1.
PREPARATION METHODS
OF
AYURVEDIC MEDICINES

2.
A. Dosage forms indicating the disease to cure.
1. Amavata-modaka
-used in treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis
2.Jwarantaka-vati
-used in treatment of childbirth fever
AYURVEDIC DOSAGE FORMS

3.
B. Dosage forms indicating the property of the
preparation.
1. Mritsanjivani-sura
-used in treating insomnia
2. Mahasugandhi-taila
-scented oil, used for beautiful hair
3. Kaameshwara-modaka
-prescribed in sexual debility
4. Amrita-taila
-used in treatment of osteoarthritis

4.
C. Dosage forms indicating the drug contained.
1. Shatavari-taila
-useful in neuro-muscular disorders
2. Draksha-asava
-improves digestion and respiratory functions
3. Haritaki-avaleha
-treatment for hay fever
4. Lasuna-ghrita
-used in treatment of joints pain and intestinal tumor

5.
D. Dosage forms indicating the name of god,
goddess or rishi.
1. Bhaskara-churna
-It is carminative and gastric stimulant
2. Vaidyanath-vati
-used in treating fever
3. Dhanvantri-ghrita
-used in Diabetes, urinary complaints, boils,
anaemia, abcess, spleen enlagement and oedema
4. Narayana-taila
-recommended for consumption rheumatism and as
an enema in dysentery and anal fistulae

6.
EXTRACTION
1. Simple expressions
2. Infusion
3. Decoction (Kwatha)
4. Digestion or Pachana
5. Soft extract or Avaleha
6. Maceration or Bhawana
7. Hot extraction or Putapaka
8. Milk decoction or Kshirapaka
9. Medicated oils and clarified butter

7.
1. Simple expressions
Drug taken in motar and pestle
Strained through muslin cloth
Swarasa

8.
2. Infusion
Infusing drug either in cold or hot water
Strained after 12 hours

9.
3. Decoction (Kwatha)
1 part of drug 16 parts of water
Reduced to 1/4th of its bulk

10.
4. Digestion or Pachana
It is similar to decoction process however it is continued for much
longer time

11.
5. Soft extract or Avaleha
It is a process of concentration of a decoction till an extract of soft consistency is
obtained

12.
6. Maceration or Bhawana
Powdered drug Macerated with fresh juice of drug or several drugs
Kept till the fluid is soaked into the solid

13.
7. Hot extraction or Putapaka
Drug pulp Wrapped in Jambolan leaves and
sealed with clay
Roasted into fire of
cow-dung cakes
Partially dried pulp is expressed out for juice

14.
8. Milk decoction or Kshirapaka
1 part drug 8 parts of milk 32 parts of water
Boiled till water gets evaporated

15.
9. Medicated oils and clarified butter
Digesting the drug or juices with oil or
ghee
Medicated oil

16.
FERMENTATION
1. Acetous fermentation
2. Spiritous fermentation
3. Confection or khandapaka making
4. Gruel or yavagu

17.
1. Acetous fermentation
Paddy Soaked in 4 times its weight of
water for a fortnight
Clear and transparent liquid is strained,preserved as Kanjika

18.
2. Spiritous fermentation
Powdered drug Water Honey
Earthen vat for fermentation process

19.
3. Confection or khandapaka making
Digesting powdered drug with syrup
Powdered drug Sugar syrup

20.
4. Gruel or yavagu
Mixture of powdered drug and rice Boiled in water
Thick pasty mass

21.
APPARATUS AND PROCEDURES
1. Dolayantram
2. Svedaniyantram
3. Dhupayantram
4. Patanayantram
5. Adhaspatanayantram
6. Tiryakapathanyantram
7. Vidyadharyantram
8. Putas
9. Mahaputa
10. Musha
11. Hamspakayantram

22.
drug under treatment
containing in a cloth bag
glass rod (for hanging cloth bag)
Inverted vessel (2nd vessel)
Vessel partially filled with water
or other liquid (1st vessel)
1. Dolayantram

23.
Inverted vessel (2nd vessel)
Vessel containing water
(1st vessel)
Drug placed on a piece of
cloth, which is tied over the
mouth of 1st vessel
2. Svedaniyantram

24.
3. Dhupayantram
Inverted vessel (2nd vessel)
Gold or silver leaves placed on iron
bar lattice
Mixture of gold or silver leaves
and sulphur placed in 1st vessel

25.
Gold leaf Silver Leaf

26.
4. Patanayantram
Inverted vessel (2nd vessel) for
collecting vapours
Vessel containing drug,
to undergo sublimation
Joint sealed with mixture of
lime, sugar, iron rust and
milk

27.
5. Adhaspatanayantram ( Bhudharayantram )
Cow-dung cakes to supply heat
Inner surface of the vessel is
plastered with medicinal
substance
Underground vessel containing
water

28.
Adhaspatanayantram
1
2
3
4
5
6

29.
6. Tiryakapathanyantram
Bamboo pipe
Still
Receiver
Mouths of vessels are closed
with earthen dishes and and
sealed with clay or flour

30.
7. Vidyadharyantram
Upper vessel containing water, to
offer cold surface, for subliming
mercury
Lower vessel containing Cinnabar

31.
8. Putas
It is a type of furnace used for roasting or incineration or
ashing or calcinations.
A puta is a cubicle pit dug in the ground and charred mostly
with cow-dung cakes and sometimes with charcoal and
paddy husk, etc.
When the puta is half filled with the fuel, the crucible
containing the roasting material and covered with either a lid
or another inverted crucible, is placed in it.
The remaining upper half is filled with cow-dung cakes and
fire is set to the fuel and the heating begins.

32.
9.Mahaputa
Mahaputa: It measures 2 cubits each in length, breadth
and depth. It is charged with 1000 cow-dung cakes, that
is 500 below and 500 above the crucible.
Gajputa is only 30 angulies (fingers) in length, breadth
and depth, whereas
Kakkutaputa is 16 angulies in length, breadth and depth.
Laghuputa is much smaller in size and is charged with 8
cow-dung cakes only.

33.
1 2
3
4
5
Putas

34.
10. Musha
Musha means ‘a crucible’. Andha-musha means a blind
crucible and is equivalent to a ‘crucible with lid’.

35.
11. Hamspakayantram
Sand is contained in an earthen saucer over which is placed
another earthen dish and gentle heat is applied to the lower
saucer whereas the substance to be heated is kept in the
upper dish.

36.
1. Asava and arista
Asavas and Aristas are medicinal preparations made by
soaking the drugs either in powder form or in the form of
decoction (kasaya), in a solution of sugar or jaggery, for a
specified period of time.
VARIOUS AYURVEDIC DOSAGE FORMS

37.
Kasaya or Infusion Powdered drug
Fermentation vessel
containing syrup
made up of sugar,
jaggery or honey
and water
The fluid is decanted and strained after 2-3 days
When the fine suspended particles settle down,it is
strained and bottled
At room temp
Arista Asava

38.
Examples of commonly used Asavas and Aristas are:
Asavas –
Arvindasava - Useful in all types of Pediatric diseases in
children. Also is an appetizer for the children
Kumaryasava - Acts as aphrodisiac, relives pain and
abdominal disorder, urinary disorder and hemorrhagic
disorder
Aristas –
Balarista - It is salutary as a general tonic and more useful
in thin individuals than obese persons, suffering from vata
diseases due to tissue depletion.
Dasmularista - given for treatment of childbirth fever.

39.
Arka is a liquid preparation obtained by distillation of
certain liquids or drugs soaked in water using any
convenient distillation apparatus.
2. Arka

40.
Method of preparation
The drugs are cleaned & powdered.
Some quantity of water is add to the drugs for soaking
and kept over-night.
Softened the drugs upon boiling removes the essential
volatile principles.
The following morning it is poured into the distillation
apparatus and the remaining water is added and boiled.
The vapours condensed and collected in a receiver.

41.
Commonly used Arkas include
 Ajamodarka – Used as appetizer, digestive etc.
 Karpuradyarka - Used in treatment of
Rheumatism and carbuncle.

42.
Avaleha is a semi-solid preparation of drugs prepared with
the addition of jaggery or sugar-candy and boiled with
prescribed drug juice or decoction.
3. Avaleha

43.
Kasaya or other liquids Jaggery, sugar or
sugar-candy
Method of Preparation
Boiled to make a syrup
+ =
To this syrup
Powdered drug is added in small quantities &
stirred continuosly and vigoruosly
Ghee or oil is added, if required
Honey is added when the preparation is cool and
mixed well

44.
Examples of commonly used Avaleha are
 Draksavaleha - Hyper Acidity, Dyspepsia, Heart
Burn
 Kutajavaleha - Used in diarrhea, dysentery, colitis
and bleeding problems.

45.
Syrup Preparation
+ =
Kasaya Sugar Syrup

46.
Syrup Powdered drug Honey

47.
Ghritas are preparations in which ghee is boiled with
prescribed kasayas (decoction) and kalkas of drugs
according to the formula.
4. Ghrita

48.
1 Part Kalka 4 parts Sneha 16 parts Drava-dravya
Method of Preparation

49.
Commonly used ghritas includes
♣ Amrita Ghrita - useful in gout and skin disorders.
♣ Triphala Ghrita - Eye disorders like night blindness,
irritation in eye, growth in eye and provides nutrition to
eye

50.
Churna is a fine powder of drug or drugs.
Drugs mentioned in the Yoga are cleaned and dried
properly. They are finely powdered and sieved. If more
than one drug are present then each one is separately
powdered, sieved, accurately weighed and then all mixed
together.
5. Churna

51.
80 mesh sieve
Churna
General method of preparation

52.
Commonly examples of churna include
Bhramhi Churna - Promotes Memory, Increases Body
Resistance & Relives from Tension.
Stopaladi Churna - Useful in cough and respiratory
disorders .

53.
Tailas are preparations in which tail (oil) is boiled with
prescribed kasayas and kalkas of drugs according to the
formula.
General method of preparation
Tailas are preparad by a method similar to that of Ghritas.
6. Taila

54.
Method of Preparation

55.
Examples of commonly used tailas include
Narayana Taila - Used in Rheumatism,itching etc
Mahanarayana taila - For Massage in skeleto-muscular
disorders

56.
Medicines in the form of a paste used for external application
are called lepas.
Method of preparation
The drugs are made into a fine powder. Before use on the
body, it is mixed with some liquid or other medium
indicated in each preparation and med into a soft paste.
7. Lepa

57.
Commonly used lepas include
Dasanga Lepa - apply externally over the affected joint
(sprain).
Pathyadi Lepa – used for treating kustha (leprosy).

58.
Medicines prepared in the form of tablets or pills are known
as vati and gutika. These are made from one or more drugs
of plant, animal or mineral origin.
8.Vati and Gutika

59.
Method of Preparation
Kajjali Powdered drug Vehicle

60.
Common examples of vati and gutika include
 Gandhaka Vakti - Blood purifier, useful in skin
disease & allergy.
 Chitrakadi gutika - Useful in sprue, poor appetite,
indigestion.

61.
Bhasma is the powder of a substance obtained by
calcinations. It is applied to the metals and mineral
products which are prepared by special processes in closed
crucibles in pits and with cow dung cakes (puta).
9. Bhasma

62.
First stage (sodhana)
Bhasmas are prepared from minerals, metals, marine and
animal products. In Ayurveda, the process of purification is
called ‘sodhana’ which is of two types
Samanya sodhana which is applicable to a large number of
metals or minerals, as heating the thin sheets of the metals
and immersing them in taila, takra, gomutra, etc;
Visesa sodhana which is applicable only to certain drugs and
in certain preparations.
Method of preparation

63.
The second stage is the preparation of Bhasma. The
purified drug is put into a khalya (stone mortar and pestle)
and ground with juices of the specified plants of kasayas of
drugs.
Then small cakes (cakrikas) are made. These cakes are
dried well under sunlight and place in one single layer in a
shallow earthen plate (sarava) and closed with another
plate.
A pit is dug in an open space. Half of the pit is filled with
cow dung cakes. The sealed earthen container is placed in
it and the remaining space is filled with more cow dung
cakes.

64.
The earthen container is removed, the seal is opened
and the contents taken out. The medicine is ground into
fine powder in khalva.
Fire is put in all four sides and the middle of the pit.
When the burning is over, it is allowed to cool
completely.

65.
1 2 3
4 5 6

66.
7 8 9
10 11 12

67.
13 14 15
16 17

68.
Examples of commonly used bhasmas include
Abhraka Bhasma - Used in diabetes, purifies blood,
restorative .
Svarna Bhasma - Used for restoration and aphrodisiac.

69.
These are semi-solid or soft preparations acting chiefly
as local anodynes and sedatives, for local application for
various lesions, containing active drug mixed with ghee,
Vaseline, beeswax, coconut oil etc. either alone or in
combination form.
The bases for all ointments strict precaution should be
taken to protect the eyes from these ointments as these
cause irritation.
Similarly, contamination of ointment with soiled and
dirty fingers should be avoided during application.
10. Malamas (Ointments)

70.
The lesion where one particular ointment is intended to
be applied should first be cleaned with an antiseptic lotion
or soap and the part dried with clean and sterilized linen.
Ointment just sufficient for one application should be
taken separately and carefully applied to the part.
Strict cleanliness is in itself the first essential measure
towards recovery.

71.
Method of Preparation
Beeswax
Powdered drug is mixed with melted beeswax and mixed vigorously

72.
Examples of commonly used Malamas include
Nagarjunanjan- Used in treatment of cataract and scleral
diseases.
Nayanmritanjan- Used in eye diseases.

73.
1 Ratti or Gunja 12 mg
8 Ratti or Gunja 1 masa 1 g
12 masas 1 kasra (1 tola) 12 g
2 kasras (tolas) 1 sukthi 24 g
2 sukthis (4 tolas) 1 pal 48 g
2 pals 1 prasrti 96 g
2 prasrtis 1 kudava 192 g
2 kudavas 1 manika 384 g
2 manikas 1 prastha 768 g
4 prasthas 1 adhaka 3 kg 73g
4 adhakas 1 drona 12 kg 288 g
4 dronas 1 surpa 24 kg 576 g
2 surpas 1 droni 49 kg 152 g
4 dronis 1 khari 192 kg 60 g
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES APPROXIMATE EQUIVALENT
DOSES IN INDIAN AND METRIC SYSTEMS

74.
REFERENCE :
Handa, S S, & Kapoor, V K, “Textbook of Pharmacognosy”,
Published by Vallabh Publications/Prakashan, Page No.
327-344
Mhatre, P R, “Principles of Integrated Medicine”,
Published by Tata McGraw-Hill, Page No. 143-146.
Revised by Nadharni, A K, “The Indian Materia
Medica”,Published by Popular Prakashan Pvt. Ltd., Vol. 2
Page No. 489-506.