Abstract

ROLE OF PRABHAKARA VATI IN HRIDROGA – A CRITICAL REVIEW

Dr. N. K. Chandini*, Dr. Ravindra Angadi, Dr. Radhika Ranjan Geethesh P., Dr. Ashok Kumar B. N. and Dr. Sushmitha V. S.

.

Abstract

Cardiac Disorders are one among the leading causes of death globally including India. Sedentary life style, unhealthy food habits and stress has led to increasing incidence and prevalence rate of cardiac disorders. This increasing incidence and prevalence rate of cardiac disorders with its associated mortality rate has increased the demand for Ayurvedic medicines, for its cardio-protective and therapeutic properties. Prime importance is given for hridaya (heart) in Ayurveda. Cardiac diseases are explained under Hridroga which includes both structural and functional abnormality of hridaya (heart). Among various formulations explained under hridroga, prabhakara vati is a rashaushadhi (herbo-mineral preparation) which is widely used in clinical practice. It is explained in bhaishajya ratnavali hridrogadhikara. Prabhakara vati has ingredients which are having hridya, rasayana (rejenuvative), lekhana (scraping), srotoshodhana (cleansing) properties. It also has ingredients with mehagna (anti-diabetic), medagna (anti-lipidemic) and nidrajana (soporific) properties. Hence it not only helps in treatment of cardiac disorders but also help in prevention of cardiac disorders by treating the predisposing factors. Some of the ingredients have sothagna (anti-oedemtic) and swasagna (anti-asthmatic) properties, by virtue of which it might play a minor role in treating co-morbidities of hridroga (cardiac disorders). Considering all these factors an effort is made to substantiate the role of Prabhakara vati and its probable mode of action in hridroga.

Keywords: Prabhakara vati, hridroga, lekhana.