Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
Acharya Sushruta, after explaining totally different teams of herbs which can be utilized as palliative medicines, explains in regards to the preferrred dose of taking the medicines and what elements needs to be considered earlier than administration of medicines. These guidelines are relevant for ‘shamana aushadhas’ i.e. palliative medicines however will be usually understood as being preferrred in administering varied medication kinds additionally, together with shodhana – purificatory medicines.
Ref – Sushruta Sutra Sthana, Chapter 39, verse 10 (Su.Su.39/10)
Perfect dose of Shamana Aushadhas: Palliative Medicines and the elements to think about
तत्र सर्वाण्येवौषधानि व्याध्यग्रिपुरुषबलान्यभिसमिक्ष्य विदध्यात्। तत्र, व्याघिबलादधिकमौषधमुपयुक्तं तमुपशम्य व्याधिं व्याधिमन्यमावहति; अग्रिबलादधिकमजीर्णं विष्टभ्य वा वच्यते; पुरुषबलादधिकं ग्लानिमूर्च्छामदानावहति संशमनम् ; एवं संशोधनमतिपातयति। हीनमेभ्यो दन्तमकिंचित्करं भवति। तस्मात् सममेव विदध्यात् ॥१०॥
All medicines and herbs needs to be administered after contemplating the beneath talked about three elements in each affected person. Contemplating these elements may be very important and performs a serious half within the success of the therapy.
The elements to be thought of are –
1. Vyadhi bala – energy of the illness,
2. Agni bala – energy of the digestive fireplace and
3. Purusha / Atura bala – energy of the physique of the affected person
Dose of medication vs energy of illness
The dose of the drugs shouldn’t be in extra of the energy of the illness. If the energy of the illness is much less i.e. weak illness or average, if extreme dosage of palliative medication is run than what’s required, the drugs would relieve the illness however however would additionally give rise to one more illness or complication. This isn’t desired within the therapy plan for any illness. We anticipate the drugs to alleviate the signs, mitigate the doshas and remedy the illness and to not worsen a illness or trigger a brand new one.
Dose of medication vs energy of digestive fireplace
The dose of the drugs needs to be ideally in sync with the energy of agni i.e. digestive capability of the person. If the digestion energy of the agni is low to average i.e. weak digestive fireplace, and if the palliative medication is utilized in extreme dosage, it’ll lead to manifestation of painful circumstances within the stomach. Additionally, the drugs would get digested after a very long time because the agni is weak and therefore the drugs is not going to have the specified impact.
Dose of medication vs energy of the physique of the affected person
Earlier than administering the drugs, the doctor also needs to analyse the bodily energy of the affected person. The dose of the palliative medication needs to be preferrred to the energy of the affected person. The medicines shouldn’t be utilized in extra of the energy of the affected person. If the bodily energy of the affected person is low or average, and if the drugs is given in massive dose, it might give rise to the beneath talked about signs / problems –
– Glani – exhaustion,
– Murcha – fainting and
– Mada – intoxication / toxicity
Ought to the identical rules be adopted in case of Shodhana Aushadha additionally?
Sure, even in case of shodhana aushadha i.e. purificatory medicines additionally the energy of vyadhi, agni and bala needs to be thought of. If shodhana medicines are administered in extra of energy of the illness, digestive fireplace and physique of the affected person, they might cleanse the physique (evacuate) excessively and in flip hassle the affected person immensely.
Ought to the identical elements be thought of in administering low dose medicines?
Sure, if the medicines (palliative) are administered in inadequate portions of the energy of vyadhi, agni and atura is not going to produce any impact i.e. the medicines would turn out to be futile.
Due to this fact, these medicines needs to be used solely in appropriate portions as acceptable to the energy of vyadhi – illness, agni – digestive fireplace and atura – affected person.
Aushada matra: Dose of medication
व्याध्यादिषु तु मध्येषु क्वाथस्याञ्जलिरिष्यते ॥
बिडालपदकं चुर्णं देयः कल्कोऽक्षसंमितः ॥१४॥
Beneath talked about are the doses of varied drug kinds when the energy of the illness, digestive fireplace and affected person are average –
| Dosage type | Dose |
| Kashaya – decoction | 1 anjali – 160 gm / ml |
| Churna – powders | 1 bidalapadaka or aksha – 10 grams |
| Kalka – paste | 1 aksha – 10 grams |
