Dravyaguna

The word ‘Dravyaguna’ means the science dealing with propertries and actions of drugs. The Ayurveda concept of Dravyaguna Vigyan deals with the general principles related to the Ayurveda pharmacognosy and pharmacology. Although the technical term “Pharmacovigilance” does not feature in ayurvedic texts, but the spirit of pharmacovigilance is vibrant and is emphasized repeatedly in all major texts. The major goals of pharmacovigilance are mainly to improve patient care and safety in relation to drug use, and thus promote the drug use, its pharmacology (dravyaguna vigyan) and therapeutics (chikitsa). In ancient times, the ayurvedic physicians prepared medicines for their patients themselves. Today, only a handful of practitioners follow this practice and production and sale of ayurvedic drugs has become formalized into a thriving industry. Manufacture and marketing of ayurvedic drugs is covered by the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The use of ayurvedic medicines is popular in India - and in recent times has become accepted in other countries as well. For example, a recent survey conducted by the NCCAM in the USA showed that about 751 000 people in the United States had used ayurveda and 154 000 people had used them within the past 12 months. This branch also deals with identification, collection, storage, and preservation of raw materials of plant origin. Acharya Charaka has classified drugs from various angles, e.g., according to source, effect on doshas, composition, properties, actions, etc. Marvelous piece in the Charaka-Samhita is the description of fifty groups of drugs according to their main action. Similar classification is found in the Sushruta-Samhita where thirty-seven groups of drugs are defined according to their effect and therapeutic uses. In this connection, two broad intentions are established. There is no substance which cannot be used as drug. All drugs are composed of five bhutas. i.e panchmahabhutas. Each drug has its own specialty and mode of action. Indian medicinal plants provide a rich source of antioxidants. A review of literature shows that there are over 40 Indian medicinal plants showing antioxidant abilities at various levels of protection. The medicinal plants that show significant antioxidant activity include Acacia catechu, Achyranthes aspera, Aegle marmelos (Bengal quince, Bel), Aglaia roxburghiana (Priyangu), Allium cepa (Onion), Allium sativum, Aloe vera, Amomum subulatum, Andrographis paniculata, Asparagus racemosus, Azadirachta indica, Bacopa monniera, Bauhinia purpurea, etc and so on. Ayurveda is the only science where one drug is not confined to one specific disease, and works in different diseases in different ways. Example the in one of the famous formulations of ‘ICHHABHEDI RAS’ its active drug Jaypaal works in two different ways that if the formulation is taken with cold water, it is purgative and if taken with warm water it cures constipation. Hence every physician should use ayurvedic herbs with its core knowledge. Also, there are immense researches going on now a day on every single drug all over the world. Dravyaguna is the leading choice for many scholars to earn a master's degree.

There is a popular misconception that ayurvedic medicines are devoid of adverse reactions. However, the Charaka Samhita, which is a classic text book of ayurveda, describes all the adverse reactions to medicines when they are prepared or used inappropriately. That is were pharmacovigilance is required.

Herbal plants are often used as a natural remedy to cure various health problems including tuberculosis, cancer, diabetes mellitus, heart diseases, wound healing, asthma, pharyngitis, hypertension etc. Plants rich in bioactive phytomedicine compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and polyphenols have been used to cure illnesses because of their various pharmacological properties. Ayurvedic medicines having cooling properties are also found to be effective to reducing excessive heat produced due to Chemotherapy medicines. One more angle behind the need of Ayurvedic medicines is that the National Institute of Cancer (NCI-US) or NHS (UK) has indicated after research that 95% patients die because of secondary or the reoccurrence of cancer. Cancer is treated at first stage and there is a possibility of its reoccurrence, and this period in between is very dangerous. There is very less management and information are available regarding the treatment for that period in other sciences. At such time Ayurvedic science comes in way to highlight the non-occurrence of cancer and prove to be the best and helpful one. To improve the quality of life of patients suffering from breast cancer, the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), in collaboration with the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), has conducted a clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of Ayurvedic drugs to improve the quality of life of female patients who have non-metastatic breast cancer. Dr Sanjay Sharma, consultant onco-surgeon at Bombay Hospital, said: "Ayurveda can improve the immunity of patients and it helps the patients tolerate their therapy better. Assistant treatment with herbo-mineral and metallic Ayurvedic drugs appears to have a significant effect on reducing the toxic side effects of chemotherapy drugs in cancer patients. Hence Ayurveda is not just a pathy to cure but also a life science to be adapted.

To summarize, Charaka says, “that even a strong poison can become an excellent medicine if administered properly. On the other hand, even the most useful drug can act like a poison if handled carelessly”