Abstract

AYURVEDIC APPROACH IN PREPARATION OF APAMARGA KSHAR, PHARMACEUTICAL STUDY, ITS BENEFITS AND SIDE EFFECTS - A LITERATURE REVIEW

Dr. Chetan V. Mali* and Dr. S. V. Annapure

Abstract

Ayurveda is a science of life and is an old system of natural healing which has its origin in vedic culture of india. In Ayurveda, kshara is the term used for alkaline (basic) ashes of plants which possess the action of Ksharana (to scrap). It is derived from the bhasma of a plant. It is most widely used in surgical and para surgical procedures. Kshara prepared from Apamarga plant is known as Apamarga Kshara. It is potash rich alkaline ash of the plant Achyranthes Aspera(Linn) and is used a single drug or in the preparation of caustic pastes and diuretic medicines. Kshara are used both externally and internally in different disease conditions. A typical processing technique is involved in the preparation of kshara. We find references depicting different opinions for preparation of kshara in various classical texts. For the present study reference mentioned in Sushruta Samhita was followed.

Keywords: Kshara, Apamarga, Apamarga Kshara, Achyranthes Aspera (Linn).