Review of Shodhana in Rasashastra

R. Magesh; R. Jayalekshmi

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.21760/jaims.8.4.26

Ayurveda, the science of life is being practised by Aryans from Vedic period. Kalpana is the process through which a substance transformed into different medicine form according to the need. In Rasashastra almost all the drugs are advised to be processed with specific Shodhana process before their internal uses. Shodhana, which literally means purification and converting drug fit for further procedure. Hence, the Shodhana process is aimed to remove impurities present in the drugs. Shodhana procedure is necessary for every drug before taking it for adding in any compound or subjecting it for further processes. After Shodhana process the drug - Physical, Chemical and biological changes take place, which are required for proper therapeutic action of the end product.

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R. Jayalekshmi, Professor & HOD, Department of Prasutitantra and Striroga, Murlidhar Ayurved College, Gujarat Ayurveda University, Rajkot, Gujarat, India.
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R. Magesh, R. Jayalekshmi, Review of Shodhana in Rasashastra. J Ayu Int Med Sci. 2023;8(4):155-157.
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Accepted

2023-02-23

2023-02-25

2023-03-04

2023-03-11

2023-03-18

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Introduction

Most of the raw materials used in Rasashastra are obtained from earth and hence there is every chance of impurities, toxicities, heterogeneous qualities due to mixing with different substances is a common factor. When the drugs are used by the humans then they are subjected to Shodhana process to eliminate their Doshas and also to increase the potency. Shodhana is an essential intermediary pharmaceutical process used for purification of metals and minerals during their conversion and usage into different dosage forms and purposes. It is processes of detoxification by which physical and chemical blemishes and toxic materials are eliminated thus making the material suitable for further processing.^[1] Thus, Shodhana is a process where the toxic or unwanted properties of a drug are removed and additional properties or alteration in the properties is seen along with changes in Physical, Chemical or Bio-logical properties.

The concept of Shodhana treatment was in practice since the times of Vedic period and it also included the measures claimed to be responsible for the alteration or addition of the properties of the drugs while subjected to various pharmaceutical operations and treatments. Though references regarding the Shodhana treatment are available since the time of Ayurvedic classics but the details about procedure could be traced only after the development of Rasashastra / Rasachikitsa (Mineral therapy) in Ayurvedic medicine during medieval period in which mineral / poisonous and sub poisonous drugs acquired prominence over other types of drugs in the therapy.

Definition: Charaka Samhita has mentioned Shodhana as Shuddhikarana meaning the process through which unwanted or toxic properties are removed.^[2] The same concept has been adopted by Acharyas of Rasashastra from 8^th century A.D., onwards for drugs of herbal, animal, metal or mineral origin. Shodhana is the process which is done to remove the impurities from a Dravya by doing the process like grinding etc. and using specific herbs for this process.^[3,4]

In Ayurvedic formulary of India, Shodhana is defined as the process of removal of impurities and potentiating of drugs. Shodhana also fulfils the following objectives like removal of impurities,

elimination of harmful materials, modification of undesired properties, reduce the toxicity, potentiate therapeutic efficacy and render the drug fit for further subsequent processing.

Types of Media used in Shodhana

Table 1: Different media used in the procedure of Shodhana

SN	Media used in Shodhana	Example	Utility
1.	Sneha Varga	Taila, Ghrita, Dugdha	Softening of Hard material
2.	Amla Varga	Takra, Kanji, Nimbu, Amalaki	Mass breaking and dis-integration
3.	Kshara Varga	Mutra, Kulattha Kwatha, Kadali Kanda	Makes the material soft and brittle
4.	Katu Varga	Nirgundi, Hariraki, Bhringaraja	Disintegration and breaking the cohesion
5.	Tikta Varga	Vasa, Swarna Ksheeri, Shireesha	Absorption of Moisture
6.	Kashaya Varga	Kanchanara, Haritaki, Vibhitaki	Eliminates external impurities
7.	Visha Varga	Shringataka, Kalakuta, Vtsanabha, Saktuka, Peeta Visha	Removes inertia in the substance
8.	Vitgana / Varga	Paravata, Chasha, Kapota, Kalapina, Gridhra, Kukkuta	Sarva Loha Shodhana
9.	Mridukara Varga	Mahishasringi, Indrayava	Softening of hard metals
10.	Dravaka Varga	Guda, Guggulu, Gunja, Ghrita, Madhu, Tankana,	Soften and liquefies metals
11.	Lavana Varga	Samudra, Saindhava, Kacha, Bida, Sauvarchala, Romaka, Chullika, Audbhida Lavana	Sarvaloha Dravana Shodhana

Types: Shodhana process can be of two types-

A. Samanya Shodhana: It is a common procedure used for drugs of a particular group where the drugs of a particular group are subjected to the similar procedure though individually.

B. Vishesha Shodhana: When Shodhana process is done for a particular Dravya then it is known as Vishesa ^[5]

Both the above procedures are further classified into Saagni and Niragni.

1. Saagni: Nirvapa, Dhalana, Bharjana, Puta, Swedana, Patana

2. Niragni: Bhavana, Prakshalana, Shoshana, Sinchana, Nimajjana, Gharshana

Method of Shodhana

Example

Avapa

Vanga Jarana

Nirvapa

Abhraka Shodhana

Dhalana

Gandhaka4 Shodhana

Bhavana

Kasisa, Gaireeka etc.

Bharjana

Gaireeka Shodhana

Aatap Shoshana

Vatsnabha Shodhana

Swedana

Shodhana of Parada

Mardana

Shodhana of Parada

Galana

Khatika Shodhana

10.

Patana

Parada shodhana

11.

Nirjalikarana

Tankana, Sphatika Shodhana

Discussion

Shodhana is a process of separation by which physical and chemical impurities get separated from the substances by treatment with various drugs. It is a process by which blemishes are separated from the substance by various processing like grinding, etc. with specific drugs. Shodhana is a process of removal of impurities from substances by means of pharmaceutical processing of Swedana, Mardana etc. with particular drugs.

Conclusion

The Shodhana process described in classics of Ayurveda is not merely a process of separation, purification or detoxification. Rather it increases the therapeutic potency of the drug also.

The main objective of Shodhana process is to increase the biological efficacy of the drug. To provide its finer particles so that the drug may be made suitable for further procedures of other special techniques viz Jarana, Marana and Satwapatana etc. to obtain product suitable for internal use.

Reference

1. Acharya Sadanada Sharma, Rasa Tarangini, Translated by Shri Kashinath Shastri, 11th Edition, Reprint 2004, Motilala Banarsidas, New Delhi, 2nd Taranga/52, Pg: 22

2. Charaka Samhita, Part- I of Agnivesha commented by Pandit Kashinatate Shastri and Gorakhanath Chaturvedi published by Chaukhambha Bharati, Academy, Varanasi- 12th edition, 1984.

3. Rasa Ratna samuchchaya part –I of vaghatta, commented by Prof. Dattateya, Anant kulkarni, Published by meharchand lakshaman das publications dariya ganj new Delhi 3rd edition, 1982.

4. Acharya Govindas Sen, Bhaishajya Ratnavali, Ambikadatta Shastri, Vidyotini Vyakhya, 2nd Edition, Chaukhamba Sanskrit Sansthana, Varanasi, 2002, Jwaradhikara/117

5. Acharya Sadanada Sharma, Rasa Tarangini, Translated By Shri KashinathaShastri, 11th Edition, Reprint 2004, Motilala Banarsidas, New Delhi, 2nd Taranga/52

6. Acharya YT, Dravya Guna Vigyanam, Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan Limited, Calcutta, 1956.

7. Ankit Kumar Gupta, Text book of Rasashastra, Chaukhambha Publication, New delhi, 2022, Pg: 38.

Review Article

Shodhana

Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences