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Materia Medica of Ayurveda: Based on Madanapala's Nighantu Madanapala introduced many new drugs such as opium, bhanga, jayapala, kumari, parasika yavani, methika, cauhara, sulemani kharjura, seva, amrtaphala, anjira, kundalika, pheni etc. and also described the properties of human urine and established the concept of bala catustaya. Thus, in every respect, it constructed the base and paved the way for the Bhavaprakasa nighantu which dominated the field for centuries and is the most popular text of dravya guna even today. It is heartening to note that such a nighantu text of historical importance has been handled for new edition with English translation by Vaidya Bhagwan Dash, a scholar and writer of international repute, who has made every effort to effect improvements in order to make it more intelligible and popular. Over 500 ingredients which are used in medicine, food and drinks and which include vegetable products, animal products, metals, minerals, gems and jewels are described in this work.
Materia-medica of Ayurveda is a store-house of therapeutically useful drugs, which can provide cure for several obstinate and otherwise incurable diseases. Unlike the conventional, synthetic and fractionally isolated drugs of Modern medicine which often produce side-effects, Ayurvedic mendicaments are natural products of vegetable, mineral and animal origin, and these are used in natural or semi-processed form because of which, instead of side-effects, they produce several additional side-benefits while curing a disease. Several works on Materia-medica of Ayurveda were composed earlier but the present work of the King Madana Pala, which was composed in 1374 AD, has some unique advantages in as much as it is neither excessively elaborate nor very brief. The author had access to earlier works on this subject and compiled only the most authentic information on each of the ingredients. It has included, in addition to indigenous drugs, several exotic plants which were popularly used at that time by the physicians of this country and abroad for their therapeutic utility. This work includes 13 groups of drugs including ingredients of food and drinks. Table of Contents: It has thirteen chapters as follows:
1. Abhayadi Varga includes description of 165 drugs
2. Sunthyadi Varga 39 drugs
3. Karpuradi Varga 84 aromatic ingredients
4. Suvanadi Varga 44 metals and minerals
5. Vatadi Varga 50 ingredients
6. Phala Varga 56 edible fruits
7. Saka Varga 56 plants used as vegetables
8. Paniyadi Varga liguids like water, milk, alcohol and urine
9. Iksukadi Varga sugar-cane, products of sugar-cane juice and honey
10 Dhanya Varga cerals, corns and pulses
11. Dhanyaktannadi Varga food preparations
12. Mamsa Varga birds and animals meat
13. Misraka Varga anupana (post-prandial drinks) and other regimens
This is one of the finest materia medica texts published on Ayurveda. The author presents the text in an objective, clear and poetical way and has a profound control and knowledge of the deeper meanings and text. Any student of Ayurveda or herbalist curious to learn more about the beautiful poetical medical system of Ayurveda, would find this book a true delight. Vaidya Das provides the reader with adequate information and a deep reflection and the inside of this great science called Ayurveda. 780 Pages.
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