Use of plants in the form of Aushadhi

Aushadhi is derived from oshadhi ‘medicinal herb’ the word is generally employed for all drugs, especially of vegetable origin. According to Charaka-Samhitā (sūtra, 26,12), there is no substance in the world which does not have some medicinal use but one must consider the method of use (yukti or upāya) and the purpose (artha or prayojana) or the disease-condition before employing any substance as a drug; careful selection of the substances needs to be treated before they can be wholesome for the boy; otherwise their effect would be undesirable. Aushadhi, literally, “plants,” also rendered oshadhi, from Osha, “light-bearing”; reference to plant life as being sustained by light through photosynthesis. The metaphorical corollary is that man is similarly sustained by the light of God through the metamorphosis brought about by the action of the elemental principles of Prakriti. 

In General, the word “Aushadhi” has two meanings. One that removes pain and cures the disease and another meaning is the plant that consists of fire in it to cure the disease. The credit goes to Aryan to utilize plants as Aushadhi very first time. The Vedic literatures had reported more than 100 aushadhi name that was being utilized since ancient periods. In ancient days many Rishi, Munis, Maharishi prefer to stay in the jungle and gather knowledge about useful plants that can be utilized in the preparation of Aushadhi. We should not deny the contributions of aborigine people who coordinated well to Rishi, Munis to introduce plants as they were residing in the jungle and well aware of many plants that cure many diseases. We have to just imagine when there were no resources available to treat the people with modern facilities in ancient days and that time if any plant was identified to cure even a small disease, then, no doubt, they would feel very happy. The Rishi, Munis never live their life for themselves, they always preferred to go forest and stay their many years or lifelong to search many plants and its utility and then, bring it to the knowledge of Nagaraika (public) to treat the people of the city. No, doubt! They sacrificed their whole life in search of many plants in the form of Aushadhi. We have ever heard that before taking plants from jungle Rishi, Munis were conducting prayer. In ancient days, they had categorized plant mainly in three categories, one “Taruvar” the tree or plant that has flowers, fruits, etc. to nourish the human beings and “Vriksha” that may give their body parts for the essential utilization of human beings like firewood, timber, and preparing agricultural instruments. The third and main category is “Aushadhi” the herbs, shrubs, or trees that can be used as medicinal purposes. Mainly herbs were identified as Ausadhi in olden days. Indian has vast knowledge about Aushadhi since the very beginning of civilizations. 

There are many types of Aushadhi is being practiced by Physicians, some of them are Shamak Aushadhi ( sedative- the drug that calms you or makes you sleep.), Uttejak Aushadhi (stimulant - the drug that increases your heart rate and makes you less likely to sleep), Madak Aushadhi (acts as a stimulant and can cause hallucinations), Jeevanunashak Aushadhi (Antibiotics - drugs that are used in medicine to kill bacteria and to cure infections), Peedahari Aushadhi (painkiller- a drug which reduces or stops physical pain) and Dardnivarak Aushadhi (a drug used to relieve pain just like peedahari Aushadhi), etc. Aushadhi was reported to prepare from fresh parts of the plant and consume within the hour. After crushing, no storage was recommended in ancient periods in order to maintain its original form (quality), It might be that time no storage facility invented like freezer, cold storage, etc., It was suggested that time to make asvaa, kwatha, and consume within the recommended time of Physician. Tincture was not suggested effectively. In modern days, the Aushdhi is modified as single and compound drugs in the form of churn, tablets, capsule, etc, based on the need of human beings.