Abstract

ATIVISHA AS A DRUG OF CHOICE IN PEDIATRIC AILMENTS

Dr. Pushkar Shekhar Badhe* and Dr. Harshal Chandrakant Bhirud

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Abstract

Ayurveda strives to maintain a person's senility by extending healthy life spans in terms of mental, physical, spiritual, and social health as well as by preventing diseases. When we discuss Ayurveda, we must give thanks to the countless plants and herbs found in nature that are being used for therapeutic purposes and sustaining its very existence purpose. Throughout ancient times, India has served as the birthplace of phytomedicine. The availability of modern spectroscopic methods of structural determination have heralded a new era in organic natural product chemistry, In the past the difficulty isolable micro constituents were seldom investigated. As a result of this, minor constituents of physiological importance in a plant remained unidentified. These days, however, a complete analysis, of a plant material can readily be accomplished. Today, a number of plants are used in different Indian system of medicine. The conventional medicine is also using a lot of plant derived chemicals as therapeutic agents but there is a need to further evaluate different uses of these medicinal plants which are concealed in Ayurveda treatise. The aim of this study is to collect and evaluate different medicinal properties of Ativisha with special reference to its importance in childhood ailments. Aconitum heterophyllum proved to be a milestone drug in various children's diseases therefore famous in Ayurvedic physicians as Shishu Bhaishjya. Recent research revealed that Ativisha exhibits various activities like anti-bacterial, antipyretic, anti-microbial, immune-modulatory, etc. Due to these multitasking qualities, it is a drug of great interest in children's diseases. As Ativisha is considered an endangered species, therefore Mustaka (Cyperus rotundus) is used as its Pratinidhi Dravya (Substitute).It is a highly valuable drug and is mentioned in different Ayurvedic literatures like Brihadtrayee, Laghutrayee, Chikitsagrantha and Nighantus.

Keywords: Ativisha, Brihadtrayee, Sishubhaishajaya, Aconitum heterophyllum.