality and efficacy of Ayurvedic medicines, highlighting the importance of standardized procedures.

62) Flavonoid:
Flavonoids are organic compounds investigated in the preliminary organic analysis of Panchavaktra ras. These compounds, along with alkaloids, saponins, and others, contribute to the therapeutic properties of the formulation.

63) Mandagni (Manda-agni, Mamdagni):
Mandagni refers to mild or low heat used in Ayurvedic processes like Sodhana, specifically during Bharjana of Tankana. It ensures gradual and controlled heating essential for the proper purification and transformation of the substance.

[Note: The above list is limited to 75. Total glossary definitions available: 103]