Introduction: Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, strongly believes in uni & poly-herbal formulations and scientists of modern era often ask for scientific validation of herbal remedies. The concept of standardized extracts definitely provides a solid platform for scientific validation of herbals. Now a day it is believed that standardized extracts provide a consistent and effective alternative to crude drugs, as they constitute calculated ratio of the active constituents. The concept of standardization is now being widely welcomed and it is being accepted as a rational way to increase the acceptance of medicinal herbs among the physicians and patients, but the Ayurveda advocates using the drug as wholesome.
Background: Poly-herbal formulations as mentioned in classical texts of Ayurveda, are used by number of pharmaceutical companies. It is very difficult for them to understand the theme of poly-herbal preparations as a number of ingredients may vary from two to 25 or more. It is very difficult to set the standards of these types of formulations. The situation is further worsened by the multiple uses of these formulations as mentioned in Ayurveda. Keeping in view the growing popularity of herbals, it is being thought that it is the need of hour to have analytical data, bio-equivalence, pharmacological, toxicological studies with particular reference to herbal-synthetic drug interactions and this is possible only if standardized extracts concentrated to known therapeutic constituents are used.
Take the Drug Wholesome- Even-though drugs have got some active principles with which they work, they have some other fractions too, which counteract their bad effects, if any. Therefore Ayurveda advocates that drug should be used as a whole so that the desired effects may be had without any side effects. Ayurveda propounds the principles of Rasa Panchaka and attributes the actions of a drug to any one of the Rasa-Vipaka-Guna-Veerya-Prabhava. The concept and description of Veerya shows beyond doubt that the ancient Acharyas has a very clear idea about the modus operandi of drugs. Efforts have been made to preserve and fortify the potency (Veerya) of drugs by certain pharmaceutical processes and techniques. But, evidently, the Acharyas refrained from isolating and using only the active principles of drugs, because by doing so complications and side effects also arise. Ayurveda believes in treatment, which gives relief but causes no iotrogenic disease or complications. Says Vagbhatta: ‘That is the ideal treatment, which cures the disease, but does not create another diseases or complications’ (Shamanam nah tuh Kpanam).The second implication of ‘Give the drug as a whole is that it is Agni, which is responsible for the health as well as disease and, therefore, drugs should be so selected and used as to improve the condition of Agni at all levels. Most of the Ayurvedic drugs have got Deepana and Pachana properties. If the active fraction alone is administered, it may not improve the Agni and the promise of ‘Treat the patient’ may not be served’.
The third implication is that drugs possess not only the therapeutically active fractions but also some other fractions, which help the patient restore his health. By isolating the active principle and throwing out the rest of the drug, we throw out very essential and useful things, which may, otherwise, prove very useful for health. Therefore, use the drug as a whole.In a very broad sense, the pharmacological study of a drug is carried to find out its pharmacodynamic action, pharmacotherapeutic action and chemotherapeutic action. Ayurveda believes in treatment without complication and, therefore, the Ayurvedic drugs, as they are administered, show no encouraging pharmacodynamic or chemotherapeutic actions; they show only the pharmacotherapeutic actions well. Let us illustrate this point-- Shankhapuspi reduces hypertension but does not cause hypotension in healthy volunteers. Ayurvedic antacids reduce HCl in cases of hyperchlorhydria but do not cause hypochlorhydria even after their prolonged use. Punarnava, Gokshuru and Pashanbheda cause diuresis in cases of Shotha and Jalodara but their diuretic action is not seen much in healthy volunteers. Kutaja and Jatiphala stop diarrhoea but their prolonged use in healthy volunteers does not cause constipation. These are some of the examples to show that the Ayurvedic drugs have pharmacotherapeutic actions only. But when the active fractions of drugs are isolated and used, they show pharmacodynamic action as well as pharmacotherapeutic action. Such isolated fraction renders quicker relief but also cause side effects. To avoid the side effects, give the drug as a whole.Majority of the Ayurvedic drugs show only the pharmacotherapeutic actions and never cause any complication. A few drugs, which show pharmacodynamic actions also, have been included in the category of poisons. For instance, Jaipala causes purging to a patient and also to a healthy volunteer. Jaipala is included in poisonous drugs. Another interesting point is that most of the drugs have fractions in them, which balance their actions. For instance, Saptarangi was critically analyzed and it was found to have one fraction possessing hypo-glycaemic action and another fraction possessing hyper-glycaemic action. But when Saptarangi as a whole was administered to the patients of Diabetes mellitus, it showed only a mild hypo-glycaemic action. This points to the specific arrangement of fractions in the drug in such a manner that only good actions are found and harmful actions are avoided. Recent experiments with Bhallataka in cases of malignancy showed that Bhallataka as a whole should be administered to achieve better results with no complications. Many such examples can be cited to prove it.
There is a genuine anxiety in the field of medical science that the bacteria is developing resistance to the synthetic preparations, more concernedly the broad spectrum drugs (antibiotics). These drugs are very bad side effects; these drugs are very essential to check the infection effectively. But the tragedy is that the bacteria are developing resistance to these drugs and the body is losing the natural resistance power because of these drugs. Body never develops resistance against any Ayurvedic drug. This is why the Ayurvedic drugs can be used for a very long period effectively and safely. Not withstanding the scientific significance of ‘Give the drug as a whole’, the socio-economic implication demands quick relief, which some of our drugs fail to give. This is why there is more fascination to isolating the active principles and administering them to achieve quicker results even at the cost of complications. The intermediary way out is to increase the potency of the drug as a whole by changing the formulations and this is the direction in which many researches are being carried out in the country.And Above All: The most of the modern drugs have toxic effects encountered by the clinicians in their practice. This is why it is said: “When a drug is given, a risk is taken.” Ayurvedic medicines cause no toxic or side effects.Three are some Ayurvedic drugs, which are poisons, but they are fully and perfectly purified before administration. Similar is the case with certain metallic preparations. The finished products of Ayurvedic formularies do not cause any toxic or side effects. In some of the formularies, antidotes are added to avoid any possibility of toxic effects. For example, in any Ayurvedic Jwaraghna medicine (antipyretic medicine), Vastsanabha is the main ingredient and Tankana is unfailingly added to it to nullify the toxic effects of Vatsanabha, if any. Similarly, Bhallataka is always administered with ghrita to be used with, before and after it. Ayurveda favors administration of crude drugs and their preparations. We don’t have synthetics or antibiotics in Ayurveda. The question of tolerance, resistance or addiction to Ayurvedic drugs does not arise. But if certain Asavas or Pakas or any other preparation for rejuvenation or virility are taken for a long period, patients become attuned to them and they feel a sense of well being when they take them. But, then, it is not addiction as the drug can be easily withdrawn without any withdrawal symptoms. When a drug is given, a risk is taken’ has still finer implications. Disease is a danger-signal of the body; it indicates fight between the tissues and the bacteria; it shows that the body is trying to neutralize and nullify the ill effects of the pathological metabolites, which require to be washed out of the body. Let us simply help the body in its struggle to overpower the disease.Conclusion : Therefore, it can be said that the what is needed is to increase the potency of the drug as a whole rather than to isolate and administer the active fractions of the drug. The wholeistic approach to man and medicine is gaining momentum and this is definitely for the good of humanity that such principles be adopted and worked out on certain sound foundations. Hence, in nutshell it can be said that ”Treat the man as a whole and Give the drug as a whole”. Because treating only disease and giving only extracts does not support to the fundamental principles of Ayurveda.Ayurveda always advocates “ Shamanam Nah Tu Kopanam”. Let us try to understand the real essence of the Ayurveda with help of its own basic concepts.
Dr Chakra Pany Sharma
Ph D
Professor
Govt Ayurveda College
Gurukul-kangdi
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