Introduction

Ayurvedic classics have many effective herbs to be evaluated for its identity in order
to have a perfect understanding of the plant. It is therefore most essential to be well
familiar with the branch of Ayurvedic pharmacology i.e. Dravyaguna. It enables us
to know the scientific knowledge of the fundamentals of a pharmacology and the
plants.
Ayurveda which is the upaveda of atharvanaveda is considered to be the
oldest record of supreme knowledge and experience of the mankind, with a broad
and sound background of the science. Ayurveda has been propounding the theories
and practice of physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing of mankind.
Dravyaguna is an integral and inherent part of Ayurveda. Pandita narahari the
author of Raja Nighantu has given prime place to Dravyaguna in Astangas. Man has
been using herbs for food and for maintenance of health since then. The vedas the
earliest recorded literature on the earth claim that the plants were known to man
from the period of Stone Age. The drug system in Atharvana veda not only
described plants but also given the detailed classification of plants according to the
growth, property origin and form.
Drugs are innumerable in nature. They are classified for easy and scientific study.
Ayurveda the Indian system of medicine advocates the use of herbal drugs for
treating various ailments.
yataschayushyani anayaushyani cha dravyaguna karmani
vedayatyatho pyayurvedhaha

Cha.su.30]

The above quotation from charaka samhitha states that Ayurveda is the science
which deals with dravya, guna and karma of drugs which are helpful and harmful to
the human beings.
In Ayurveda drugs are classified into different groups based on the basis of activity
[chetana and achetana], cause and effect [karya karana], on the basis of evolution
[uthpatti bhedena] etc.
Similar fashion on the basis of karma. Charaka has classified the drugs into 50
groups. Each group consist of 10 drugs in this manner. 50 different types of
kashayas were mention in Shadvirechana shatashriteeyam 4th chapter of charaka
samhitha suthra sthana. In these groups karma or the therapeutic action of a drug is
highlighted. It is responsible for the association [samyoga] and dissociation
[vibhaga] and it resides in the drug.
In each dashemani the stipulated 10 drugs may or may not possess similar
properties. Each drug will possess constituents rasa, guna, veerya, vipaka,and

prabhava. Drug may act based on any one of these constituents or all of the factors
collectively.
Vedanayam sambhuthayam tam nihatya shareeram
Prakruthou shapayateeti vedana sthapanam [chakradatta]
The drugs which relieves from vedana and which restores normal state in the body
are termed as vedanaa sthapana dravyas.
In this dashemani the drugs are 1.Shala 2.Katphala 3. Kadamba 4.Padmaka,
5.Thuba 6.Mocharasa 7.Sirisha 8.Vanjula 9.Elavaluka and 10.Ashoka out of these 10
drugsSirisha is selected for the study