CHAPTER – 7
Concept of Ayurveda, Ayurvedic formulations and
their quality control:
Introduction and principles of Ayurvedic, Unani, Siddha and
Homeopathic systems of medicines.
A study on different types of Ayurvedic formulations like Churna, Kwath,
Gutika, Taila, Ghrita, Avaleha, Asavas, Arista, Bhasma and Pisti.
Evaluation of Ayurvedic formulations

Holistic medicine is a term used to
describe therapies that attempt to treat
the patient as a whole person.
Holistic (Alternative) medicine

What Is Holistic Medicine?
Holistic medicine is a system of health
care which fosters a cooperative
relationship among all those involved,
leading towards optimal attainment of
the physical, mental emotional, social
and spiritual aspects of health.

major holistic therapies:
 Herbal medicine
 Homeopathy
 Naturopathic medicine
 Traditional Chinese medicine
 Ayurvedic medicine
 Unani medicines
 Siddha medicines
 Nutritional therapies
 Tibetan Medicines
 Chiropractic
 Stress reduction
 Psychotherapy
 Massage

Ayurveda

Objectives
 Introduction to Ayurveda
 Tridosha theory
 Reported benefits
 Current Research
 Conclusions

Introduction to Ayurveda
 Comprehensive system that places equal emphasis
on the body, mind and spirit, and it strives to
restore the innate harmony of the individual
 Ayurveda is the combination of two Sanskrit words
 “ayu” meaning long life
 “veda” meaning knowledge
 “Knowledge or science of life”

 Practiced in India for over 5000 years
 Covers all medical fields
 Diagnosis done by observation, touch, and
questioning
 Four components to
disease management
 Physician, Drug, Patient,
Attendant (such as
a nurse)

 Clinical exam includes
 Pulse diagnosis
 Urine examination
 Stool examination
 Tongue examination
 Examination of body
sounds
 Eye examination
 Skin examination
 Assessment of total body appearance

 Treatment has four main parts
 Shodhana – cleansing
 Shamana – palliation
 Rasayana – rejuvenation
 Satwavajaya – mental nurturing and spiritual
healing

Tridosha Theory
 Three energies/doshas
 Pitta – digestion, metabolism, emotions
 Kapha – lubrication, structure, synthesis
 Vata – movement, physical and mental function,
degeneration
 Individualized combination/ratio of the three
doshas

Reported Benefits
 Slowing the aging process
 Promoting health of all the organs of the body
 Reducing fatigue and stress
 Nurturing the body with proper diet
 Healing disorders of the nervous system

Hypothalamic digoxin, hemispheric chemical dominance, and the
tridosha theory. Kurup R, Kurup P. Intern J Neuroscience.
2003;113:657-681.
 Objectives
 Show that the three doshas represent different states of
hemispheric dominance
 Show how hemispheric dominance relates to certain
disease and psychological states
 Methods
 90 individuals aged 20-30 years divided into six groups
 Right hemispheric dominance, left hemispheric dominance, and
bihemispheric dominance
 The three doshas – vata, pitta, kapha

 Conclusions
 Correlation between tridosha and hemispheric
chemical dominance
 Link between doshas and predisposition to
diseases and psychological states

Classification of human population based on Ayurvedic concept of
Prakriti. Patwardhan B, Joshi K, Chopra A. J Altern Comp Med.
2005;11:349-353.
 Objective – assess relationship between prakriti and phenotype
in a healthy population
 Methods
 76 subjects
 DNA extracted and genes typed
 Prakriti assessed
 Results – frequency of certain alleles associated with vata and
kapha, but pitta had no significant association with any alleles
 Conclusion – correlation found, but need larger sample size

Conclusions
 Evidence supporting/validating the tridosha theory of
Ayurveda looks promising
 More research needs to be done to gather a larger
body of evidence
 Additional research needs to be conducted in the area
of Ayurvedic herbs
 Biochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological especially

Homeopathic Medicine
“Let likes be cured by likes”

Outline
 Homeopathic medicine and it’s history
 The Principles of homeopathic medicine
 How homeopathy differs from traditional
medicine and herbals
 How homeopathic medicines are made
 How to use homeopathic medicines
 Compatibility, side effects and overdosing
 Example of homeopathy use

What is Homeopathy?
 Homeopathy is a system of medicine whose
principles are even older than Hippocrates.
 It seeks to cure in accordance with natural laws
of healing and uses medicine made from natural
substances: animal, vegetable, and mineral.
 “Discovered” in the early 1800s by a German
physician, Samuel Hahnemann. Hahnemann
became disillusioned with the brutal and
senseless treatment methods (bleeding, purging,
cautery and blistering) of the day.
 Homeopathic Medicine at Home. Panos and Heimlich. Page 9)

Homeopathy History
 In 1890, there were 14,000 homeopaths
compared to 100,000 conventional physicians.
 In some areas, one out of four physicians was a
homeopath.
 There were 22 homeopathic medical school and
over 100 homeopathic hospitals.
 The rise of the drug industry after the Civil War
changed the practice of medicine and by 1940’s
the homeopathic physician was almost obsolete.
(Panos and Heimlich, Homeopathic Medicine at Home, pg. 17)

Homeopathy Statistics
 Homeopathy is alive and well in other parts of
the world.
 Britain has over 200 homeopathic physicians.
 France has nearly 800 homeopathic physicians.
 India is the stronghold of homeopathy, with 124
homeopathic medical schools.
 Mexico, as well as Brazil, Chile and Argentina
have homeopathic colleges and many practicing
physicians.

The Principles behind Homeopathic
Medicine
 Homeopathy is based on three principles.
 #1 The Law of Similars
#2 The Law of Proving
#3 The Law of Potentization

First Principle of Homeopathy
 The Law of Similars: States that a
remedy can cure a disease if it produces in
a healthy person symptoms similar to
those of the disease.
 How this law works in practice: A person
develops a fever, with flushed face, dilated
pupils, rapid heartbeat, and a feeling of
restlessness. The homeopathic physician
studies these symptoms, then searches for a
remedy that produce all these symptoms in a
healthy person.

Second Principle of Homeopathy
 The Law of Proving: This principle refers to
the method of testing a substance to determine
its medicinal effect. To prove a remedy, a group
of healthy people are given a dose of the
substance daily, and each person carefully
records the symptoms experienced. When the
proving is completed, all the symptoms that the
people consistently experience are recorded and
listed in the Materia Medica, a prescriber’s
reference.

A Comparison of Homeopathy and
Standard Medicine (Allopathy)
 Homeopathy
 Symptoms are a healthy
reaction of the body’s
defense mechanism.
 Treats the patient
according to the
symptoms.
 The aim is to strengthen
the body so it can resist
harmful organisms.
 Allopathy
 Symptoms are
manifestations of the
disease, to be opposed or
suppressed.
 Treats the patient
according to the disease.
 The aim is to identify the
organism and select a
drug to destroy the
specific germ.

Third Principle of Homeopathy
 The Law of Potentization: This refers to the
preparation of a homeopathic remedy. These
medications are prepared by successive diluting and
shaking to the point where the resulting medicine
contains no molecules of the original substance. These
small doses are called potencies. As strange as it may
seem, the higher the dilution, the greater the potency of
the medicine.
 A potentized remedy does not contain sufficient matter
to act directly on the tissues, which means that
homeopathic medicine is nontoxic and cannot cause side
effects. In over 150 years of use, no homeopathic
remedy has ever been recalled.

Some Homeopathic Medicine is
used in Conventional Medicine
Today
 A large number of
homeopathic medicines
were adopted by
allopaths, and some are
still being used today.
 One of the best known is
nitroglycerine tablets.

A comparison of Homeopathy and
Herbalism
 Homeopathy
 Scientific medicine that
follows procedures of
preparation.
 Prepared according to an
exact process and
prescribed according to
the law of similars.
 The potentized
medication contains only
minute amounts of the
original substance and is
nontoxic.
 Herbalism
 Preparation depends on
the herbalist’s intuition
and experience.
 Uses a combination of a
number of herbs.
 Many medicinal herbs are
toxic. A self-help herbalist
has no way of knowing
what constitutes a “safe”
dose.

How Homeopathic medicines are
made
 Homeopathic medicine is made in accordance to
the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United
States (HPUS).
 Homeopathic medicines are regulated by the
FDA.
 In 1938, Congress wrote the Food, Drug and
Cosmetic Act and included homeopathic
medicine as defined by the HPUS.
 The HPUS defines each remedy’s substance,
lowest safe dilution, and initial method of
preparation.

When and how to use Homeopathic
medicines
 Match the symptoms of the patient as closely as
possible to the symptoms that were produced in
healthy humans. (Law of similars)
 Give only one remedy at a time.
 Continue giving the remedy until improvement
starts, then increase the interval between doses.
 Medicine should be taken in a clean mouth,
placed on or under the tongue, free of food,
drink, tobacco, toothpaste, mouthwash, mints or
anything except plain water.

Compatibility with other
medications
 Homeopathy is 100% compatible with
other medications and will not interfere
with the effectiveness of other medicines.
 Other medications may lessen the effects
of homeopathy. Many remedies can be
affected by strong odors, steroids or
caffeine. (www. 1-800homeopathy.com)

Side Effects of Homeopathy
 “A homeopathic remedy does not cause
side effects. When I prescribe, I do not
have to worry, Is this drug safe? I have
never heard of a homeopathic medicine
being recalled for causing adverse side
effects, which is an enviable record
considering that these remedies have
been in use for more than 150 years.”
( Homeopathic Medicine at Home, pg 29)

Can a Patient Overdose
 No! All remedies are only sold in very safe
dilutions. (www.1-800homeopathy.com)
 A homeopathic remedy, even an entire
vial consumed at one gulp, is not toxic or
poisonous. (Panos, Homeopathic Medicine at Home, pg. 43)

What to avoid with homeopathic
medications
 Coffee can neutralize
the action of the
remedy.
 Avoid aspirin,
laxatives and sleeping
pills.
 Do not use nasal
drops, antiseptics,
liniments, or
preparations
containing camphor.

Observation: The key to prescribing
 Selecting a remedy that matches the totality of
the symptoms.
 Two people may be “bitten” by the same bug,
but react differently and require different
remedies.
 Example of two people both exposed to
streptococcus infection:
 Jane: flushed, restless, burning with heat, red throat, pounding
head, thirstless, and acutely ill. According to her symptoms, Jane
needed Belladonna, took it and recovered.
 Dick: Not so quick to show symptoms. Gradually became
quieter, grew pale, and was very thirsty, he was irritable and
developed a dry, racking cough. Dick needed Bryonia, and after
taking a dose felt better.

Questions to consider
 There is a growing popularity of
alternative medicine, especially
homeopathic medicine.
 What are some explanations you have
heard from patients or friends who use
alternative medicine?
 How would you counsel a patient who
wants to try homeopathic medicine?

AYURVEDIC
FORMULATIONS & THEIR
STANDARDIZATION

ASAVA &ARISTA

Standardization
Means adjusting the herbal substance / herbal
preparation to a defined content of a constituent or a
group of constituents with known therapeutic activity
respectively either by adding excipients or by
blending batches of the herbal substance and/or
herbal preparation (e.g. standardised extracts).

Introduction
Asavarista preparations have accupied unique place amongst
all the Kalpanas mentioned in Ayurveda.
These preparations are more popular because of their quick
Action & high preserving qualities.
Usually herbal remedies loose their potency after some time.
Here medicinal drugs will be preserved for prolong period in
alcoholic media.
These preparations has very long shelf-life, quick absorption
property & considered highly effective in therapeutic uses.
Difference
• Asava prepared in cold water without boiling the drugs,
Whereas Arista is prepared by boiling.
• The medicinal dose of both is the same as that of water
taken as early morning drink.

DEFINITION
Asavas and Aristha are meidicinal preparations made
by soaking the drugs, either in powder form or in the form
of deocoction (Kasaya), in a solution of sugar or jaggery,
as the case may be, for a specified period of time, during
which it undergoes a process of fermentation generating
alcohol, thus facilitating the extraction of the active
principles contained in the drugs.
The alcohol, so generated, also serves as a preservative.

Method of preparation of
ARISTHA
• The drugs in the formulation are coarsely
powdered and Kasaya is prepared.The
Kasaya is kept in the fermentation
pot,Jaggery or honey,, is dissolved,
boiled,filtrate and added.
• Drugs mentioned as Praksepa Dravyas are
finely powdered and added. At the end ,
Dhataki Puspa , included in the formula.
• Pot should be properly cleaned and drugs
are added.

• Afrer the specified period, the lid is removed, and the
contants examined to ascertain whether the process of
fermentation has been completed.

Mathod of preparation of Asava
• • The required quantity of water , Jaggrey
or sugar as prescribed in the formula is
added.
• • Boiled and cooled.
• • Poured in to the fermentation pot,
• • Fine powder of the drugs mentioned in
the formula are added.
• • The container is covered with a lid and
the edges are sealed with cloth of the
process is as in the case of Arista.

General precautions
• • Earthen vessel should not be new.
• •Water should be boiled first in the vessel.
• •Absolute cleanliness is required during the
process.
• • Each time , the inner surface of the
fermentation vessel should
• 8
• be fumigated with Pipali Churna and Ghee before
the liquid
• poured into it.
• •In large scale manufacturer ,wooden-vats,

• Characteristics
• The filtered Asava or Arista should be clear
without froth at the top.
• It should not become sour(Cukra).
• The preparation has the characteristics of
aromatic alcoholic odour.
• Preservation
• Asavas and Aristas can be kept indefinitely.
• They should be kept in well-stoppered bottles or

Benefits of fermented herbal preparations: -
Removal of sugars
Alcohol gradient 0-20
Removal of heavy metals and pesticides by
yeast
Conversion of toxins into pharmaceutical
agents
Higher extraction rate due to cell rupture,
active

• DRUGS REQUIRED
• • The drugs used in asvaristha are divided in
to four sections as
• given below according to their particular need
in the process.
• 1. The main drugs
• 2.Drava Dravyas
• 10
• 3.Sweetning substances

• 1. The main drugs
• • These are the drugs which are pharmacologically and
• therapeutically much important and the name of the
• medicine is derived from these drugs.
• • For preparing Asavaristas, herbal, mineral and animal
origin
• drugs are freely used.
• 11
• • Out of three, though the herbal drugs are abundantly
used,
• the other types are also not uncommon.
• • In addition to the usage of roots, fruits, flowers,

• 2. Drava dravyas
• • The Drava Dravyas used for preparation of
Asavaristas are
• Swarasa, Kwatha, water, Takra, Dadhi, Gomutra, Kanji
etc.
• • Water, Kwatha and Swarasas are more commonly
used liquid.
• • In some instances two or three liquids are found used
together.
• 3. Sweetening substances
• •Guda (jaggery) Sarkara (sugar), Sitopala, Matsyandika
• and Khanda sita (type of Jaggary and sugar) are used.

4. Fermantation initiator or Praksepa Dravyas
• These are the drugs which provides the
inoculums for the fermentation to start.
• The process of fermantation necessitates the
presence of
• fermenting micro-organisams known as yeasts.
• Dhataki puspa is considered as one of the
Praksepa dravyas,dried flowers of Dhataki
(woodfordia fruticosa, linn.) are used in the
preparation of many Aristas and Asavas for
stimulating fermentation process.

Standardization of Asava & Arista
Protocol for Standardization:
1. Description
2. Determination of pH
3. Determination of specific gravity
4. Determination of total solid
5. Determination of Alcohol content
6. Determination of Total sugars and Reducing
sugar
7. Phytochemical analysis
8. Chromatographic fingerprinting

1. Description: It involves orgenoleptic
characteristic like Type, Clarity, Colour, Odour,
Taste, etc.
2. Determination of pH: The pH value of an
aqueous liquid may be defined as the common
logarithm of the reciprocal of the hydrogen ion
concentration expressed in gram. The pH value of
a liquid is determined potentiometrically by
mean of a glass electrode and suitable pH meter.
3. Determination of specific gravity: The specific

4. Determination of total solid
• Digest pure quartz sand that passes through
No.40 but not No. 60 sieve with HCI, wash-acid-
free, dry and ignite. Preserve in stoppered
bottle.
• Place 25 gm of prepared sand and a short glass
rod in a nickel or stainless steel dish, about 55
mm in diameter and 40 mm deep fitted with a
cover. Dry thoroughly, cover dish, cool in
desiccator.
• Pipette out a quantity of Asava / Arista to yield
about 1 gm of matter. Mix the sample

5. Determination of Alcohol content
Apparatus: The apparatus consists of a round-
bottomed flask (A) fitted with a distillation head
(B) with a steam trap and attached to a vertical
condenser (C). A tube is fitted to the lower part
of the condenser and carries the distillate in to
the lower pail of a l00-ml or 250-ml volumetric
flask (DJ. The volumetric flask is immersed in a
beaker (E). containing a mixture of ice and
water during the distillation, A disc with a
circular aperture, 6 cm in diameter, is placed
under the distillation flask (A) to reduce the risk
of charring of any dissolved substances

Method
Transfer 25 ml of the preparation being examined,
accurately measured at 24.9° to 25.1°C, to the
distillation flask.
Dilute with 150ml of water and add a little pumice
powder. Attach the distillation head and
condenser.
Distil and ceiled not less than 90ml of the distillate
into a 100-ml volumetric flask.
Adjust the temperature to 24.9° to 25.1nCand
dilute to volume with distilled water al 24.9 ° to
25.1 ° C.
Determine the specific gravity at 25 ° C, read off
percentage of ethyl alcohol corresponding to the

Specific Ethanol Specific Ethanol Specific Ethanol
Gravity content gravity content gravity content
(%V/V) (%V/V) (%V/V)
1.0000 0 0.9875 9 0.9767 18
0.9985 1 0.9862 10 0.9756 19
0.9970 2 0.9850 11 0.9744 20
0.9956 3 0.9838 12 0.9733 21
0.9941 4 0.9826 13 0.9721 22
0.9927 5 0.9814 14 0.9710 23 '
0.9914 6 0.9802 15 0.9698 24
0.9901 7 0.9790 16 0.9685 25
0.9888 8 0.9778 17

6. Determination of Total sugars and Reducing
sugar:
Preparation of test solution:
• Alcohol must be removed from sample prior to
the determination of sugars. At the same time
the loss of laevulose which decompose at higher
temperature should be avoided. The following
method is recommended for the preparation of
the sample analysis.
• Neutralize a suitable volume of the sample,
accurately measured with NaOH solution, and
evaporate to the half the volume to remove
alcohol. Cool the solution and add 10 ml of
clarifying solution I (21.9 gm of zinc acetate and 3

Determination of Reducing Sugars
Prepare a solution of the sugar of such concentration that NLT
15 ml and NMT 50 ml will be required to reduce the copper
(0.15-0.25 gm of invert sugar per 100 ml Fehling's solution).
Measure accurately 10 ml of fehling's solution into a conical
flask of about 300 ml capacity from a burette add sample
solution and heat the flask over asbestos covered wire gauge.
After boiling is commanded, maintain a moderate degree of
ebullition 2 min, and without removing the flame, add 3-5 drops
of indicator and continue the titration so that. it is just complete
in a total boiling time of exactly three min. the end point is
clearly indicated by the disappearance of the blue color, the
solution become orange. The flask must not be removed from
the gauge at any stage of the titration.
The proportion of invert sugar, equivalent to 10 ml of fehling's
solution, are found from table.

Determination of Sucrose: -
• Pipette sample solution into a 300 ml beaker, add
15 ml of 1N HCl dilute to 150 ml with water, cover
with a clock glass and heat to boiling point.
Continue to boil for two min, cool, add
phenolpthalein just neutralize with NaOH solution
(10 %), transfer to a 200 ml graduated flask and
dilute to 200 ml.
• Carry out the determination of invert sugar as given
under "Reducing sugars". By references to the table
calculate the percentage of Total sugar expressed as
invert sugar.
• The differences between the percentage of total
sugar (as invert sugar) and reducing sugar (as invert
sugar) multiplies by 0.95 gives the percentage of
sucrose.
7. Phytochemical analysis : Phytochemical

8. Chromatographic fingerprinting
The various chromatographic techniques like TLC,
HPTLC, HPLC, GC, etc. is used to detect marker &
other phytoconstitute present in the Asava /
Arista.
• The extraction, isolation & separation of
phytoconstitute are carried out as per its
chemical nature & solubility and then detected
using chromatographic technique.
• If the phytoconstitute present in sample is not
known than the successive extraction is carried
out and then all the extract are subjected to the
chromatographic fingerprinting.

9. Spectroscopic analysis: Same like chromatographic
fingerprinting, various spectroscopic technique available like
UV, IR, NMR, Mass, etc. that used in the identification of
phytoconstitute.

• 1 Determination of total ash
• About 3ml of the preparation was accurately
weighed in a tared silica crucible.
• The crucible was incinerated at a temperature
not exceeding 500°C until free from carbon.
• The crucible was cooled and weighed.

• 2 Determination of acid insoluble ash
• The ash obtained as described in the
determination of total ash was boiled with 25
ml of hydrochloric acid for 5 min.
• The insoluble ash was collected on an ashless
filter paper and
• washed with hot water.
• The insoluble ash was transferred into a tared
silica crucible,ignited, cooled and weighed.

• 3 Determination of water soluble ash
• The ash obtained as described in the
determination of total ash was boiled for 5 min
with 25 ml of hot water.
• The insoluble matter was collected on an ashless
filter paper and washed with hot water.
• The insoluble ash was transferred into a tared
silica crucible and ignited at a temperature not
exceeding 450°C.
• The procedure was repeated till a constant

• Determination of acid value
10g of formulation was dissolved in 50ml of
equal volume of ethanol and ether previously
neutralized with 0.1M KOH to Phenolphthalein
solution.
To it 1ml of phenolphthalein solution was added
and titrated with 0.1M KOH until solution
remains faint pink after shaking for 30sec.

• Ashwagandharistha
• Ashokaristha
• Amritaristha
• Dusmularistha
• Kutajaristha
• Kumariasava
• Kanakasava
• Punarnavasav

Properties:
• Can be lifted in a spoon
• When pressed between fingers, show
threads during stretching
• Sinks in water without getting easily
dissolved
• Finger leaves impression on it
• Components of lehyas are easily absorbed
by the body, starting from the mouth

Storage:
• Kept in Glass/ Porcelain Jar or suitable plastic or
metal container which is inert.
• Wide mouthed container is used
• Air tight
• Keep away from hot & humid conditions
Shelf Life:
• Used with in a year
Examples:
• Brahma rasayanam
• Sukumara rasayanam
• Draksavaleha
• Chyavanprasha

• Bhasmas are powdered form of ayurvedic
preparations, obtained by calcination of metals,
minerals or animal products by a special process
in closed crucibles or pits covered by cow dung
cakes.
• Examples: Swarn bhasma, Shnakha bhasma and
Tamra bhasma
Bhasma

Preparation of Bhasma:
1. Shodhana is a process of purification and
detoxification by which physical and chemical
blemishes and toxic materials are eliminated
substances are subjected for further
processing.
Remove harmful substances and impurities
present in the drugs.
2. Marna is a process in which metals and
minerals are made into paste with various
drugs and juices. Objective to make bhasma
and this drugs are reduced to finest particles.
3. Jarana is a process of decomposing the
particles by subjected to fire treatment in a
measured manner for reducing them to ashes.
To make it absorbable.

Types:
• On the basis of color grey, whitish, yellowish or black colored.
• A more scientific way of classification is on the basis of metal
and mineral group like: Rajata group, Tamra group, Loha
group etc.
Shelf Life:
• Quite stable products, maintain potency for a long time
Properties:
• Bhasma has great therapeutic value because they get
absorbed easily into body even in very small doses

Classification of Bhasma
Metal-based Bhasma
Mineral-based Bhasma
Herbal Bhasma.

Quality Control of Bhasma:
• There should be not metallic lusture
• When a small quantity is spread on cold and
still water, it should float on the surface
• The bhasma should not revert to original
state.
Storage:
• Store in cool & Dry place
• Keep away from moisture & sunlight

• Bhasma
Main Ingredient
1. Loha bhasma
Iron oxide
2. Naga bhasma
Lead
3. Abhrak bhasma
Mica
4. Yasad Bhasma Zinc
Oxide
Important bhasmas and their main ingredient

Churna
Dried ayurvedic dosage form comprises of fine powder of
drug/s is known as churna.
Drug can be any dried part of plant: stem, leaves, root, bark,
fruit etc.
The churna is free flowing powder.
The principle of using Churnas is due to the fact that
therapeutic value of most of the substances is greatly
increases when they are reduces to vary fine state of
subdivion and is particularly notable in the cases of
antacids, protective and adsorbents.

Shelf Life:
• If stored properly, retains potency for one
year.
Storage conditions:
• Air tight container, Kept away from moisture
• Store in a cool & dry place
Advantages:
• They are also easily administrable specially
in the cases of children where they can not
swallow pills, tablets or capsules

Marketed Formulations:
1.Ashwagandhadi Churna
2.Triphala Churna
3.Trikatu Churna
4.Sudarshan Churna
5.Drakshadi Churna

Taila
• Also called Medicated Oil
• Liquid ayurvedic dosage form intended for external &
internal use comprises of compounds with medicinal value
or phytoconstituents present in oil
• The Taila preferably should be fresh
• There are usually 3 or 4 essential components in the
manufacture of Taila
– Drava [Any liquid medium as prescribed in the composition]
– Kalka [Fine paste of the specified drug]
– Sneha dravya [Taila]
– Gandha dravya [Perfuming agents]

Properties:
• The medicated Taila will have the odour, colour and taste
of the drugs used in the process.
• Protect from light and moisture
• Tailas are preserved in good quality of glass, steel or
polythene containers.
Shelf Life:
• These medicated preparations retain the therapeutic
efficacy for sixteen months.
Usage:
• Used as a internally and topically
• They are taken internally with warm water or warm milk

Marketed Formulations:
• Bhringaraja Taila
• Maha Narayan Taila
• Laghu Visagarbha Taila
• Anu Taila
• Dhanvantara Taila

Gutika/ Modaka/ Vati/ Vadagam/ Tablets/ Pills
• Soild ayurvedic dosage form made up of one or more
drugs of plant, animal or mineral origin by the process of
powdered, sieving, & mixing with prescribed liquids and
triturated till attained the consistency suitable for making
gutika.

Storage:
• Air tight container
• Preparation containing vegetable drugs can be used
for 2 years
• Preparations containing minerals or metals can be
used for indefinite period
• Pills and vatis should not lose their original color,
smell, taste and form.
• When sugar, salt is an ingredient, the pills should be
kept away from moisture.

Packaging:
• Bottles
• Strip Packing
• Blister Packing
• Marketed Formulations:
• Marikadi Gutika
• Khadiradi Vati
• Sanjivni Vati
• Lakshmivilasrasa Vati

 Various analytical parameters. characteristics
(colour, odour, taste, touch)
 Physicochemical investigations
 pH
 Total solid content
 Specific gravity
 Viscosity
 Refractive Index
 Loss on drying
 Ash value
 Extractive values
 Chromatographic evaluations
Evaluation of Kwath

Pisti
Pisti is prepared by triturating the drug with specified
plant liquids or exposing the same to sun or moon
light.
Pisties are as fine bhasma and retain their potency.
They are stored into the bottles.
Examples:
Praval pisti
Manikya pisti
Mukta pisti

 Organoleptic parameters like colour, odour, taste,
touch
 Physicochemical investigations includes
Loss on drying
Ash value
Extractive values
 Chromatographic evaluations
Evaluation of Pisti