Glossary of Ayurvedic Term
Glossary of Ayurvedic Terms
CONCISE DESCRIPTION OF AYURVEDIC PREPARATIONS
VATI – (Tablet) Adult dose: 1-2 tabs BD or TDS
It is tablet made from different drugs of either vegetable or mineral origin.
CHURNA – (Powder) Adult dose: 5gms BD
It is fine powder of dried and purified form of drugs having uniform size of particles.
KASHAYA/QWATHA/KWATHA – (Decoction of Herbs)
Quatha is nothing but a decoction of the drug or drugs. One ounce on empty stomach at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. with water. Kashaya. Quatha and Kwatha are synonyms.
BHASMA – (Reduced Metal) Adult dose: 200mg BD + honey
It is nontoxic ash of metals and animal products. This is prepared after putting metals or minerals in a crucible in a pit, filled with cow-dung. These depend on intensity of heat, size of the pit and quantity of cow-dung used.
LEHYA – (Paste) Adult dose: 5gm BD
It is preparation of drugs made into paste called linctus.
LAUHA – (Iron supplements) Adult dose: 200mg BD
It is homogenized powder of the drugs with loha bhasma
RASA – (Herbo-mineral Compounds)
It is prepared with Bhasma and Sinduras, added with other drugs and finally made into pills.
ARAKA – Adult dose: 5 to 10 ml BD
It is essence of volatile constituents of drugs
KSHARA – (Alkali) Adult dose: 5grs. BD
The alkaline residue of the arka of the drugs used.
PARAPATI – Adult dose: 200 to 400 mgs. BD
It is a preparation wherein the drugs are triturated well with kajjali and melted. This is poured on castor leaf and closed with another castor leaf. The dried cakes are parapati.
PISHTI – Adult dose: 200 to 400 mg. BD
The bhasma of the drug – it is prepared without using heat. It is being ground with drugs, dried in the sun and cooled in the moonlight. It is cooling in the nature.
GUGGULU – Adult dose: 1 to 2 gms after food
Guggulu is an exudate of the plant Balsmodendronmukul. Some preparations are suffixed with this drug.
TAILA – (Medicated oils) – 10 to 20 drops BD
The decoction of oil is heated till it becomes thickened and it retains the colour, tastes and odour of the particular decoction used.