Shashi Taroor Twitter controversy and Austerity drive – do we really care about this?

Now a days, there is a great political drama, a live serial going on in all the major news channels. Shashi Taroor and SM Krishna asked to vacate from Five star accommodations, Rahul Gandhi’s train journey and many minsiters’ common class flight journeys.

We being Indians, are generally slightly ambitious in nature. If we try to adopt simple living habits also, these advertisements will not allow us in that manner.

of course, we are facing a drought now. so, things have to be slowed down on spending our money a bit. But these politicians behaving as if they are responding to our pains is very very hard to digest.

I mean, how can they become so generous, pious and humble all of a sudden?

If isntead of doing such dramas, if they invest their time properly, by flying in flights and reaching the destined places, at proper times, conducting effective meetings, motivating government and other officials, reaching to the poor and the drought hit areas, managing to distribute food and money to the lower class of the society, then that can be called as austerity. If some politican comes out to the public, shares his property data and pays back the corrupt money that he had collected, then taht can be caled as Austerity. If some daring politician comes out of his A/C office and reaches to the poor and offers a helping hand, then that can be called as austerity.

We have many many problems to be resloved, one side, Pak is attacking and at another side China isknocking, and belw, lanka is burning Indian origin Tamils. amidst all these, do we really are supposed to tolerate and applaud this austeroty drama? I do  not think so. Do your duty correctly, and enjoy the white money that you get out of your sincere work to the fullest, be happy and make other happy. Do not make these small time drama to make a fool of us. Grow up!

Are you afraid of winters and heavy rains that bring viral diseases? Ayurveda has solution!

include ginger, turmeric and pepper in minute quantities in your diet. soon after you are home, make sure you dry of your hairs,
Try drinking warm water whenever possible.
Ginger tea is better than normal tea.
If possible, take some guggulu from market, (raw guggulu I mean) add a bit of turmeric and neem powder to it and burn it and inhale the fumes from a distance of one meter for a couple of minutes, soon after you return home.

General ayurvedic health boosters to avoid / fight flue:
Vyoshadi vataka (contains gigner pepper, long pepper etc.. good for cold and viral fever)
Panchanimbadi Gulika (excellent antiviral and antibacterial)
Bilwadi Gulika (Excellent antiviral and anti bacterial)
Amrutottaram kashayam tablet (contains Tinospora also called as Guduchi, excellent ayurvedic remedy for fever. )

You may try any one of these.

If you are in Indian,
Please write to consult@avnarogya.in to purchase these medicines,
If you are not an Indian, you may purchase these from the following link.

Why BJP why?

Ousting a person who has served the party for 30 year by a 30 second phone call. outrageous!

The CNN IBN Report said that no on in BJP read the book written by Jaswant singh, before taking the ousting decision.

BJP is on its way of apocalypse.

Ghee – An all-inclusive Ayurvedic explanation

Ghrita- ghee

                Among the four types of “SARPI” is considered as the best one because of its power to assimilate effectively the properties of the ingredients added to it without loosing its own properties.

 

Ghee is one among the MahaGhritas.

 

Process of Ghee making:

The curd of milk of cow is churned to obtain butter, which is heated to obtain ghee.

 

Ghee is sweet, soft, cold potency, slightly coating, brings about oleation, effective in flatulence, psychiatric disorders, epilepsy, abdominal colic &fullness and fever.

It mitigates Vata and Pitta. It imporves digestive fire, memory, intelligence, voice, luster, skin softness, immunity, strength, lifespan, eye strength.

It acts as aphrodisiac, relieves sins, poverty, toxicity and evil spirits.

 .In conditions involving Vata vitiation, Ghee is to be drunk.

 Due to cold property, it mitigates Pitta, due to oilyness it mitigates Vata and due to processing with other medicinal herbs, it mitigates Kapha.

 

Among all the medicines to mitigate aggravated Vata and Pitta, ghee is best. 

Upon consuming ghee routinely, ghee wins over Pitta due to sweet, cold and mildness, which are against to the qualities of Pitta.  

 

Drinking ghee relieves the colic pain of Pitta origin.  

 

ghee suits to those, aspiring intelligence and good memory power. 

Ghee is a great antitoxic substance.

 

 

-      Ghee is having taste and other qualities similar to milk, but it improves digestive power.

-      In the disorders occurring due to suppression of hunger, ghee should be taken at the beginning and at the end of meals.

-      Ghee exhibits thousands of actions based on processing.

-      Ghee consumption should be done daily. For the purpose of Ghritana (oleation), ghee s administered at the end of Varsha Rutu or in Sharad Rutu.

-      Oil is more heavier to digest when compared to ghee, fat (vasais heavier to digest when compared to oil and marrow (majja) is heavier to digest when compared to fat.

-      When Pitta alone is involved in a disease process, then ghee should not be administered, especially so in Ama condition. Otherwise it may lead to severe conditions like unconsciousness.

 

GHRITA KALPANA – Processing ghee.

            Ghrita kalpana plays an important role in treatment both internally and externally. If taken internally it enters the systemic circulation and can easily cross the blood brain barrier, there by strengthens or stimulates the central nervous system. When used for topical application it has the potential to diffuse locally into the soft tissues and produce the desired therapeutic action.

 

 

QUALITIES OF GHRITA

    * Guru – heavyness                       * Mandha – viscous

   * Seetha – cold                 * Sukshma – minute

   * Sara  - movement                      * Mridhu – soft

   * Snigdha  - unctuous                 * Drava – liquid

            These are the qualities of Ghrita mentioned by Vagbata Acharya. Picchila guna (property) was added along with the above qualities by Charaka Acharya.

 

 

GENERAL RULES OF GHRITA KALPANA

 BASIC INGREDIENTS

 

               The basic ingredients of Ghrita kalpana are kalka, Ghrita and drava dravya. Drava dravyas such as water swarasa , kwatha, ksheera etc, are commonly used for Ghrita kalpana.

 

 RATIO OF BASIC INGREDIENTS

         If the ratio or proportion of the kalka, Ghrita and drava dravyas are not mentioned in a yoga(formulation) then 1 part of kalka, 4 parts of Ghrita and 16 parts of drava dravya (or) the kalka 1/4^th  of Ghrita and drava dravya 4 times of Ghrita should be taken.

 

RATIO OF BASIC INGREDIENTS

BASIC INGREDIENTS	RATIO OF  INGREDIENTS
Kalka (bolus of herbs)	1
Ghrita  (ghee)	4
Dravadravya (decotoion, herb juice, milk, water etc, accoridng to the classical reference)	16

 

 SAMANYA GHRITA NIRMANA VIDHI

 

   The karma (order) of Ghrita sadhana vidhi is

Ø      Murchitha ghrita should be taken.

Ø      Next kwatha or any drava dravya is added to it.

Ø      Then if ksheera is mentioned in any of the formulation, it should be added

Ø      After adding ksheera, kalka (paste of dravyas mentioned in the formulation) is added.

Ø      Gandha dravya if mentioned in the formulation is added next to the addition of kalka .Usually gandha dravya is added as patra paka or at the final stage while filtering or sometimes during bottling.

            In this krama the ingredients are added and subjected to mild heat (fire) till the Ghrita paka siddhi lakshanas are seen, such as phenodgama or phenasanthi for taila and ghrita respectively, nirjalatwam ,varthivath and appearance of good colour ,smell and taste.

 

STAGES OF GHRITA KALPANA

                The entire pharmaceutical process is classified into 3 main stages.

STAGE  1 – POORVA KARMA

STAGE  2 – PRADHANA KARMA

STAGE  3 – PASCHAT KARMA

STAGE  1(OR ) POORVA KARMA

Ø      Collection of dravyas

Ø      Selection of the patra (vessel )

Ø      Selection of darvi ( ladle )

Ø      Murchana of Ghrita ( oil or ghee )

Ø      Preparation of drava dravya (swarasa, kwatha, dadhi, kanji,etc.)

Ø      Preparation of kalka

 

 

STAGE  2 ( OR ) PRADHANA KARMA

Ø      Agni – maintenance of heat

Ø      Ghrita paka- processing of oil or ghee

Ø      Checking of Ghrita paka

STAGE  3 ( OR ) PASCHAT KARMA

Ø      Filtering the processed Ghrita

Ø      Addition of gandha dravya or patra paka

Ø      Bottling and storage

 

STAGE 1 (OR) POORVA KARMA

COLLECTION OF DRAVYAS

Ø      Dravyas should be collected from the appropriate habitat and season.

Ø      Dravyas should be devoid of diseased condition and should be collected after following pooja karmas and reciting mantras as told in classics.

Ø      After collecting it should washed thoroughly to remove the physical impurities.

 

SELECTION OF PATRA (VESSEL)

Ø      Vessel should be selected in such a way that it should not react with the ingredients used for Ghrita paka

Ø      Usually iron vessels, earthen vessels were used during ancient times.

Ø      Now-a –days stainless steel vessels and tin coated copper vessels are used for various preparations in many of the pharmacies.

Ø      Precautions should be taken when tin coated copper vessel are used, because when the coated layer of the tin goes off, it is sure that copper reacts with the ingredients used for Ghrita paka.

Ø      The vessel must be strong enough to withstand the temperature.

Ø      It should be wide enough with proper depth in order to avoid the spilling of oil while processing.

Ø      After selecting the vessel it should made sure that it is cleaned thoroughly and sterilized properly

 

SELECTION OF DARVI (LADLE)

Ø      The darvi should be made out of strong metal like iron etc..and should not react with the ingredients

Ø      It should be long enough with broad end at one side to stir the contents while processing to avoid the ingredients from carbonization.

Ø      Before use, it should be cleaned and sterilized.

Ø      The darvi should withstand the temperature.

 

MURCHANA OF GHRITA

Ø      It is the preliminary treatment of Ghritas. So the lakshanas such as nirjalatvam , nirmalatvam, and the other Ghrita sidhi lakshanas should be tested  to confirm the murchana of Ghrita.

Ø      A clear cut description about the method of MURCHANA is explained by Govinda Das  ,the author of Bhaishajya Ratnavalli in 5/1285.

Ø      The drugs and its quantities to be taken as the kalkadravya is been clearly explained for ghritha murchana.

Ø      The herbs used in Ghrita murchana are – triphala, musta, haridra and  matulunga swarasa.

Ø      The main aim of murchana are

1.      to avoid ama doshas .

2.      to remove the durgandha.

3.      to potentiate the Ghrita, to accept the active principles of ingredients during Ghrita paka.

 

PREPARATION OF DRAVA DRAVYA

Ø      Drava dravya is very important for Ghrita kalpana, without which it is quite difficult to incorporate maximum active principles of the ingredients into the Ghrita.

Ø      Drava dravyas like kwatha (decotion), ksheera (milk), dadhi(curd), takra (butter milk), kanji( gruel) , mamsa rasa(meat soup), laksha rasa etc., are routinely used.

Ø      Generally the quantity of drava dravya is four times of Ghrita. If the drava dravyas are ksheera, dadhi, takra and mamsa rasa then water four times in addition to the normal quantity of the drava dravya should be added.

 

Ø      when specific drava dravya is not mentioned in a formulation then water four times to that of Ghrita is added for samyak paka lakshanas.

 

Ø      When the drava dravyas are five or more than five, then each drava dravya should be equal to the quantity  of the Ghrita.

 

Ø      If the number of drava dravya is less than five then each drava dravya should be of equal fraction to that of the total quantity of drava dravya in the formulation (or) each drava dravya should be four times to that of Ghrita.

Ø      In majority of Ghrita formulations kwatha or kashaya is the drava dravya, so Sharangadara gave special importance for the method of preparation of the same in the Ghrita kalpana chapter.Acharyas has given different ratios of water to be added while preparing kwatha depending upon the nature of the dravyas and quantity of dravyas used for preparing the kwatha¹⁴.

 

RATIO OF WATER DEPENDS UPON THE NATURE OF DRAVYAS USED

Author	Nature of Drug	Ratio of Drug	Ratio of Water	Reduction
Sharangadara	Mridu	1	4	1/4th
	Madhyama	1	8	1/4th
	Katina	1	8	1/4th
	Atyanta Katina	1	16	1/4th

 

Ø      This variation in the ratio of water depending upon the nature of the dravyas may be to extract the maximum water soluble active principles of the ingredients. For example katina dravyas like devadaru, padmaka, asana etc., requires 16 times of water i.e., it takes longer time for the 16 times of water to get reduced to 1/4^th , by that time maximum active principles of the ingredients are extracted into the water. Therefore more the quantity of water, longer the time duration and maximum is the extraction of active principles of the ingredients.

 

 

OPINION OF VARIOUS AUTHORS REGARDING GHRITA KASHAYA   PREPARATION

Author	Ratio of drug		Ratio of water	Reduction    part
Susrutha	1 part 1 part 1 tula		8 parts 16 parts 1drona	1/4th     1/4th     1/4th
Bhoja	1part		4 parts	1/4th
Sharangadra	Mridu                Madhyama        Katina               Atyanta katina	1part 1part 1part 1part	4 parts 8 parts 8 parts 16 parts	1/4th     1/4th      1/4th     1/4th

 

Ø      Sharangadhara has clearly explained the change in the ratio of water when the quantity of drugs changes in a particular yoga for preparing Ghrita kwatha.

Ø      If the quantity of the drugs changes from one karsha to one pala, water should be 16 times; if from 5 tola to 1 kudava it should be 8 times and if from 17 Tola to 1 khari it should be 4 times.

Ø      When ksheera is mentioned as dravadravya  in a formulation, then ksheera should be taken four times of Ghrita. If other drava dravyas are also mentioned along with ksheera, then ksheera should be taken equal to the Ghrita and all the remaining drava dravya should be taken in such quantity that it should be three time of Ghrita.

 

 

RATIO OF WATER DEPENDS UPON THE QUANTITY OF DRAVYAS

QUANTITY OF DDRAVYAS	QUANTITY OF WATER	REDUCTION PART
1 1karsha- 1pala	16 times	1/4th
5 Tola- 1 kudava	8 times	1/4th
17 Tola- 1 khari	4times	1/4th

 

PREPARATION OF KALKA

Ø      A single drug or a number of drugs which may be fresh or dry is made into paste form by grinding in khalva yantra. If it is dry in nature a little quantity of water is added and made into a kalka form.

Ø      In a particular formulation if the kalka dravyas are not mentioned, then the dravyas told for kwatha preparation may be taken for preparing kalka.

Ø      The common ratio of kalka is 1/4^th of Ghrita.

 

If the nature of kalka is pushpa (flowers) then the ratio should be 1/8^th of the Ghrita. or (eg) pushpas like nagakesara , kumkuma , lavanga , utpala etc.

 

The ratio of kalka  depends upon  the nature of drava dravya.

            If jala(water) then the ratio of kalka is 1/4^th of Ghrita

            If kwatha then kalka is 1/6^th to that of Ghrita

 

  If the drava dravya is rasa ,ksheera, dadhi, mamsarasa, takra then the ratio of  kalka is 1/8^th of Ghrita.

 

  RATIO OF KALKA DEPENDS ON NATURE OF DRAVA DRAVYA

NATURE OF DRAVA    DRAVYA	RATIO OF KALKA	RATIO OF GHRITA	RATIO OF DRAVA DRAVYA	RATIO OF WATER
Jala	1/4th	1	4	;
Kwatha	1/6th	1	4	;
Swarasa	1/8th	1	4	4
Ksheera	1/8th	1	4	4
Dadhi	1/8th	1	4	4
Mamsa rasa	1/8th	1	4	4
Takra	1/8th	1	4	4

 

STAGE 2

MAINTENANCE OF AGNI

Ø      Agni is very essential for processing the Ghrita. It may be direct fire or by any other heat source.

 

Majority of the Ghrita yogas are prepared by direct fire. We get three different stages of agni namely     

Ø      Mridu agni

Ø      Madhyama agni

Ø      Theevra agni

Ø      Usually mridu agni and madhyama agni are maintained for Ghrita paka. Theevra agni is not at all needed for Ghrita paka, because it results in the carbonization of the Ghrita dravyas. The main aim of Ghrita paka is the extraction of the active principle of the ingredients into the Ghrita by subjecting it to mild fire in the beginning of the process and latter it is increased ,so that the materials boil. After it starts boiling, temperature should be maintained in the boiling stage itself by reducing the fire. In the final stage of Ghrita paka the fire should be reduced and continuous stirring should be done to prevent the carbonization of the kalka dravya. In the beginning and last stage mild fire is maintained and medium fire is given for the boiling of the Ghrita dravyas for its reduction.

Ø      Bhastri was used as heat source in olden days. Now-a-days steam jackets, electrical devices, gas stoves etc are used for Ghrita paka.

 

NIRAGNI

Ø      Here Ghrita paka is done by the tapa (heat) of the surya (sun).It is also known as surya paka, bhanu paka or aditya paka. In this Ghrita paka there is no addition of drava dravya. The moisture present in the ghrita after the addition of the fresh or dry drugs will get evaporated by the heat of sun rays for a specific time period. Usually this method is followed to prepare ghrita with drugs which contain volatile active principle and those which are heat sensitive. Ghrita prepared by this method are used for skin diseases and are not used for internal purpose.

            Eg    Suryapaka kasisadi ghrita (sha sam )

 

METHOD OF PREPARATION OF GHRITA 

Ø      The method of Ghrita paka is  the murchitha Ghrita is taken first ,then drava dravya and kalka is added.This is the order for the addition of the basic ingredients to prepare a formulation² .Acharya Susrutha and Vagbata has followed the  method of adding all the basic ingredients simultaneously.

Ø      In some parts of kerala the kalka is mixed with the drava dravya and then subjected to fire. This method is followed in order to avoid the carbonisation of kalka and also for uniform mixing of all the basic ingredients.

Ø      In Rajasthan ,the kalka dravya is made into a bolus form. The Ghrita is heated at first , then removed out of  fire and the kalka is added a little by little and then put on fire and the dravadravya is added.Here the kalka is added to the heated Ghrita ,so a barjana process is indirectly done either by removing the vessel from the fire or after reducing the temperature (or fire).This may to prevent the carbonization of kalka. The vaidyas of Rajasthan speaks out that after a mild barjana of kalka the efficacy of the Ghrita is enhanced. This may be the reason that kalka has got “aavapa” sabda as its synonym.

 

Time Duration:

Ø      Ghrita paka should not be completed within a day.

Ø      First day all the ingredients are added, subjected to mild fire in the beginning and then to medium fire –such that it boils. Only on the second day it should be filtered. At the final stage( just before filteration ), the temperature is reduced by subjecting to mild fire and continuous stirring to prevent carbonization.

Ø      The reason for this 2 days of time duration may be to extract the maximum active principle into Ghrita. As the time duration of the process increases it is sure that maximum active principle is incorporated into the Ghrita.

Ø      As the nature of the drava dravya changes the time duration of Ghrita paka also changes. When ksheera is one of the drava dravya then paka should be done for 2 nights. If swarasa then 3 nights and if takra, aranala etc.,then 5 nights. If kwatha of valli or moola is used then 12 nights, if mamsa rasa or any vrihidhaanyas are used then 1 night.

 

TIME DURATION OF GHRITA PAKA DEPENDS UPON DRAVA DRAVYA

NATURE OF DRAVADRAVYA	TIME DURATION IN DAYS
Mamsa rasa and vrihi dhaanya	1 night
Ksheera	2 nights
Swarasa	3 nights
Takra and aranala etc	5 nights
Kwatha of moola and valli	12 nights

Ø      Longer the time duration of Ghrita paka maximum is the acquisition of the qualities of the basic ingredients for (eg) when preparing ksheera bala, ksheera is one of the drava dravya so the time duration is 2nights. First day it is boiled nicely and reduced  a little. Next day again boiled and reduced  so as to complete the process on 3^rd day. Here  the change in temperature and the time duration of two whole nights helps the active principles to undergo some chemical reactions ,so as to get the expected efficacy of the Ghrita.

 

GHRITA SIDHA LAKSHANAS

At the end of the process a small quantity of kalka is taken out and rolled in between the fingers, if it gets into a wick-like shape and does not produce any crackling sound if thrown on fire, then it is understood that the process is completed.

            Likewise appearance of phena (froth) in taila paka and disappearance of phena in ghrita paka is seen at the terminal stage of Ghrita paka. Appearance of gandha, varna and rasa should be considered. Gandha ,Varna, Rasa varies from one formulation to formulation.

 

CHECKING THE GHRITA PAKA-

 

Ghrita pakas are of three types based on therapeutic use

•  
  1. Mridhupaka
  2. Madhyamapaka
  3. Kharapaka

These three pakas are only recommended for therapeutic purpose.

TYPES OF GHRITA PAKAS ACCORDING TO DIFFERENT AUTHORS

AUTHOR	NO OF PAKAS	GHRITAPAKAS
Charaka Susrutha	3	Mridhu Madhyama Khara
Haritha	4	Chikkkana Madhyama Khara Vishosi
Vagbhata Sharangadhara Shodala GovindAcharya	5	Ama Mridhu Madhyama Khara Dagdha

 

 

            Various types of Ghritapakas are mentiond by our Acharyas. Charaka and Susrutha has mentioned three types namely mridu, madhyama and khara.Acharya Harita has mentioned 4 types of Ghritapakas. They are chikkana, madhyama, khara and vishoshi. Acharya Vaghbata, Sharangadara,Shodala, and Govinda Acharya has mentioned 5 types of Ghritapaka viz. ama, mridu, madhyama, khara, dagdha.Among these ama ,dagdha and vishoshi are therapeutically inactive.

 

GHRITAPAKAS AND ITS THERAPEUTIC USES.

1.      Mridu paka:

            A small quantity of kalka taken out from the Ghrita patra and it is pressed in between the fingers,if it yields large quantity of Ghrita then it is said to be mrdupaka.

Uses:

            Used for nasyakarma.

2.      Madhyama paka:

            If kalka does not yield much Ghrita but soft in consistency and can be rolled into a varti, then it is understood that it has attained the madhyama paka. In this state of Ghrita kalpana when kalka is put in fire, burns without any crackling sound and kalka still remains soft in consistence and non-sticky due to the complete disappearance of water content.

Uses:

            Vasthi, abhyangam, pana and for all the karmas .i.e. both internal and external use.

3.      Kharapaka:

If it is again heated after madhyama paka it attains kharapaka . In this stage kalka appears hard, rough and resembles sand in nature.

Uses:

            Mainly for external use i.e. for abhyanga.

4.      Amapaka

            It is the paka just before mridupaka and contains lot of moisture.It is due deficient heating and so it becomes guru( hard to digest). It is of no use in treatment.

5.      Dagdha paka and Visoshi

            Boiling still further after kharapaka will result in dagdha paka ( over burnt) , and it is not used for any purpose because it increases vata dosha .

 

 

 

 

 

USES OF DIFFERENT PAKAS – VARIOUS OPINION BY AUTHORS

NAME OF   CLASSICS	AMA	MRIDU/ (CHIKKANA)	MADHYAMA	KHARA	DAGDHA/ VISHOSI
Charaka Samhitha	-	Nasya	Vasti Abhyantara	Abhyanga	-
Susrutha Samhitha	-	Pana	Nasya Abhyanga	Vasti Karnapurana	-
Astanga Hridhya	No use	Nasya	Pana Vasti	Abyanga	No use
Sharangadara Samhitha	No use	Nasya	Sarva karma	Abhyanga	No use
Bhavaprakash	No use	Nasya	Sarva karma	Abhyanga	No use
Yoga Ratnakara	No use	Nasya	Sarva karma	Abhyanga	No use
Harita Samhita	No use	-	Pana Vasti	Abhyanga	No use
Vangasena	No use	Nasya	Pana Vasti	Abhyanga	No use
Bhaishajya Ratnavali	No use	Nasya	Sarva karma	Abhyanga	No use
Gada Nigraha	No use	Nasya	Pana Vasti	Abhyanga	No use

 

STAGE 3

FILTERING THE GHRITA

Ø      After the Ghrita siddhi lakshanas it should be immediately filtered or otherwise the paka may change because of the heat absorbed by the vessel and there by the Ghrita looses the expected efficacy. The vessel should be removed from the fire or the fire should be put off and filtered immediately.

Ø      Usually double layered cotton cloth of required length and breadth is used for filtering. Double layered cotton cloth is used in order to withstand the hotness of the Ghrita and to prevent the tearing of the cloth while squeezing.

Ø      After filtering, the kalka is put into the nishpeedana yantra and squeezed to get the Ghrita part absorbed by it. When the kalka is hot we get maximum Ghrita while squeezing. As it cools the amount of Ghrita obtained will be less and there occurs loss in Ghrita.In order to prevent the loss ,filtering and squeezing is done when it is hot itself.

Ø      The cloth should be washed in pure water to remove any starch content and dried properly and sterilized to prevent the rancidity of the product.

ADDITION OF GANDHA DRAVYA

Ø      Gandha dravyas are added in the final stages of Ghritapaka or added after the vessel is removed from the fire and then filtered eg. Samanga, kankola, nalika jati, twak, lavanga, karpoora etc. The quantity should be 1/16^th  part of Ghrita in general.

Ø      Sometimes after filtering the Ghrita, gandha dravyas are tied in a pottali and put in the hot Ghrita.

Ø      Sometimes the gandha dravyas are powdered and added just before bottling.

Ø      Usually gandha dravyas are added to potentiate the Ghrita and to increase the quality. Moreover gandha dravyas are volatile in nature. Eg. Kasturi, karpura, etc. So it is added after filtering or just before bottling.

Ø      If sarjarasa, madhuchistam (beeswax)  are mentioned in a yoga, then it should be added only after the Ghrita is filtered or put in the vessel in which the Ghrita is to be filtered . The heat of the Ghrita melts the above dravyas and so uniform mixing of the same is expected.

 

BOTTLING AND STORAGE

Ø      Bottling and storage is very important, care should be taken to increase the shelf life of the Ghritas . Bottles should be cleaned properly, dried and sterilized inorder to prevent rancidity.

Ø      Usually glass bottles are used. Now- a -days plastic containers are also used for easy handling. Plastic containers should be selected in such a way that it should not react or change the quality of Ghrita.

 

SHELF LIFE

Sharangadara has mentioned the shelf life as 16 months.

As per pharmacopia Ayurveda part-1 expiry date of Ghrita is 16 months.

 

DOSE

In Bhaishajya Ratnavali the matra of Ghrita is mentioned as

      Uttama matra         - 1 pala -48gms

      Madhyama matra   -  3 tola -36gms

      Heena matra           -   2 tola -24gms

 

Probable causes for rancidity:

(a)   Many of the Ayurvedic preparations are manufactured with herbal drugs which contain phytochemical principles.  It helps in microbial growth. These may act as free radicals in the preparation.

(b)   Various factors like moisture, oxygen, carbon-di-oxide, light, trace elements, pressure, temperature etc also act as free radicals, which initiates the deterioration process.

(c)    Sometimes, the plastic containers attracts dust particles and it also act as free radical.

(d)   Sometimes, the product may act with packing material.

AVARTANA

            Avartana means repeating the process several times .This is done in order to potentiate the final product, to achieve the maximum result of the drug .When the process is repeated several times the dose can be reduced, for example Ksheera bala 101- the dose given in practice is 8-10 drops, but where as the dose of Ghrita according to Sharangadara is 1 pala, approximately 48-50ml internally.

HISTORY

            There are references regarding avarthy of both ghrita and tailas in Charaka Samhita, Susruta Samhita, Astanga Hridaya, but a clear cut  method of the pharmaceutical procedure is not mentioned.Ratnaprabha Teeka on Chakradatta is the classical book which explains the pharmaceutical process of avarthy in the context  of Dashapakabala Taila.

METHOD OF PREPARATION

Ø      The basic ingredients are kalka, Ghrita, dravadravya and the ratio of above ingredients are 1:4:16.All the procedures are similar to that of Ghrita kalpana whether it is a ghrita kalpana or taila kalpana.

Ø      After Ghrita paka, the Ghrita is filtered and measured. The quantity of kalka and drava dravya for second avarthy is calculated and added to the above filtered Ghrita and paka is done. Likewise continuously the Ghrita paka is done by adding the calculated kalka and drava dravya every time and paka should be continued.

Ø      After each Ghrita paka the quantity of Ghrita obtained will be less i.e. there will be loss in each paka.

Ø      It is sure that the consistency, the colour and odour of the product changes in each avarthy.

DIFFERENT OPINIONS REGARDING THE METHOD OF PREPARATION OF AVARTHANA

1)      GAYADAS’S OPINION

            In the context of the  pharmaceutical process of Sahasarapaka Bala Taila in the 4^th chapter of Susruta Samhita, Gayadas mentions the method of preparation is similar to the general method of Ghrita kalpana and the process should be repeated every time by adding the drava dravya.

2)      JEJJATA’S OPINION

            On commenting Gayadas opinion Jejjata says if the process is repeated for 100/1000 times the loss will be more and the final yield will be very less. So the process should be done by adding 100/1000 parts of drava dravyas at a single strech.

            Here again Gayadas substantiates by saying that the ksheera which is added during the process of avartana will compensate the loss to some extent. So the process is repeated for 100/1000 times.

 

REFERENCES REGARDING THE NUMBER OF AVARTHY

NAME OF THE PRODUCT	NO OF AVARTHY	REFERENCE
Amalaka ghrita	100 times	C.S.Chi 2/4
Amalaka ghrita	1000 times	C.S.Chi 2/4

 

you really think your child does not need sex education? :)

Ratna*, 7 year old school going kid  comes home after school and says to mother on a funny tone: ” mom, today we had a great day while playing games. In the skipping competition, I won 25 kisses from my sports teacher for completing 100 skippings. 

Roja*, 14 year old says to his mother – “mom, i dont know whether it is right or wrong to tell you, but since you are my best friend, just listen. today my classmate suddenly gave a tight hug to me in front of all my classmates. I didn’t know how to ract, I just slapped him and began crying loudly. My principal came and the scene grew messier. now what should I do? “

The parents of Ratna* & Roja* are very lucky! because, their beloved daughters are making an effort to explain the happening to them. In some instances, some kids just keep quite, fearing rejection, punishment, embarassment, …”you only must have provoked him….” 

Ramya*, 16  year old girl writes in her dairy    ”….. today again, I was bullied upon by my uncle. As usual, I was tempted to tell it to mom. but again….. our family financial condition, dependancy on my uncle, regarding loans, etc came to my mind and I just gulped in the bitterness & kept quite.”

Raju*, 12 year old confesses to his friend,  ” Da, my uncle squeezes my… you know the inner part, and sometimees I feel happy about it, and sometimes it really hurts. I dont know how to react. what should I do ? “

 

Ram*, 17 year ld tells to his friend – “yesterday night, some pus like gummy thing from my penis. is it AIDS man? oh! god, I am scared to death.”

Moral of these stories: 

• Sex education is NOT education about how sexual intercourse is done. 
• A proper syllabus according to the age of the children should be drawn. 
• Eg: 1. 5-7 year old – what to do when some elders (teachers, relatives etc) touch private parts of the child – inform immediately to mom or papa.  How to behave with fellow boys and girls. What you should do when someone is behaving closely with you and you are scared – cry loud, scream for help, call your teacher, papa or mummy immediately. etc. 
•     Eg 2: 16-18 year old – what is masturbation, is it right or wrong, does it really cause any disease… etc. what are the consequnce of a love relationship. what are the consequence of live in relationship, how married life is stabler than the other kind of relationships, what are the moral and ethic perspectives involved? how to react to the parent’s disagreement. what is safe sex? how safe is it to use a condom,what are the preautionary measures to aoid sexual harassment, what are the legal provisions, how you are legally protected, how you can legally fight back? what are the rganizations working for this cause…..

Message to those naysayers about sex education: Please learn about the improtance before your child is a victim of a sexual abuse, rape or icnest. If you think that your child is absolutely safe, try asking him a few questions pertaining to above discussed matters. The reply should be interesting.

How to know your child is in trouble?

1. Child will show signs of fear upon hearing to some of your relative’s name.

2. Injury marks near to groins, severe itching sensation in the groins, or any severe skin infections

3. Highly depressed mood of the child, not willing to mingle with friends and family members, Highly irritable, lack of interest in food and activities, repeated crying spells.

How to approach the troubled child?

Talk very gently (already the child is in a lot of pain).

Assure that you will not hurt him/ her in any ways if he/she tells the truth.

Take the child into your confidence, love him/her, gift something. show that your full support is there with him/her.

Encourage the child to explain everything. This will help in assessing the amount of damage.

 

* The names and plots used in this article are fictions.

pub guidlines for women

Well, if you are a regular visitor to pub, you already are aware how dangerous it has become to go unprepared to a pub.

Consider following precautions. These might come handy.

1. Have a pepper spray or with you ready. Can’t say when these culture saving cowards might come at you. besides, it will help you to avoid all the others threatening creatures at pub. 

2. Dont booze overdose. its always better under full consciousness and full control over your body and your activities.

3. Always hang around with your friends. If you think that you have been singled out, reach out to your friend/s inmmediately.

4. Be careful while you communicate to strangers. don’t reveal your personal details.

5. have a watch on your friend’s friends.

6. Have a fixed plan how you are going to come back home. Don’t change that plan at any cost. say, if any friend says he will drop you…… you never know, whats on his mind.

Is dhoni in too much hurry to oust tendulkar & dravid?

Well, I dont have any sort of grudge or suspicion against Dhoni’s captaincy skills, in fact, I am a fan of his captaincy and his batting. But after winning the first test match against New Zealand, he said he dedicates it to Tendulkar and Dravid. In the second innings, too, he sent Dravid to open. Ok, I know that Sehwag was injured. But Dravid is not an opener, he is a no.3 or no.4 specialist batsmen. In the recently concluded Srilankan series also, Dhoni was reluctant to send Dravid down the order, because Dravid was not in best of his form. But at that time, Gavaskar, Jadeja, everybody were opining that it may be best for the team if Dravid plays down the order for a couple of matches, till he gains back his rythm. But Dhoni did send him at no.3 spot  only. We won the fisrt test match against Newzealand, just because Tendulkar and Dravid performed well, along with Harbhajan. The availability of seniors in the team is mandatory for Indian team to excel in test matches and I hope Dhoni wakes up to that.

CONCEPT OF WOUND HEALING IN AYURVEDA

AYURVEDIC PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF WOUND:

Due to external injury, there will be vitiation of three doshas –

Vata vitiation – leading to pain, swelling,

Pitta vitiation – leading to Burning sensation, infection (dooshana) of blood,

Kapha vitiation – accumulation and vitiation of fluids.

 

Types of external wounds:

1. Ghrishta – which exudes fluid mixed with litlle quantity of blood, associated with burning sensation.
2. Avagadha – more severe than Ghrishta
3. Vicchinna – more severe than Avagadha
4. Pravilambi – deep wound causing injury till bone
5. Patita – Organ gets separated from body
6. Viddha – piercing type of wound
7. Bhinna – Piercing wound of abdomen
8. Vidalita – wound occurring due to hitting or punch or crushing

 

 

TREATMENT:

For Ghrishta and Vidalita:

If associated with severe pain, wash with warm Yashtimadhu Ghrita or with Bala taila.

In order to mitigate heat of wound, drugs  which possess astringent taste, cold potency and unctuous properties should be made use for lepa  (bandage or local application)

 

In traumatic wounds which are wide, in order to promote healing, honey and ghee should be specially used.

 

 

 

When accompanied with severe swelling,

Vamana therapy – for wounds of upper body parts.

Virechana therapy – for wounds of lower body parts. 

In other types of wounds, due to excessive loss of blood, Vata will be vitiated leading to severe pain.  Therefore Parisheka (Sprinkling of medicated kashayam/oil), Swedana (local sudation), lepa (local application of medicine in paste form) and Upanaha (poulties) should be applied.

Snehabasti (a type of Panchakarma) should be done with medicines mitigating Vata Dosha. 

Acharya Sushruta has explained 64 types of treatment for wounds.

Among them following are a few important ones –

1. Apatarpana – a type of fasting, or avoidance of food articles that take long tme for digestion. 

1. Alepa – application of paste. It clears the dust and toxins, decreases swelling, brings back normal texture of skin. 

1. Parisheka – Fomentation/sprinkling 

1. Abhyanga – Gentle massage 

1. Swedana – should be done in wounds with severe pain 

1. Panchakarma therapies, based on the Dosha vitiation. 

1. Lekhana – in cases where cut ends of muscle is lying exposed. Here scraping is done with KCl (Saindhava), cotton, Samudra Phena etc. 

1. Eshana –  Probing. In case of sinuses with excessive pus collection. 

1. Aharana – Extraction. In case of impacted foreign matter. 

1. Vidravana – Draining out. In case of pus collection. 

1. Seevana – suituring in case the wound is free of any foreign object and in fresh wounds. 

1. Peedana  - squeezing to let out pus. 

1. Shodhana – Purification of wounds by using decoction made of – Shankini, Ankota, Karaveera,, Suvarchala and Aragwadha.
2. Avachoornana – sprinkling of powders – in case of wounds with bad smell. 

1. Dhoopana – fumigation by burning Yava (hordeum vulgare), ghee, Shreeveshtaka, Sarjarasa etc. 

1. Krishnakarma – To bring back black color of skin in case the skin has turned white after wound healing – For this purpose, Bhallataka is kept immersed in Cow,s urine for seven days, then it is kept immersed in cow’s milk. Then it is dried, cut into pieces and oil is extracted. The oil is mixed with Khura bhasma (Ash obtained after burning the hard part of the foot of the cow, collected after cow’s death). The paste is applied over the affected area. 

1. Pandukarma – To bring back the white color of skin, if it has turned black due to wound. Rohini fruit (Varient of Terminalia chebula) is kept immersed for seven days in goat’s milk and then a paste is prepared and applied over the affected part.    

Like this many techniques are explained in detail to bring back normal skin texture and colour.                                                                                                         

ARYA VAIDYA NILAYAM’S PRODUCTS EFFECTIVE FOR EARLY WOUND HEALING.

1. Murivenna oil: can be used for pichu (cotton swab immersed in the oil is applied over the affected part. Very effective in wounds with severe pain. (Reference: Yogagrantham)
2.  Aragwadhdai Kashayam: To cleanse wounds, can be used for local Dhara. . (Reference: Ashtanga Hrudayam)      

1. Gulgulutiktakam Kashayam           

      Gulgulutiktakam Kashayam   Tablet:  Relieves inflammation & infection when 

      administered internally. (Reference:  Ashtanga Hrudayam)      

1. Mahatiktakam kashayam

      Mahatiktakam Kashayam Tablet:   Purifies blood and accelerates healing   

      process. (Reference:  Ashtanga Hrudayam)      

5. Tiktakam Kashayam    

    Tiktakam Kashayam Tablet: Action pretty much similar to above.

    (Reference:  Ashtanga Hrudayam)    

In case of intense swelling: Punarnasavam, Gokshuradi Guggulu.

In case of fever: Amrutottara Kashayam, Amrutottara Kashayam tablet, Amrutarishta. 

In case of severe pain: Maharasnadi Kashayam, Maharsanadi Kashayam tablet. 

P.S:

1.  Arya vaidya Nilayam is the pioneer and leader in manufacturing and marketing of Kashayam in tablet form (kashayam tablet). Kashayam as such is having many disadvantages from the consumer perspective like bitter taste, difficult dosage fixation, difficulty in carriage etc. Whereas kashayam Tablets are free from such patient-compliance-problems. AVN Also takes maximum care to ensure timely disintegration, dissolution and bio- availabilty of Kashayam tablets. 

 

2. The products at AVN undergo stringent quality control using latest of the technologies available like High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography, UV Visibkle spectroscopy, Stability chambers etc.

 3. Though some of the treatment techniques of Acharya Sushruta look old, they were and are very effective even today.

 4. Though wound healing is a normal phenomenon, the rate of healing, infection care, pain etc symptom management can effectively be done by above products of Arya Vaidya Nilayam.                                                              

 5. Honey has been promoted as an excellent wound healer many thousands of years ago by Acharya Sushruta. Now, it has been validated as a scientific truth by modern fraternity. 

Only one life to live, many things to do, many ways to enjoy.

(The title has a bit spiritual touch. But the content does not. )

 

Here’s the list of things that you better do now rather than repenting later. 

1. Go now and say ‘sorry’ or ‘thanks’ If you ever are thinking that you should have said ‘sorry’ or ‘thanks’ to anyone, and you have not said it till now, please do a phone call, or send a text message or email him or go in person and say that right now. If you delay, the right timing will be lost, the impact will also be lost. 

1. Do those things which you wanted to do. If you had thought of doing some adventurous things like skiing, boating, horse riding, skating, swimming etc, today only go and register for it. Remember – Only one life to live and many things to do. If you pass certain age, you will not be able to do some of those. So do it now. 

1. Register for donating your eyes and organs today. This will make you live even after you are dead. Those patients who would receive your organs will be ever grateful to you. It will bring you much more good Karma than getting ritualistically buried or torched, after you die. Donating your body for a medical college to benefit many medical students is also as great a job as donating the organs. 

1. Your family, wife, father, mother, sister, brother, friends have always stood for you. Spend quality time with them as much as possible. Your work schedule may be very hectic, but the responsibility of spending time with your family & friends is also equally important. It adds meaning to your life. 

1. Don’t wishfully hurt others, by action or by words. Resisting the burst of anger is much better than repenting or reconciling later. 

1. Please make a will so that a considerable part of your savings goes to a reliable charity. 

1. Bring smiles in the faces of people around by cracking jokes, (sometimes about yourself). Apart from elating the mood, it gives a retrospective thoughts about yourself.

 Wish you all the best. 

Naming your kid? want to have a look at this interesting observation?

Most of the people with S, R  & K  in their names are big celebrities.

Eg: Shah Rukh Khan, Sachin TendulKaR, Sonam KapooR, Sunil Gavaskar, Shiv khera, Sanjay Kapoor (deputy CEO – Airtel) Dr.Shiva Rama krishna (a famous south Indian neurologist),  Shiva Raj Kumar(a south Indian actor).

so also, people with A, R and R in their names. 

Eg: Aishwarya rai, A R Rahman, Arjun Rampal, Aroor Ramesh Rao (president of an education institution)

so also, people with J, P and K

Eg: Jaya prakash narayan, Jannifer Kapriati, Pranav Mukharjee, Pankaj Advani, Sanjay Kapoor,

 

so also pople with S, N and M

Eg: Man Mohan Singh, Sania Mirza,  SoNaM kapoor, Siddhi nandan Mishra (a famous Ayurveda scholar)