Abstract

AGNIJAR (AMBERGRIS): A REVIEW STUDY OF AN ANIMAL PRODUCT W.S.R IN AYURVED MEDICINES

Dr. Snehdeep Soni*, Dr. Samita Kalra, Dr. Neha Joshi, Dr. Divya Rathore, Dr. Sangeeta Bala and Dr. Deepak Verma

Abstract

Ayurvedic medicines are the ancient and most trustable therapy. Occurrence of the therapy is of least or with no side effects and also eradicates some diseases are the special qualities of Ayurvedic drugs. Ayurveda has plant origin drugs like ashvagandha, tulsi, brahmi, sunthi etc. Metallic origin drugs as parad, gandhak, loha, tamra etc, animal origin (ex-ghee, dugdha, mukta, sukti, amber etc). Agnijara is an animal origin product obtained from whales. It is called as ambergris, amber. This drug is a decayed intestinal part of whale. Due to ingestion of some grass in sea, the intestine of whale gets obstructed which leading to death of Whale. After the death, the intestinal part starts decaying and floats on sea. Fishermen collects the intestinal part and keep it under sunlight for drying. Drying is an important process because intestine of whale in vivo has a very foul smell and on drying this smell disappears. In Rasa Shastra Agnijara is mentioned under Sadharana Rasa. Agnijara is available in the oceans of Sri Lanka, Indian Ocean, Arabian ocean, seashores of Africa, Lakshadweep and Nicobar island. Agnijara is Tridosha Shamak but specially plays role on kaphavata Dosha. Agnijara is Hridhya, Vajikara, Sheeta Prashamak. In medicinal compounds as Chintamani Ras, Bruhat Vata Chinta amani Rasa, Vadvanal Rasa, Javaharmohara Vati, all have Agnijara as an Active ingredient.

Keywords: Agnijar, Rasshastra, Ayurveda, Medicine.