Concept of Lekhana in Ayurveda (An Old and Rare Book)

This book is a monograph on Lekhana property described in Ayurveda. A detailed study of Ayurvedic literature reveals that Lekhana as a property was first explained in Charaka Samhita The Lekhaniya drugs and concept of Lekhana remained as an unexplored mystery in Ayurvedic science Apart from Lekhaniya Dashemani group of herbs, number of medicinal and food plans, which are having Lekhana property, have been mentioned in the texts. Lekhana is very broad term in which drying up or desiccation of all excess Dosha, Dhatu and Malas take place. The Lekhana drug acts by scraping, scratching, or by removal of the excess Doshas. In this regard, Lekhana drug could be effective in reducing obesity and also all the benign and malignant growths.

This monograph of everything on Lekhana carries findings of a scientifically designed clinical study, which provide authenticity to the outcome. This book will be a landmark in developing better understanding of Lekhana property according to Ayurveda.

Author of this Book Vaidya Mita Kotecha has got her M.D. (Ay) from Department of Dravyaguna, Institute for PG. Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Jamnagar in 1991 She has joined Faculty of Ayurveda of Chitrakoot Gramoday Vishvavidayalaya (Now Mahatmal Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishva-vidyalaya) at Chitrakoot after completion of M.D. This University lounded by Government of M.P was a brainchild of Veteran Social Worker and Padma Vibhushan Shri Nanaji Deshmukh. She was among first few persons of the Core team of this university: She has contributed in developing institute and starting M.D. (Ay.) course in Faculty of Ayurveda. Later on she has been nominated as Director of Herbal Garden Project funded by Ministry of Health, Government of India. She is involved as an author and active participant in numerous research publications and research work. Since April 98, she is working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Dravya Guna, National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur.

The insalubrity is as old as man himself and he is facing it bravely since his first step on this planet. In this sequence he has also got success upto a certain extent which is witnessed by his survival through ages, upto the present day.

Man has utilised nature to cure the ailments, from which he has suffered. Natural means like herbs and others were in use upto limited extent from the very vedic period. We come across 129 such plant with their superficial classification, which were used for medicinal purposes in the Vedic texts.

In Vedas upto a certain extent the single drug use has been appreciated for the management of many diseases.

In Atharvaveda Apamarga has been indicated for reducing excessive thirst and hunger (Ath. Ka. 4 Su. 1 M.6). In another context, Prishniparni has been advocated for destroying Raktaj Krimi (which suck blood from the body) (Ath. Ka. 20 Su. 25 M.3). Similarly, Rohini has been claimed to be effective in reunion of fracture (Ath. Ka. 4 Su. 12. M.1) But due to great influence of Atharvana, much importance was attributed towards divine therapy viz. incantaion and herbal amulets. It seems that either there was not any definitive theory to know the mode of action of the drugs or if it was, we are unable to understand it.

Gradually, the floating ideas of vedic times received more thinking and more criticism till they were put together, to form comprehensive theory, regarding the pharmacology of drugs, as we find such description in Charka and Sushruta Samhitas Hence in this period empricism has disappeared, giving place, to a definite theory, known as Rasapanchaka theory.

**Contents and Sample Pages**