Bhaisajya – Kalpana - Vijnana (Pharmaceutical Science)

Ayurveda, a divine and complete life science, developed in Indian subcontinent by the great ancient sages. It is the oldest medical tradition of the world. The doctrine of Ayurveda is based on the harmony of slirira-manasa doses viz. vius, pitta, kapha & sattva, raja, and tama. Equilibrium state of sarira-manase doses provides healthy status to the human body, where as imbalance status causes diseases. This status is synchronizing by the nature using materials already present in nature. Nature 'is the abundant source of all kinds of material distributed into the plant animal and mineral kingdoms. Requirement of diet and drug fulfilled from the same.

Under the four pillars of successful treatment (catuspada of cikitsa) drug occupied important second position. Drug is a tool of physician. Appropriate drug can only serve the problem. Hence Bhaisajya Kalpana subject was developed. In the curriculum of this subject all the scattered material and factors related with drug manufacturing and dispensing are compiled and frame the syllabi. From the historical back ground to chronological development, fundamental principles (adhara-bhute siddhanta), weights and measures (mana), anukta-lesoktaparibhasa, collection and storage of raw material, basic and their derivatives, enupsne, eusedhs kala etc. all the topics are included into it.

According to Ayurveda, there is no material in universe which cannot be used as medicine (nanausadhibhutam jagati kincid dravyamupalabhyate tam tam yuktimartham ca tam tamabhi-pretya. C.S.Su. 26: 12). But it should be in appropriate situation and with proper yukti (wisdom). Applying yukti Ayurvedic physician became able to transform natural materials, (plants or animal products or even materials) into easily administrablepharmaceutical preparations. Ultimately a whole new branch of Ayurveda emerged by the name of Bhaisajya Kalpana.

A drug material by which physician treat the diseases, or the material which is useful for medicinal purposes, is known as , bhesaja '. 'Bbesaja' and 'bhaisajya ' are same or it is synonymous (bhesajemva bhaisajyam). 'Kalpana'denotes the meaning of planning (kalpanam yojanamityartham). Preparation for internal/external uses/administration (prayogah vividhah) or (sarire prayogartham) is known as 'kalapana'. Without proper processing of materical we cannot attain their therapeutic property. Hence processing of material is essential. Processing of material for therapeutic purposes is known as 'Bhaisajya Kalpana'. In the developmental stream of civilization, drug manufacturing part of Ayurveda also developed. Scattered descriptions of various preparations are found available in Vedic literature. But in Samhita it can be seen in well arranged manner. Whole Ayurveda presented in eight folds known as A~!tiIiga Ayurveda '. Bhaisajya Kalpana is an art and science of preparing and dispensing medicine. Ancient scholars first able to modify the raw material into the form of swarasa, kalka, kwatha, hima and phaIa are put under heading of pancavidha kasaya kakpana. Depending upon this, in later period, many other formulations were developed to attain ready palatability, longer shelf life, low dose, quick action, easy dispensing and handling.

Earlier drug manufacturing was not separately taught. It was a part of Kayacikitsa. Physicians were managing/preparing/ formulating and dispensing drugs by him for their day to day patients. But now the scenario has changed. Ayurvedic physicians engaged themselves mainly in diagnosis and treatment. They fully depends upon the market. Market is full of spurious and substandard drugs and with that success in treatment is doubtful. Otherwise Bhaisajya Kalpana subject included in Ayurvedic' curriculum with the idea to trained the students in theory and practical of durg manufacturing. But dueto lake of interest and facility this part became weaker and unable to create confidence in learners. For the success in Ayurvedic treatment Bhaisajya Kalpana part of leaning needs to encouraged.

I appreciate this intellectual and multidimensional work of Dr. Ravindra Angadi completed in the form of text book. Author's intelligence and hard work reflecting in this his own write. In recent past few versions of Bhaisajye Kalpana became available in English. This book will offer a standard, important, useful and popular work on Bbeisejye Kulpana in English. Author has tried his level best in this book to cover the entire BAMS and MD syllabus of Bhaisajya Kalpana recently reviewed by the CCIM. I hope this work will be useful to the students, teachers, and researchers working in the field of Ayurveda and Bhaisajya Kalpana and certainly they will appreciate the way of presentation and its easy language. It is a creditable achievement of the author and I am sure that this book will definitely find a wider appreciation in the field of Ayurveda.

I congratulate the young and intelligent author for this literary contribution for the benefit of student community.